Chester County Press 07-10-2024 Edition and Destination Delaware by Ad Pro Inc.

Oxford Borough Council supports Pa. Commission for semi-quincentennial

By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer

Oxford Borough Council unanimously approved Resolution #1386-2024 supporting the Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semi-Quincentennial (America250PA), which will take place on July 4, 2026. In 2026, America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the nation. Chester County is asking for everyone to

The big celebration is scheduled for July 4, 2026

join in the celebration as they move toward 2026. With the national goal of making this the largest, most inclusive celebration in U.S. history, 250 Commissions are active at the national, state and county levels. Chester County is asking for volunteers to help to enhance and showcase Chester County when they encourage municipalities, institutions, businesses, nonprofits, neighborhoods and residents to join in the year-long commemoration and celebration of

the 250th anniversary of the nation’s Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.

Chester County had been operating for nearly a century when the Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. In fact, it was one of the three original counties of Pennsylvania, established by William Penn in 1682. So, it stands to reason this county’s current residents would be eager to get a head start on planning the region’s celebration of

the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026 by establishing the America250PA Chester County Commission.

“We have so much to be proud of in Chester County, including the contributions we’ve made and continue to make to America’s history,” said Chester County Commissioner Chair Marian Moskowitz, adding that the county is seeking 10 to 30 “America and Pennsylvania Proud” residents, of all ages and from all areas of the county, who want to help plan these

festivities.

Commission members will serve for up to three years. Chester County representatives will coordinate activities with the statewide group, America250PA.

“In the short term, the commission will determine where Chester County wants to plant a liberty tree in May, part of Pennsylvania’s Liberty Tree program. Similarly, they will chart their approach to the Bells Across PA program. Those are more symbolic activities. The commission

will then have input into a historic heritage tourism plan,” said former Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline, who represents the county on the America250PA County Advisory Committee, and who is a board member of the Chester County History Center.

America250PA is focusing on 14 areas around which to create celebratory activities. One of them is agriculture, with Pennsylvania having 59,000

Two Chester County Futures students receive Elizabethtown-Rigg Scholarship

Oxford Area High School graduates

Daniela P. Ayllon and Emely Rodriguez are headed to Elizabethtown College this fall

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

For many first-generation students who graduate from high school, the thought of their attending college appears far on the horizon, a distant but unlikely dream of ivory towers and higher education.

When Oxford Area High School seniors Daniela P. Ayllon and Emely Rodriguez stepped off the podium at the school’s commencement on May 31, they graduated with that dream firmly in their future.

Ayllon and Rodriguez will be attending Elizabethtown College in Lancaster, Pa. as the 2024 recipients of the Rigg Family Chester County Futures Scholarship, which will provide them with full room, board, and tuition for up to eight semesters.

Established in 2018, the scholarship is funded by Elizabethtown alumni Robert Rigg and his wife, Karen to provide financial assistance to underrepresented or first-generation students from the Chester County Futures “Passport to College” program to attend the College every year. In 2021, the Riggs gave the

College the largest gift toward an endowed scholarship by a living donor in the College’s history.

“Chester County Futures and the Riggs have granted me the opportunity to pursue my goal of expanding my learning without me worrying about how I will get through,” said Ayllon, who intends to major in accounting. “Not only have they given me a great support system, they have also given me a lifetime experience that I will cherish forever.”

“This scholarship will help me achieve my goals, the first of which is getting a college education and not having to worry about my financial security,” said Rodriguez, who plans to major in psychology. “I will be able to have access to resources like an internship that will help me in my future career. I sincerely thank the Riggs for this wonderful opportunity and scholarship.”

Once they arrive on campus in the fall, Ayllon and Rodriguez will participate in Elizabethtown College’s Momentum Program, which introduces incoming

Continued on Page 2A

By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer

There are many names for immigrants in the work force. But, a little advice here, don’t say “illegal aliens” in front of Sister Jane Hauptman. She will quickly correct you.

“I hate when I hear that. It makes them sound like they are from outer space and illegal,” she said. “They have not committed crimes and they are not from outer space.”

Hauptman who worked many years with undocumented workers in Chester County, and in other U.S. states, has insight into

The immigrant workforce

immigrant workers that many people don’t have. She has cared for that population in migrant camps, and she actually spoken in front of elected officials on the subject. The immigrants she worked with were from all parts of the world.

As a nun from the order of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, Hauptman took a vow of poverty and never looked back. She worked in migrant camps along the eastern shore as a nurse and nun, healing the body and the soul. She worked as a nurse in South American countries and wherever else she was needed. She also worked with the immigrant population in Chester

County for many years as they were trying to obtain legal status in this country. Truth be known, she still champions the under-served immigrant population.

Hauptman said, “One thing that might surprise some of the U.S. citizens is that immigrants come here because they are brought here to work jobs that people in this country don’t want to work, and they have been brought here for years.”

One person that worked in the farming industry for years, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “During my travels through farms all over this country, I saw many immigrants working in the

farming industry. The farmers depended upon them. It was a generational thing, where immigrants would come back every season. Eventually, the farm would change to the next generation and then the immigrant would do the same.

“Farmers would see the next generation of farm workers. We couldn’t have done it by ourselves. We’ve known these immigrant families and depended upon them for years.”

A recent bus accident in Florida backs up the continued and widespread use of migrant farm workers. PBS and many news agencies reported about an accident in May, where

eight migrant workers died, and at least 40 were injured after a pickup collided with a farmworker bus in central Florida. The converted school bus was transporting 53 farmworkers at about 6:40 a.m. when it collided with a 2001 Ford Ranger in Marion County, about 80 miles north of Orlando, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The workers had been headed to Cannon Farms in Dunellon, which were harvesting watermelons. The Florida Highway Patrol arrested the driver of a pickup truck that crashed into the farmworker bus on charges of driving under the influence-manslaughter.

The Wild Bohemians to headline Roots & Blues festival on July 27

The Kennett Area Park Authority (KAPA) will present an inaugural Roots & Blues Festival on July 27 beginning at 11 a.m. at Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square. The festival – which will serve as a fundraiser for the park – will be highlighted by a performance by the Wild Bohemians, a

Philadelphia-based Mardi Gras band who has played extensively throughout the area and at musical festivals for the past 30 years. Other artists who are scheduled to perform include Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, Deb Callahan, Slim & the Perkolators, The Two Johns, Dibbs & the Detonators, Old

Refuge, Swing that Cat, Street Beans, and Steve Guyger & the Excellos. This inaugural event will also include food trucks, adult beverages, and local artisans.

Tickets are limited and early bird pricing is available now by visiting www. ansonbnixonpark.org/ events/2024-roots-blues-

festival. Proceeds will go toward Anson B. Nixon Park. Gates will open at 10 a.m. and the festival will conclude at 7:30 p.m. For more information about the Roots & Blues Festival and to learn about becoming involved as a volunteer and support operations in the park, please visit KAPA’s website.

students to the College’s robust curriculum through real-world learning opportunities and acclimates them to the college environment. Momentum students are connected with student mentors, faculty, professional staff, administrators, and alumni who have been or would have been involved in the Momentum program.

“Chester County Futures is very thankful for the partnership with Elizabethtown College, which continues to provide hope and opportunities for students to succeed in life while investing in the future,” said Chester County Futures Executive Director Katie Breslin Duffus. “Together we provide the support, resources, and encouragement to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals, ensuring that no obstacle stands in the way of their success.”

Chester County Futures was founded in 1996 on an alarming fact -- that Chester County, one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S. -- experiences pockets of poverty that were limiting several students from achieving their dreams of academic enrichment. Over

the past 28 years, it has helped more than 1,000 students navigate high school through after-school programming, mentoring and post-secondary support in the Coatesville, Kennett Consolidated, Oxford Area and Phoenixville Area school districts.

Of the student demographic the organization assists, nearly two-thirds are Hispanic and one quarter are African American; and 80 percent are first-generation. To date, the organization has distributed more than $2 million in scholarships to students, which come from grants, special events, annual appeals and individual and corporate donations. In addition, donors who contribute to Chester County Futures through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program can receive up to a 90 percent tax credit on their personal PA state tax liability.

For Chester County Futures, tapping into the potential of students like Ayllon and Rodriguez begins as early as their middle school years during recruitment presentations to area schools within the four districts the organization serves.

Farms are going out of business because they lack the workers necessary to keep the business profitable.

“When we first start talking to students as early as the eighth grade, getting them to think about what they ae going to do after high school is a process that many haven’t yet started,” Duffus said. “Yet when they enter the ‘Passport to College’ program in the ninth and tenth grade, they begin to value what they are learning. At our students exit interviews, we ask them, ‘How well prepared do you feel compared to your friends?’ Many of them tell us that at first, they perceived themselves as being well behind, but as they evolve, they begin to see the value the program is having on them.”

Mary Williams, Chester County Futures’ Director of Community Engagement, said that the “Passport to College” program has served as an incubator for young people who have gone on to receive college degrees, work in professional capacities and serve on area boards in partnership with Chester County Futures. The organization’s graduates also return to serve on the agency’s board as committee members and as organization employees.

As a former teacher in the “Passport to College” program, Williams has had the opportunity to see sev-

United States. In recent years, about 80 percent of jobs certified as H-2A have resulted in visas.

eral students nurture their own pathways. One of those students was Daniela Ayllon, whom she recently saw graduate from Oxford Area High School and deliver a short message at the Chester County Futures commencement in May.

“I have known Danielle since she was in middle

school and taught her when she was in the seventh and eighth grade,” Williams said. “Over the past several years, I have been able to form a trusted relationship with her in my time as a teacher and become close to her family.

To learn more about Chester County Futures and its many programs for students, visit www.ccfutures.org.

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

“Watching her journey come full circle and then to see her speak at our celebration was a very powerful moment.”

Federal statistics show that vehicle crashes were the leading cause of job-related deaths among farmworkers in 2022, the latest year that this statistic was available. They accounted for 81 of 171 fatalities.

According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, the H-2A temporary agricultural workers program, often called the H-2A visa program, helps American farmers fill employment gaps by hiring workers from other countries. Immigrant farmworkers are estimated to account for 73 percent of agriculture jobs in the U.S. today. All across the U.S., farm labor is a critically necessary job that puts food on our tables, propels the economy and sustains our communities.

According to the Council on Immigration, between 2017 and 2022, the number of certified H-2A workers, those who are requested by employers and then certified by the DOL (Department of Labor), grew by 64.7 percent, from 224,965 to 370,628. This dramatic increase underscores the agricultural sector’s growing reliance on temporary foreign workers to fill the open jobs.

However, DOL certification of an H-2A request does not necessarily lead to the issuance of a temporary work visa. After certification, both the employer and worker must complete the USCIS approval process before the worker can begin employment in the

Recently, the council released a new report on the “Expanding Role of H-2A Workers in U.S. Agriculture” which includes important new findings about the H-2A Temporary Agriculture Worker Program that allows U.S. employers that face a shortage of domestic workers to hire foreign nationals for temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs. An American Immigration Council analysis of Department of Labor data reveals significant demand across the country for H-2A workers—and their vital support to America’s food production. H-2A workers endure many challenging work conditions, but perhaps most notable is the heat. An analysis by the Council of Department of Labor data finds that 13.7 percent

of certified H-2A laborers are required to work during months when the average local temperature exceeds 90°F (32°C). In warmer states like Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico, and Texas, more than 1 in 4 certified H-2A workers work in those temperatures on a consistent basis.

Farming is not the only industry that needs help from large numbers of immigrant workers.

In 2018, almost 2.6 million immigrants, including 314,000 refugees, worked in health care, with 1.5 million working as physicians, registered nurses, and pharmacists. Certain healthcare jobs are overrepresented by immigrants. Even while immigrants make up 17 percent of the total civilian workforce in the United States, they account for 28 percent of physicians and 24 percent of dentists, as well as 38 percent of home health aides.

The construction business is attractive to new immigrants as a potential source of employment. Employers, managers, and landowners have profited from their presence by utilizing their talents and by boosting productivity. Immigrants in the construction business typically work in cement masonry, carpet installation, carpentry, and painting, among other areas.

Continued from Page 1A have considerably greater representation in some food-related vocations and in specific states. Also, in transportation in 2012, immigrants made up 13 percent of the total U.S. population, but made up 15.7 percent of the total number of working truck drivers.

The percentage of immigrant workers in the construction workforce is rising, according to an analysis of the most recent American Community Survey. Immigrant workers constitute nearly 25 percent of the overall construction workforce, accounting for an average of 30 percent in the construction trades.

In manufacturing and production in the U.S., approximately 2.1 million immigrants work in jobs like farming, collecting, processing, and selling food, and in food services. These working immigrants play an important part in feeding America.

While immigrants made up 17 percent of all civilian-employed workers in the U.S. between 2014 and 2018, they played a disproportionate role in food production, accounting for 22 percent of workers in the United States’ food and production supply chain. They

Certain states, such as California (46.7 percent), New Jersey (40.4 percent), Florida (32.2 percent), and New York, had a disproportionately high number of immigrant truck drivers (25.7 percent). The study brief relied on data from the American Trucking Association and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, “Who’s in the driver’s seat?”

Immigrants are filling labor shortages in the trucking business in the United States. The trucking industry is the backbone of the U.S. economy, with trucks transporting 70 percent of all freight tonnage inside the country. However, due to a high turnover rate and an aging native-born population, the sector faces chronic personnel shortages.

Immigrants are also involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Workers are becoming increasingly vital in the U.S. economy. STEM vocations are

crucial

Courtesy photo

Philadelphia-based Mardi Gras band the Wild Bohemians will headline the Roots & Blues Festival at Anson B. Nixon Park on July 27.

Courtesy photo

Daniela P. Ayllon and Emely Rodriguez, 2024 graduates of Oxford Area High School, will be attending Elizabethtown College as the 2024 recipients of the Rigg Family Chester County Futures Scholarship, which will provide them with full room, board, and tuition for up to eight semesters.

Chester County

Local News

Oxford Borough...

Continued from Page 1A

farms and the largest rural population in the nation.

Other categories include arts and culture; commerce and workforce; diversity; education and innovation; the environment; government; healthcare; history and preservation; legacy; nature; military; veteran’s and women; technology; and tourism.

To get involved, visit ChesCo.org/America250.

America250 represents

a coalition of public and private partners to create initiatives and programs that honor the first 250 years and inspire Americans to imagine the next 250 years.

The America250PA Chester County Commission was created to celebrate Pennsylvania’s leading role in the commemoration of the U.S. 250th anniversary in 2026.

In other business, the following motions were approved:

• Ratification of the approval of the side let-

ter agreement between the borough and the Oxford Borough Employees Association regarding change of the borough-provided health plan, changing healthcare coverage from the Delaware Valley Health Trust (DVHT) AETNA PPO Plan to the DVHT

AETNA $2,500/$5,000 HSA Plan.

• Notice of intent to award contract for the Community of Love Lutheran Church stormwater project to SLC Excavating, LLC, the lowest bidder, in the amount

of $64,626.32, conditioned upon the contractor’s execution of the contract, supply of the required bonds and insurance and solicitor review and approval. This project is approved for the stormwater best management process. The project is being funded in large part by a $105,104 grant through the Chester County Conservation District’s C3AP Non-Ag Implementation Program. The project will complete the final design process through spring of 2024.

• 100 S. 5th Street request for on-street ADA parking space. The space is actually located on Broad Street since the property is a corner lot. It is adjacent to the driveway.

• Pennoni proposal in the amount of $12,500 to complete a pavement management survey to assist the borough with developing, planning, and managing a road maintenance program.

The borough participated in a grant-funded financial assessment through the state’s Strategic Management Planning Program, also known as STMP or “STAMP.” The Borough of Oxford has over $1 million of roads to repave. The last road that was repaved was N. 2nd Street from Lancaster Avenue to Mt. Vernon Street, which cost over $1.2 million. A grant from DCED will cover the cost of the pavement management survey. The next Oxford Borough Council meeting will be held on Aug. 5 at at 7 p.m. at the Borough Hall.

Longwood Gardens names a new vice president of engagement and learning

Longwood Gardens recently announced the appointment of Kay Chubbuck as vice president of engagement and learning.

In her role, Chubbuck will lead the 78-person department and oversee the strategic development of Longwood’s award-winning in-person, online, and community-based educational and training programs, which have attracted and engaged learners of all ages from around the globe since 1956. With more than two decades of experience in creating and implementing educational experiences, Chubbuck most recently held the position of vice president for education at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). There, she developed both in-person and online educational opportu-

nities, overseeing programs for upwards of 100,000 school children and 16,000 adult learners annually. She played a key role in advancing the garden’s digital programs by introducing new technologies and flexible online courses to reach a global audience.

“Kay’s proven expertise in creating dynamic learning opportunities and building community in unique ways felt so right for Longwood as we grow and evolve,” said Marnie Conley, chief experience and brand officer of Longwood Gardens.

“We are thrilled to welcome her to our leadership team with her collaborative spirit, passion for engaging diverse audiences, and respect for public horticulture as a thriving industry.”

Prior to NYBG, Chubbuck worked for Sotheby’s

Institute of Art, initially as director of non-degree programs and later as global online director. In these roles, she designed and launched a new online graduate degree program for mature and nontraditional students, nurtured international partnerships for joint-degree programs, and created an experiential summer program for teens that included scholarships for students from backgrounds underrepresented in the arts.

“I am excited by the opportunity to expand Longwood’s educational programs and further advance its mission of inspiring learners of all ages through the beauty of nature and conservation,” Chubbuck said. “I look forward to joining the talented team and working to advance Longwood’s varied and engaging programs.”

Chubbuck arrives to

Longwood as it nears completion of its most ambitious capital project in a century, Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience , slated to debut on Nov. 22. The project includes new state-of-the-art classrooms and studios for online and in-person programs. Earlier this year, Longwood completed the acquisition of Longwood at Granogue, a 505-acre site in New Castle County, Delaware.

Chubbuck holds doctoral and master’s degrees in English literature from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. She also holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University and a B.A. in English and comparative literature from Columbia University. Beyond her professional achievements, Chubbuck volunteers

with East Coast Cherokees. She is a founding member and board member of the official Cherokee Nation satellite community for At-Large citi-

zens in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware where she serves on the IT and Youth Activities committees.

Courtesy photo

Kay Chubbuck has been appointed the new vice president of engagement and learning at Longwood Gardens.

Immigration...

Continued from Page 2A

to the country’s creativity, and STEM professionals are responsible for many of the cutting-edge ideas and technologies that create employment and boost household incomes in the United States. Foreign-born employees make up a significant proportion of the STEM workforce in the United States. According to the Department of Labor the top jobs for immigrants in the U.S. in 2024 are construction, agriculture, architecture and engineering, hospitality, and healthcare.

All of this is certainly something to consider when discussing the immigrant workforce. If they are needed in these vital industries, what happens when that immigrant work force is cut? Who will step up to fill those needs? What would the economic impact be to the entire country?

According to the Chester County Ag Council, Chester County is ranked first in the entire country for mushroom production by county. The majority of Chester County mushroom farms are multi-generational family farms in their third-, fourth- and even fifth-generations.

It is demanding work to produce consistent, highquality mushrooms, but the local mushroom industry has been paying wages exceeding the minimum wage for over two decades. The industry owes much of its success to immigrant workers, many of whom come from Mexico. But, contrary to some misconceptions, all workers must provide documentation of eligibility to work in the United States before beginning work on a mushroom farm.

According to the 20192020 Mushroom Crop Report, mushroom sales from the approximately 50 mushroom farms in Chester County totaled about $398,000,000. With the addition of sales from specialty mushrooms, it is evident that the industry is significant to the county. So the question is: Without the immigrant workers in Chester County, would the economy be affected?

Moreover, according to a story by Greg Iacurci published recently by CNBC, “Immigration is “taking pressure off’ the job market and the U.S. economy,” Foreign-born workers made up 18.6 percent of the civilian labor force in 2023, up from 15.3 percent in 2006, according to Bureau

Local

of Labor Statistics data.

While immigration poses some obvious challenges, it’s a net benefit to the U.S. economy, economists say. Without foreign-born labor, the U.S. labor pool would shrink because of lower birth rates and an aging workforce here in the United States, making it harder to fund programs such as Social Security. So should we be careful what we wish for? Without the immigrant workforce in this country, do we know what would happen to the economy, or the effect on programs like social security Would fewer immigrants negatively affect agriculture in this country? How about other jobs such as construction, health care, hospitality, etc. Who would step up and fill the hole created with the decline of the immigrant workforce? Perhaps the most important question is, if we lost the immigrant workforce, would we also lose the immigrant spirit?

The Sept. 13, 2023 fire in downtown Oxford displaced a number of immigrant families. Many local agencies assisted those families that had lost everything which resulted in finding them shelter in a local hotel. During that time, one of those persons helping was Peggy Ann Russell, who

is on the Oxford Borough Council and also is a member and one of the founders of ACE, Advocating, Collaborating, Educating, the Anti Human Trafficking Alliance of Oxford. Her interaction with those families left a lasting impression upon her. She wrote the following statement:

“The Oxford fire has left an imprint on my heart that I will preserve for the rest of my life.

“Responding to the realization of how vulnerable the victims would be in a public hotel setting, I volunteered to spend the days with them. As a member of ACE (Advocating, Collaborating, Educating) Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance of Oxford, it was an easy decision. We learn all too often how people living in a public area, or even playing in a public playground, can be victimized.

“Being with the fire victims, most of whom I did not know but one I had actually taught in a Sunday School program, reaffirmed in my mind the tremendous strength and courage of the immigrant. Not speaking the Spanish language was a huge hindrance for me but with the translator app and the interpreters that SILO arranged to have present, we made friendships. We

actually made bonds that will continue long into the future.

“The one thing that stands out is their joy! These are people who had just watched every little treasure from their home country, every dollar, every document, and every piece of clothing go up in smoke. They walked away from the fire with pajamas on, with cuddled babies and dogs in arms. And yet, there was joy! There was gratitude!

“Every time I offered to make a waffle at the breakfast buffet, there were expressions of gratitude.

For every trip to a local store to replace an essential, for every after school snack, for every encouragement to take a second helping of the delicious dinners donated and delivered by local restaurants and food booths, there was gratitude! And, did I mention the smiles? Yes, there were smiles!

“The greatest learning from this experience is that one cannot steal the joy of the immigrant! You may see their happiness tarnished but not their joy. Their joy comes from a deep faith in a higher power and they live what they believe.

generosity of the community—have no memories to surface and caress as they hold a new ornament to decorate the tree. My tears were for them and I realized that together we are entering a “new normal.”

“We must remember to be very sensitive to the trauma they experienced and to the long term effects of that night. But, let us remember, too, their courage, their strength, their smiles, their gratitude and their joy! Let them be an inspiration to us as we journey forward together—a stronger community filled with love.

Although I was involved as a member of ACE, I am also a council member of the Borough of Oxford, and I am very proud of the community members of our borough and surrounding municipalities. If we chose to lose the immigrants from this country, yes, it would affect our economy. Would it also affect the farming industry and create a food shortage? Would the construction industry find workers? Would our health care suffer due to the lack of health care workers? What about the hospitality industry? Would restaurants, hotels, and vacations spots shut down?

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Make the most of it.

“As I decorated my Christmas tree, believing that my life was back to normal, I had tears on my face as I placed each treasured ornament on the tree. The memories of the moments with the people associated with the ornaments, some handmade, flooded my heart. The realization that the fire victims—although having new trees and new ornaments thanks to the

There are many things to consider when talking about immigration. But I wonder what the greatest loss would be. Would it be the indomitable spirit of the immigrant, the very essence and foundation of this country? It’s just a suggestion, but maybe, just maybe, we should be careful what we wish for.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

You want diversity, equity and inclusion? Not at this store.

On June 27, Tennessee-based Tractor Supply posted a letter on its website, saying that due to customer backlash, the company will would cut diversity-focused positions and withdraw its carbon-emissions goals, in order that Tractor Supply “represent the values of the communities and customers we serve,” the letter said.

“Going forward,” the letter continued, “we will ensure our activities and giving tie directly to our business.” The company said that it will no longer:

• Submit data to the Human Rights Campaign

• Refocus our Team Member Engagement Groups on mentoring, networking and supporting the business

• Further focus on rural America priorities including ag education, animal welfare, veteran causes and being a good neighbor and stop sponsoring nonbusiness activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns

• Eliminate DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) roles and retire our current DEI goals while still ensuring a respectful environment; and

• Withdraw our carbon emission goals and focus on our land and water conservation efforts.

“As you supported us, we have invested millions of dollars in veteran causes, emergency response, animal shelters, state fairs, rodeos and farmers markets,” the letter read. “We have also invested in the future of rural America.”

The company’s blatant choice to divest of its ties to the LGBTQ community and human rights is in direct and hypocritical contrast to the rest of the letter, in which it states that the company will continue to train its focus on “Life Out Here,” a code term used to describe rural America, a blatant and bigoted inference that suggests that there is an invisible boundary line in the country that once crossed no longer requires the need to recognize basic equality – particularly toward people who don’t look like them, don’t worship like them, don’t love like them and don’t share the same “American values” as they do.

“We work hard to live up to our Mission and Values every day and represent the values of the communities and customers we serve,” the letter reads, a 180-degree turnabout from comments made by Tractor Supply’s Executive Vice President Melissa Kersey as recently as February 2023, who said, “Our deeply rooted mission and values are the foundation of who we are as an organization. They dictate that Tractor Supply prioritize a safe, respectful and inclusive work environment that values diversity of thought and perspective.”

In short and in no uncertain terms, they caved. Tractor Supply abruptly tossed aside its support of equity, diversity and inclusion in order to appease a faction of America on an information warpath to whitewash the country in order that it become reflective of their far-right wing agenda. Tractor Supply is far from the only major company to incur the wrath of the “Life Out Here” contingent. After it ran an advertisement that featured a transgender social media influencer, Bud Light’s sales decreased. Target saw its sales drop after it came out with a Pride Month clothing collection.

It is perhaps too soon to predict the potential boost or fallout Tractor Supply’s decision will have on the company’s bottom line, but their line in the sand – one that illuminates the the vast differences between a portion of “Life Out Here” and the rest of America – has already been drawn. They have chosen to hold hands with those who do not wish to embrace equality in America.

There are more than 2,500 Tractor Supply stores in the United States, including locations in Parkesburg, Oxford, Toughkenamon and in nearby Elkton, Md.

The author of this editorial has been a “member” of Tractor Supply for the past several years…at least he was until last week. Outrage works two ways.

The search for our missing pieces

By Gabbie Burton

When I moved over 1,500 miles away from home in Oxford to attend college in Boulder, Co. after graduating from high school four years ago, I thought I was going to find what I had been looking for, and while I eventually did find it, it took less than a semester for me to realize that I actually just wanted to go home again. In Colorado, I missed the reliability of ten-plus-year friendships that I had established here. I missed being close to family, and I missed the small charms of our local community. Most of all, however, I missed a piece of myself, something that I could never put my finger on. On every plane ride back home, I saw the Philadelphia or Baltimore airport inching closer and felt that piece begin to go back into place.

It never mattered if I was even stepping foot in my home on any of those trips; all that mattered was that I was somewhere close by with people close to me.

When it came time to graduate this May, I of course knew I was heading home, so I mourned my college losses appropriately: my friends, my own apartment and the nightlife (this was especially difficult). The freedom I was leaving behind was not lost on me, but I found comfort in knowing that I would have my missing pieces back. Yet somehow, and though I may have finally gotten that piece back, it doesn’t seem to matter anymore.

I’m suddenly too preoccupied with what’s next for me. Yet again, I find that there is something new missing: I wonder when and where I’m going to move, who’s going to be around for it, and

what exactly am I doing with my life. I am not alone; my friends also reflect the same questions and feelings back to me: panic, fear, confusion and dread. We all face the threats and obstacles that come with repaying our student loans, finding our careers, applying to graduate school and transitioning from living at home to moving out. These worries feel tangible and are a present concern, but then there’s the intangible worries as well -the existential questions that flood our minds.

After four years of college, we have acquired new missing pieces that keep us up at night as we lose sleep in our childhood bedrooms. Our futures seem to mock us.

Lewis Macleod, chief executive officer for South Mill Champs, recently made a donation to LCH Health and Community Services.

Macleod completed his first Olympic triathlon, a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km bike ride, and a 10 km run, as part of his efforts to raise funds in support of LCH. The donation will significantly support LCH’s ongoing mission to provide high-quality healthcare and social services to the community.

Macleod presented the check to LCH CEO Ronan W. Gannon. The contribution underscores South Mill Champs’ commitment to supporting local organizations and enhancing the wellbeing of residents in Chester County.

“I am deeply honored to support LCH through this fundraiser,” said Macleod. “LCH’s mission to improve the health and well-being of people and communities by providing high-quality healthcare, resources, and social

services aligns with South Mill Champs’ commitment to nourish responsibly.”

Macleod added, “By participating in this triathlon, we raised essential funds that will help LCH continue supporting the highest possible standard for community health and wellness. Together, we can create and sustain the resources, conditions, and opportunities that enable all LCH patients and community members to achieve their optimal health and wellness.”

South Mill Champs, a leading provider of fresh mushrooms and functional mushroom foods, has a long-standing history of community involvement. The company’s philanthropic efforts have consistently focused on improving local healthcare and education.

The donation supports LCH and its focus on health literacy and patient education designed to address the diverse needs of the community, particularly the underserved populations.

Figuring out these next steps and responsibilities have been what we’re told is most important. Society tells us these are the real concerns, and the rest is distraction, but they’ve got it all wrong. Our responsibilities and “plans” distract us from figuring out what we really need to find: our journeys of self-discovery. At this stage in my life, I think things change and I change too quickly with them to ever hope to keep up with them. Satisfaction is hard to come by in our early twenties, but I think that’s for the best. The very feeling that we are missing something -- that we are missing some part of ourselves in our journeys – is, in fact, the very thing that keeps us moving forward. The only thing I feel certain of in this moment is that the search for our missing pieces is where life happens, and it’s time for us to quit worrying and get to living.

Gabbie Burton is a 2020 graduate of Oxford Area High School and is a contributing writer for the Chester County Press.

South Mill Champs CEO makes donation to LCH

“We sincerely appreciate Mr. Macleod’s generous donation and commitment to supporting LCH,” said LCH Chief Executive Officer Ronan W. Gannon. “His participation in the Olympic triathlon and the funds raised will significantly benefit our ongoing mission to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare to the community. This contribution is a testament to South Mill Champs’ dedication to local organizations.”

Founded in 1973, LCH has grown into a comprehensive health and community services organization. It offers a range of services, including primary medical care, behavioral health, social services, pediatrics, and women’s health services to thousands of individuals and families in southern Chester County. For more information about LCH and its services, please visit http://www. LCHStayHealthy.com.

Around Pennsylvania Skill games: A menace to community well-being

By State Rep. Amen Brown, 10th Legislative District

Across Philadelphia, the proliferation of skill games presents a growing concern that threatens the very fabric of our neighborhoods. These games, often touted as harmless forms of entertainment or even sources of income, conceal a darker reality that undermines the quality of life for countless individuals. From the negative impact on social cohesion to the economic strain they impose, the presence of skill games casts a shadow over community life. At first glance, skill games appear innocuous, promising quick amusement or a chance to test one’s abilities. However, their omnipresence in neighborhoods is linked to a range of detrimental effects. Perhaps most alarmingly, these games can foster a culture of gambling, where vulnerable individuals, including youth and those struggling with financial stability, are lured into a cycle of risk-taking behavior.

School children use the unregulated machines to gam-

ble away their lunch money, according to this article. Unlike regulated casinos, there is no one to monitor the skill games, therefore they attract minors due to their proximity to schools.

Moreover, the proliferation of skill games in communities erodes the social fabric that binds neighbors together. Our neighbors aren’t spending time together, catching up on porches or front steps, they’re trapped in a vicious cycle of spending their precious time and money in pursuit of fleeting victories.

This disengagement diminishes the sense of belonging and unity that are crucial to a thriving community.

Economically, the impact of skill games is equally damaging. According to the American Gambling Association, Americans bet $109 billion each year, which can cost states over $8 billion in taxes and $27 billion in legal gaming revenue. They have taken approximately $650 million from Pennsylvania Lottery scratch offs; it’s estimated that this year’s lottery revenue will lose at least $170 million.

This money is a vital source for funding senior citizen programs and benefits across the state, including the newly expanded and extended Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program which helps seniors stay in their homes.

The promise of easy money through skill games often proves illusory, leaving participants financially worse off and further straining already vulnerable households.

Furthermore, the presence of skill games can contribute to a decline in property values and a rise in crime rates. Areas with a concentration of gambling-related activities often experience increased incidents of theft, fraud, and other criminal behaviors. These consequences not only jeopardize public safety but also tarnish the reputation of the community.

Addressing the issue of skill games requires a multifaceted approach that combines regulation, community engagement, and support for alternative forms of entertainment and economic opportunity. Local authorities must enforce existing laws and regulations to

curb the proliferation of these games and hold accountable those who exploit community members for personal gain.

Simultaneously, communities must invest in initiatives that promote social cohesion and provide viable alternatives to gambling-related activities. Ultimately, the fight against skill games is a fight for the soul of our communities. It is a fight to preserve the bonds of trust and mutual respect that underpin a healthy society. By confronting this challenge head on and working together, we can reclaim our neighborhoods from the grip of exploitation and ensure a brighter future for generations to come.

I’m thankful that Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Council member Curtis Jones and so many others are working to get these unregulated games out of our communities. It will restore a sense of community in Philadelphia’s smaller neighborhoods.

The time for the legislature to act is now, for the wellbeing of our communities depends on it.

Courtesy photo

LCH CEO Ronan W. Gannon with South Mill Champs CEO Lewis Macleod.

Kennett Square junior council member reports on Mexican excursion

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer

Juan Tafolla earned enthusiastic applause from the Kennett Consolidated School District Board at its May meeting, as he reported on his return from a six-month excursion to Mexico.

He took the trip on behalf of the Kennett Square Borough Council to explore relations between the borough and his family’s province of origin and more specifically, the capital city of Toluca.

Tafolla, 18, is now a 2024 graduate of Kennett High School. His parents are from Mexico, and he has a strong passion and caring for the large Hispanic population, both in Kennett schools as well as the wider Kennett region.

He noted in his report to the school board that there are 200,000 residents with a Mexican background in Pennsylvania, and 800 from its capital city of

Toluca in Kennett Square alone.

An honor student at Kennett, Tafolla has served and continues to serve as the junior member of the borough council. In the course of this experience, he decided he could do some good by visiting his cousins in Toluca for an extended visit to try to work out some benefits between that city and Kennett Square.

At first, Tafolla’s announcement about the visit came as something of a surprise to his parents.

“When I told my mother my plans, she almost had a heart attack,” he said. Nonetheless, with the blessings of the council, his parents (later) and his mentor -- former Kennett Square mayor and community leader Leon Spencer -- Tafolla persisted in following through with his plans.

He said he threw together some money he had saved, along with financial sup-

‘West

port from Basciani Foods and the Spencers, and he left for Mexico in October of 2023.

He also made arrangements at school to continue daily his education online.

Toluca, as the seat of government of that province, is much more urbanized than Tafolla’s hometown of Kennett Square.

He did not elaborate on how he made his way to connecting with the governmental officials of the state, but he succeeded in arranging to meet with Erika Hernandez, the head of the Department of International Relations of Toluca, and with Pancho Carmona, a council member of Toluca.

Tafolla said he wanted to pursue three concepts: To enhance mutual support between Toluca and Kennett Square – an “economic exchange”; to give to Toluca citizens the power to sign documents from afar after they had come to the United States;

Grove is due for a

and to ensure protection of local Mexicans from crime and theft when they send money or travel in Mexico.

Additionally, he said, they later explored the idea of developing some kind of “sister city” agreement between Toluca and Kennett Square, especially in the sharing of art and culture.

With his return to Kennett Square, Juan reported some success, especially with the “sister city” agreement. It involved creating a Mexican plaza in Kennett Square.

“It would be a place where the community could gather and where food can be sold, like many products from Toluca and across Mexico. This would bring tourism to the borough and allow Mexican-owned business to thrive in our borough,” he said.

Looking back on his adventure, he said he missed Kennett Square while he was away. Through it all, however, there was no

downside to the trip.

Tafolla is the son of Claudia Tafolla and Huram Romero. He has a brother who is a student in the 10th grade at Kennett High School.

Both parents immigrated independently from Mexico to find a better life, but met in Chester County. He was born in Delaware. Tafolla will continue his education at St. Joseph University in the fall, where he plans to major in political science and minor in pre-law.

renaissance in the arts’

‘Unstoppable’: Dan Orlando’s musical journey was cultivated in West Grove

By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer

When people think of West Grove, many things may come to mind: mushroom farms, Avon Grove High School football games and local businesses, but music may not usually be top of mind.

For local musician and recording artist Dan Orlando, however, it always is. Although he began playing piano at the age of six, he credits his time and connections in West Grove for nurturing his early passion for music.

“I met my most important piano teacher and mentor, Stuart Armstrong, while I was living here, so that’s number one,” said Orlando, 36, who lived in West Grove from the age of 11 to his graduation from Avon Grove High School in 2007. “Number two, I had a great music program while I was in the Avon Grove School District, filled with great music teachers and a lot of talented students who were my friends.”

After high school, Orlando attended the prestigious University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in jazz piano. It was at the Conservatory where he drew inspiration from artists like Keane and Coldplay, admiring their ability to feature piano prominently in a way that resonated with everyday listeners. Additionally, he idolized Freddie Mercury of Queen for his dynamic stage presence and vocal prowess, while the soulful sounds of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye shaped his musical style.

In 2016, Dan stepped into the national spotlight, per-

forming at the “Power of Love” 20th Anniversary Gala that celebrated Tony Bennett’s 90th birthday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where he performed with “American Idol” Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks. In the past several years, he has also supported headliners like Andrea Bocelli, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Robin Thicke, and the Blues Brothers.

Orlando currently has one studio album, Heritage Trail, which he recorded in Nashville and released in February of this year. He describes the album as a “pop record for the heartland,” a combination of his east coast identity with Nashville influence and production. He is also currently working on his new album, Tunnel Vision for a 2025 release, and has performed across the country both independently and with the Lords of 52nd Street, Billy Joel’s original band.

Orlando recognizes the importance of home in his career and wants to nurture musical artistry in his community as others previously did for him.

“West Grove is due for a renaissance in the arts,” said Orlando, who now lives in Delaware County.

“There’s a great culture in West Grove that supports the arts and supports music and there’s a lot of talent in our area that’s hiding in the woods.”

Orlando is “tapping in” to the musical potential he sees in the area by hosting monthly open mic nights at Blondes and Brewnettes in West Grove. He has also established his band which features local musicians Rob Swanson of West Grove on bass and Larry Scotton Jr. of Wilmington on drums and plays frequently at Gallucio’s in Wilmington and Wayvine Vineyards in Nottingham. Orlando shared that he feels especially grateful to the local crowds these venues foster.

“I feel a very special energy, because it’s like a high school reunion or family reunion, and it’s very personal and I appreciate that a lot,” he said. “Every time I play in West Grove or Nottingham, or anywhere in Chester County, but particularly our neighborhood, it just gives me a boost.”

This “boost” can be momentous for anyone’s motivation in pursuing their dreams, especially a young creative in a small-town.

Orlando shared advice for the next generation of local

musicians.

“Go explore major markets if you want like New York, Los Angeles, or Nashville but don’t be afraid to come home either,” he said. “You can build an audience in your hometown, and you can utilize that audience and make big steps in major markets. That’s what I’m doing.

“Because I’m a performer I think of an album like a set list and I imagine that I’m playing that album for people and that helps me get into the right space creatively.”

Orlando shared that his performances have taken him all over the East Coast, Los Angeles, and the southwest. He looks forward to continuing tours nationwide and expanding internationally in the future as well. Though working in the music industry and having such large ambitions for oneself is not always easy, he offered advice on how he keeps the dream alive.

“Draw strength from

every victory large and small and keep stock of those victories so you recognize your progress,” he said. “That’s what keeps me motivated the most.”

Orlando shared credit for those victories with his support system including his managerial and artistic teams both here and in Nashville, as well as his wife, Sara, for their contributions to his career.

While Orlando’s musical career has taken him all over the country, West Grove will always remain home for him.

“I am proud to come from

where I come from and how much I appreciate the people of West Grove and southern Chester County for how supportive they’ve been,” he said. “I’ve seen it in our results but more importantly, I’ve felt it in person, and it just makes me feel unstoppable.”

Dan Orlando will perform with Five For Fighting at the Ardmore Musical Hall in Ardmore, Pa. on Aug. 6, and will give a solo performance at Blondes & Brewnettes

Photo by Chris Barber

Juan Tafolla, a 2024 graduate of Kennett High School, reports on the favorable results of his visit to Mexico.

in West Grove on Aug. 17. To learn more about Orlando, visit www. danorlandojr.com.

In addition to performing in venues across the country, Orlando frequently performs at local venues throughout southern Chester County.

Courtesy photos

Musician Dan Orlando, a 2007 graduate of Avon Grove High School, is a recording artist and a member of the Lords of 52nd Street, which includes members of Billy Joel’s band.

Orlando has performed with Andrea Bocelli, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Robin Thicke and the Blues Brothers.

DONALD KERMIT WALTERS

Donald Kermit Walters, of Oxford, passed away at his home on June 29, 2024. He was 65. Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Robert Lee, Sr. and Jacqueline McNew Walters.

Donald was a lifetime resident of Oxford. He was retired from Chrysler in Newark, Del.

He enjoyed sports, especially the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Vikings.

Donald is survived by three brothers, Lee Walters, Estace Walters and Eric Walters.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, David Walters and Mark Walters, and a sister, Sandy McNew.

The service and interment are private.

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

Alleluia

Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.

TheChesterCountyPressfeaturesadedicatedchurch/religious pagethatcanhelpyouadvertiseyourhouseofworshipand/or business.Thepageisupdatedweeklywithnewscripture.Only$10 Weeklyforthisspace.

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For

DR. ROY V. BERGMAN

Dr. Roy V. Bergman, VMD, passed away after a brief illness while surrounded by his three children on June 29, 2024. Though he spent much of his life in Cochranville, Roy moved to Louisville, Colo. in 2019. There, he enjoyed his retirement and being closer to his growing family.

Roy was born on May 23, 1943 to parents Lucille (Fisher) and Roy F. Bergman of Derry, Pa. After overcoming polio at the age of six, he became an Eagle Scout and graduated from Derry Area High School. Roy went on to attend Penn State University and was a graduate of the class of 1965.

Afterward, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Roy found a passion for large animal and equine medicine, and he was also lucky enough to meet and eventually marry his late wife, Dr. Marcia Bergman, VMD, in 1971.

Roy began his veterinary career at New Bolton Center of Kennett Square before starting his own practice, Broodmare Associates, specializing in equine reproduction. Broodmare Associates served the equine community of Chester County for over 40 years. Breeding and treating and birthing Thoroughbred horses were their primary services.

Roy was an avid road biker, animal lover, and a voracious reader.

He is survived by his three children, Connor Bergman, Lauren (Chris) Burkart, and Patrick (Lindsay) Bergman, along with his two grandchildren, Arthur and Zoe Bergman, all of whom reside in Colorado. He is also survived by his sister, Mona Lou McConnaghey, of Falmouth, Mass., her husband, two children, and four grandchildren.

A private ceremony will be held for close friends and family at Faggs Manor Cemetery in Cochranville. In lieu of flowers, Roy has requested donations be made to the Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund through Penn Vet (giving.apps.upenn.edu).

GEORGE FURIA, JR.

Katherine Dalton Dixon, known to all as Kay, passed away peacefully at her home in West Grove on June 19, 2024.

Kay was born in Lake Forest, Ill. in 1949, the daughter of Eliot Wadsworth Dalton and Marie Hulburd Dalton.

Kay was a consistent source of positive energy and compassion for her family and her community. She graduated from Stoneleigh-Burnham School and attended the University of Denver.

Kay was an avid photographer throughout her life. She was in her element behind a camera. Her career included work for Woodfin Camp Photography in Philadelphia and ImageBank in London. By the time her sons were teenagers, the phrase “Mom. ANOTHER photo?! Of us, really?” was common. Luckily her insistence prevailed, and she left behind a comprehensive body of work including family portraits, documentary travel photography, and landscapes celebrating the natural beauty of Chester County.

Water was a central theme in Kay’s life—from her early photos of Greece and its fishing community, to her love of the beach cultivated during her time on Martha’s Vineyard, to her 18 years of work in development at Stroud Water Research Center. She was always a fan of both fresh water and salt water.

She was a dedicated mother, and her sons and extended family were central in her life. She always encouraged

her sons to explore and adventure, which they did by studying and living abroad and settling in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest.

Her home became a center of bustling activity during her final weeks with visitors streaming in and out every day to share in her gratitude and love, a testament to the deep friendships and connections she had developed. The family is deeply grateful for the help and support of the Penn Hospice Program at Chester County Hospital and also to Kay’s in-home caregiver, who took care of her with skill, calm, and a ready smile.

Kay is survived by her two sons, Philip Dixon and his wife Sofia Chaparro of Denver, Colo. and William Dixon III and his partner Brad Thompson of Paulsbo, Wash., her grandson, and the light of her life, Diego Luis Dixon, her sisters Julia Keane of Louisville, Colo. and Marie Dalton-Meyer and her husband Les Meyer of Burlington, Vt., and her brother Eliot W. Dalton and his wife Letitia Baer Dalton of Kennett Square. Also surviving are three nieces and three nephews whom she adored, as they did her. Kay is also survived by her former husband, William Dixon, Jr. She was predeceased by her parents.

Kay will be dearly missed, but her spirit of, her grace and her compassion will continue to guide all who were blessed to know her.

The celebration of life will be a private event and burial services are to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to the Stroud Water Research Center as a way to honor Kay’s legacy.

George A.D Furia, 56, of Avondale, passed away on June 29, 2024.

Born in Chester, Pa., he was the son of the late Frances (Dorman) Furia and the late Geroge Furia. George enjoyed fishing, cooking, being around people, and trying to make people laugh. He worked for Drew DiCarlo for many years and for Fran Keller’s Eatery in Kennett Square.

George is survived by his brother, John Furia and his wife, Natalie; by his nephew, John Furia Jr.; and by his aunt and godmother, Peggy Dorman.

In addition to his parents, George was predeceased by his uncle and godfather, Ronald Dorman.

You are invited to visit with George’s family and friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, July 12 at First Baptist Church of Kennett Square, located at 415 West State Street in Kennett Square. His memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be held privately.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the National Kidney Foundation https://www.kidney.org/. Checks can be mailed to: Attn: Gift Processing at National Kidney Foundation HQ, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10016.

Arrangements are being handled by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square.

To view George’s online obituary and leave condolences, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Dustin Jay Wallis , Late of West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Letters of Administration have been granted on the above estate to the undersigned. All persons indebted thereto are requested to make immediate payment, and those having claims against the estate shall make them known without delay to the undersigned at 96 S. George Street, Suite 520, York, PA 17401. Administratrix: Carolina Romero Zamora, Attorney: Erik D. Spurlin, Esq., CELA, LL.M., NCG MPL Law Firm LLP

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Diana Lynn Stratton, Late of Oxford, East Nottingham TWP, 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 Casey Stratton, 137 Meri Leigh Way, Oxford, PA 19363, Executor. 7p-3-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF Naomi R. Catanese, late of Oxford Borough, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above-named Naomi R. Catanese having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Ellen C. Hughes, Executrix c/o

Attorney: Customer: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire 208 E. Locust St., P.O. Box 381, Oxford, PA 19363 Phone: 610932-3838 7p-3-3t

NON-PROFIT INCORPORATION

NOTICE

Seniors On A Mission has been incorporated under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988, as amended. Rick Stock Law, 933 N. Charlotte St., Suite 3-B Pottstown, PA 19464

NOTICE

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Notice of an Intent to Remediate to an Environmental Standard (Sections 302(e)(1)(ii), 303(h)(1) (ii), 304(n)(1)(i), and 305(c)(1)) Pursuant to the Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act, the act of May 19, 1995, P.L. 4, No. 1995-2, notice is hereby given that Jorge Escobar and JD Brothers Pallets & Produce LLC has submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection a Notice of Intent to Remediate for a site located at 20 Old Forge Road, Nottingham, Chester County. This Notice of Intent to Remediate states that the site is a vacant land. The site has been found to be contaminated with #2 fuel oil which has contaminated soil on the site. Jorge Escobar and JD Brothers Pallets & Produce LLC

has selected the background/ Statewide health standards and they have indicated that the proposed remediation measures will be excavation of oil contaminated soil. The proposed future use of the property will be residential and non-residential for future use.

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Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, July 18th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, August 19, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-7-187

Writ of Execution No. 2023-04030 DEBT $336,110.29

ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PIECE OF GROUND, HEREDITAMENTS AND APPURTENANCES, SITUATE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LONDON GROVE, COUNTY OF CHESTER AND COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED ACCORDING TO A PLAN OF MEDFORD FARMS, MADE BY LAKE, ROEDER HILLARD AND ASSOCIATES, LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA (717) 3979037 DATED 08/20/2001 AND RECORDED IN CHESTER COUNTY PLAN FILE NO. 16157, AS FOLLOWS, TO WIT:

BEGINNING AT A POINT OF CURVE ON THE EASTERLY SIDE OF BRIARCLIFF CIRCLE, SAID POINT BEING A CORNER OF LOT NO. 55; THENCE EXTENDING FROM SAID BEGINNING POINT ALONG BRIARCLIFF CIRCLE THE 3 COURSES AND DISTANCES; (1) ON THE ARC OF A CIRCLE CURVING TO THE LEFT HAVING A RADIUS OF 175 FEET, THE ARC DISTANCE OF 40.81 FEET TO A POINT OF TANGENT; (2) NORTH 50 DEGREES, 49 MINUTES, 52 SECONDS WEST, 53.40 FEET TO A POINT OF CURVE AND (3) ON THE ARC OF A CIRCLE CURVING TO THE RIGHT HAVING A RADIUS OF 25 FEET THE ARC DISTANCE OF 40.36 FEET TO A POINT OF CURVE ON THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF CAVERSHAM DRIVE; THENCE EXTENDING ALONG SAME THE 2 COURSES AND DISTANCES; (1) ON THE ARC OF A CIRCLE CURVING TO THE RIGHT HAVING A RADIUS OF 300 FEET, THE ARC DISTANCE OF 94.34 FEET TO A POINT OF TANGENT AND (2) NORTH 59 DEGREES, 40 MINUTES, 41

SECONDS EAST 87.46 FEET

TO A POINT IN LINE OF OPEN SPACE; THENCE ALONG THE SAME SOUTH 30 DEGREES 19 MINUTES 19 SECONDS EAST 115.81 FEET TO A POINT, A CORNER OF LOT NO. 55; THENCE ALONG THE SAME SOUTH 52 DEGREES 31 MINUTES 54 SECONDS WEST, 168.80 FEET TO THE FIRST MENTIONED POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING.

BEING THE SAME PREMISES which Brian E. Dunbar and Nancy K. Dunbar, Husband and Wife, by Deed dated 1/12/2018 and recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County on 1/31/2018 in Deed Book Volume 9691, Page 2144, granted and conveyed unto Jonathan C. Curtis and Lisa D. Curtis.

Tax Parcel # 59-8-134.56

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential property

PLAINTIFF: NewRez LLC FKA New Penn Financial, LLC D/B/A Shellpoint Mortgage VS DEFENDANT: Jonathan C. Curtis & Lisa D. Curtis

SALE ADDRESS: 1 Briarcliff Circle, West Grove, PA 19390

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: POWERS KIRN, LLC 215-942-2090

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 6p-26-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

SALE NO. 24-7-190

Writ of Execution No. 2017-06157

DEBT $387,891.42 (plus costs)

ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground situate in the Township of New Garden, County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania bounded and described according to a Plan of “Sherwood Pines” Sections I and II, made by George E. Regester, Jr. and Sons, Inc., Reg-

istered Land Surveyors, Kennett Square, PA, dated 4/6/1982 and last revised 7/7/1982 and recorded 12/1/1982 in Chester County in Plan No. 4203, as follows, to wit:

BEGINNING at a point on the cul-de-sac, at the end of Little John Circle, at a corner of Lot No. 19 on said Plan; thence extending from said beginning point along Lot No. 19, South 06 degrees, 50 minutes 33 seconds East, 176.82 feet to a point on the Northerly right of way line of the Route 1 By-pass; thence extending along the same, the two following courses and distances; (1) South 83 degrees 09 minutes 27 seconds West, 115.20 feet to a point and (2) South 89 degrees 29 minutes 00 seconds West, 183.86 feet to a point, a corner of Lot No. 1; thence extending along the same, North 67 degrees 03 minutes 18 seconds East, 185.75 feet to a point, on the cul-de-sac at the end of Little John Circle, aforesaid; thence extending along the same, the three following courses and distances: (1) on a line curving to the left, having a radius of 50.00 feet, the arc distance of 135.86 feet to a point of reverse curve: (2) on a line curving to the right, having a radius of 25.00 feet, the arc distance of 21.03 feet to a point of tangent and (3) North 66 degrees 00 minutes East, 6.66 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

BEING Lot #20 on said Plan. Tax Parcel # 60-1-37.22

PLAINTIFF: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee for Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Inc., Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust 2006AR3, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR3 VS DEFENDANT: Glenn Hall and Joann Hall

SALE ADDRESS: 5 Little John Circle, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: ECKERT SEAMANS CHERIN & MELLOTT 215-851-8429

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

on Monday, August 19, 2024.

Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-7-191 Writ of Execution No. 2022-09613 DEBT $200,241.21

Property situate in the BOROUGH OF AVONDALE, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania, being BLR # 4-1-77.26

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. VS DEFENDANT: JOEL T. HANEY & MICHELLE KORIN HANEY

SALE ADDRESS: 206 Mullen Drive, Avondale, PA 19311-1469

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC 844856-6646

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

SALE NO. 24-7-201

Writ of Execution No. 2021-03870

DEBT $870,831.82

PREMISES 110 STARR ROAD, AVONDALE, PA 19311

All THAT CERTAIN tract of ground with mushroom houses erected thereon, situate in New Garden Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, according to a survey made by George E. Register, Jr. & Sons, Inc., dated May 12, 1976, as taken from their Plan C-451 and being Parcel “B” on said plan as follows, to wit:

BEGINNING at a spike set for the original northwesterly corner of lands of Mae Cornette, and a Northeasterly corner of

lands of Ar-Ge-Nel, Inc., said spike being set in the title line of Public Road T-333 known as “Star Road” said road leading in an Easterly direction to Route 41 and a Westerly direction to Avondale; thence leaving said point of beginning and by said title line in said road, South 84 degrees 55 minutes 00 seconds East 149.87 feet to a P.K. nailset for a corner of this and a corner of Parcel “A” said plan owned by Mae Corset for a corner of this and a corner of Parcel “A” said plan owned by Mae Cornette; thence leaving said title line in said road and by Parcel “A” on said plan owned by Cornette, South 03 degrees 10 minutes 00 seconds East 282.84 feet to an iron pin set for a corner of this and a corner of said Parcel “A” thence still by said Parcel “A” owned by Cornette, South 84 degrees 55 minutes 00 seconds East 150.00 to an iron pin set for a corner of this and said Parcel “A” and said point being set in line of lands of Joseph Cornette; thence by lands of Joseph Cornett the following 3 courses and distance, to wit: (1) South 06 degrees 32 minutes 18 seconds West 237.00 feet to an iron pin; (2) South 84 degrees 55 minutes

00 seconds East 190.32 feet to an iron pin set for a corner of this and said David Cornette and said pin being set in line oflands of Phillip G. Donohoe; thence by lands of said Philip G. Donohoe, South 06 degrees 32 minutes 18 seconds West 1025.00 feet to an iron pin set for a corner of this and a corner of lands of John Rosans, and set in line of lands of Philip A. Lafferty being on or near the north bank of White Clay Creek; thence by said line of said Creek and by land of said Lafferty the following 2 courses and distances, to wit: (1) North 79 degrees 34 minutes 50 seconds West 403.66 feet to an iron pin; (2) South 75 degrees 43 minutes 05 seconds West 271.26 feet to a point set for a corner of this and lands of first mentioned Ar-Ge- Nel, Inc.: thence by lands of said Ar- GeNel, Inc., North 04 degrees 55 minutes East 1535.00 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

Containing 17.995 acres of land be the same more or less.

BEING the same premises which Davidson & Pizzine, a Pennsylvania Partnership, by Indenture dated September 29, 2009, and recorded December 12, 2010, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for the County of Chester, aforesaid, as Document No. 10994576, Book 7864, Page 1405, granted and conveyed unto James E. Davidson, LLC, in fee.

PLAINTIFF: First Citizens Community Bank, Successor by Merger to MidCoast Community Bank

VS DEFENDANT: James Davidson, LLC a/k/a James E. Davidson, LLC

SALE ADDRESS: 110 Starr Road, Avondale PA 19311; 112 Starr Road, Avondale, PA 19311; 124 Starr Road, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BARLEY SNYDER 717-399-1503

SALE NO. 24-7-201 Writ of Execution No. 2021-03870

DEBT $870,831.82

PREMISES 112 STARR ROAD, AVONDALE, PA 19311

ALL THAT CERTAIN tract or parcel of ground situate in New Garden Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described in accordance with a Plan of Property owned by Mae Cornette prepare by George E. Regester, Jr. and Sons, Inc., Registered Land Surveyors, dated 5/12/1976 and recorded as Plan No. 461 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County as follows:

BEGINNING at an old spike set on the title line in the bed of Starr Road (T-133), said road leading in an Easterly direction to Route 41 and in a Westerly direction to Avondale said spike marking a Northeast, corner of this about to be described tract and a Northwest corner of land of Joseph Cornette as shown on said Plan; thence from said point of beginning and leaving the bed of Starr Road along lands of Joseph Cornette South 06 degrees 32 minutes 18 seconds West, crossing over and old iron pin found, 280.00 feet to iron pin, a corner of Parcel “B” as shown on said Plan; thence along Parcel “B” the 2 followin g courses and distances; (1) North 84 degrees 55 minutes West 150.00 feet to an iron pin; and (2) North 03 degrees 10 minutes 00 seconds West crossing over 2 iron pins, 282.84 feet to a P.K. nail set on the title line of Starr Road; thence along the title line in the bed of Starr Road South 84 degrees 55 minutes 00 seconds East 197.69 feet to an old spike found, the point and place of beginning.

BEING Parcel “A” as shown on said Plan.

BEING the same premises which Davidson & Pizzine, a Pennsylvania Partnership, by Indenture dated September 29, 2009, and recorded December 12, 2010, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for the County of Chester, aforesaid, as Document No. 10994577, Book 7864, Page 1408, granted and conveyed unto James E. Davidson, LLC, in fee.

PREMISES 124 STARR ROAD, AVONDALE, PA 19311

ALL THAT CERTAIN lot of ground situate in New Garden Township, Chester County Pennsylvania, bounded (according to a survey made by Arthur Crowell, Registered

Legals

Surveyor, in May 1946) and described as follows, to wit:

BEGINNING in the middle of a dirt road from Newark Road to New Garden Station, the Northeast corner of tract recently conveyed to Allen Taylor; thence along middle of road North 89 degrees 08 minutes East 311 feet; thence leaving road passing through maple tree South 1 degree 4 minutes West 909.5 feet to a corner of tract about to be conveyed to Isreale Santilli; thence by line of same North 88 degrees 45 minutes West 14 feet to line of Allen Taylor; thence by this line North 1 degree 15 minutes East 898 feet to the point of beginning.

CONTAINING six and foureighth hundredths (6.48) acres more or less.

BEING the same premises which James E. Davidson and Ronald L. Pizzini, by Indenture dated September 29, 2009, and recorded December 12, 2010, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for the County of Chester, aforesaid, as Document No. 10994578, Book 7864, Page 1410, granted and conveyed unto James E. Davidson, LLC, in fee. UPI # 60-5-2.3 / 30-5-2 / 60-5-3.1

PLAINTIFF: First Citizens Community Bank, Successor by Merger to MidCoast Community Bank VS

DEFENDANT: James Davidson, LLC a/k/a James E. Davidson, LLC

SALE ADDRESS: 110 Starr Road, Avondale PA 19311;112 Starr Road, Avondale, PA 19311; 124 Starr Road, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BARLEY SNYDER 717-399-1503

6p-26-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, July 18th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, August 19, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter

SALE NO. 24-7-202

Writ of Execution No. 2021-03869 DEBT $469,904.14

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING three tracts of land SITUATE partly in Upper Oxford Township and partly in Penn Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described as follows:

TRACT NO. 1

BEGINNING at a point in the middle line of the public road leading from Jennersville to Edenton and in the Southeasterly line of a 415 feet wide strip or piece of ground of Philadelphia Electric Company; extending thence along the middle line of said public road and by ground now or late of Geo. T. Allen South 50 degrees 37 minutes East, 344.70 feet to a flint stone in line of ground now or late of L. P. Miller; thence leaving said road and by ground now or late of L. P. Miller South 19 degrees 29 minutes 30 seconds West, 2,511.37 feet to a limestone, in line of ground now or late of Dr. C. F. Quimby a corner common to ground herein described and ground now or late of L. P.

Miller; thence by ground now or late of Dr. C. F. Quimby the 3 following courses and distance: (1) North 62 degrees 27 minutes 40 seconds West, 527.26 feet to an iron pin (2) North 58 degrees 29 minutes 20 seconds West, 610.53 feet to an iron pin and (3) South 50 degrees 14 minutes West, 84.15 feet to an iron pin a corner of ground now or late of M. T. Clark; thence by ground now or late of M. T. Clark the 3 following courses and distance: (1) north 83 degrees 46 minutes West, 165 feet crossing Elk Creek to an iron pipe; (2) South 23 degrees 55 minutes West, 242.10 feet to a point and (3) South 43 degrees 32 minutes 40 seconds West, 425.70 feet to an iron pipe in line of ground now or late of C. P. Lindsey; thence by ground now or late of C. P. Lindsey the 2 following courses and distances: (1) North 04 degrees 37 minutes West; 570.50 feet to a flint stone and (2) North 20 degrees 21 minutes 20 seconds East, 1,051.17 feet to an iron pin a corner of ground of Leonard N. Holston; thence by ground now or late of Leonard N. Holston, North 20 degrees 02 minutes East, 328.91 feet to a point in the said Southeasterly line of a 415 feet wide strip of ground of Philadelphia Electric Company and thence through ground of Philadelphia Electric Power Company parallel with Philadelphia Electric Company’s tower lines the 2 following courses and distances: (1) North 61 degrees 18 minutes East, 627.22 feet to a point and (2) North 41 degrees 42 minutes East, 1,476.57 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

TRACT NO. 2

BEGINNING at a point in the Northwesterly line of a 415 feet wide strip or piece of ground of Philadelphia Electric Power Company and in line of ground now or late of Leonard H. Holston, said point being 629.20 feet measured on a course North 20 degrees 02 minutes East from a point in the Northwesterly corner of Parcel No. 1 above described also in the Southeasterly line of aforesaid 415 feet wide strip of piece of ground; extending thence by ground now or late of said Leonard H. Holston North 20 degrees 02 minutes East, 374.70 feet crossing Elk Creek to an iron pin a corner to ground now or late of Leonard H. Holston and R. Leroy Scott; thence by ground now or late of R. Leroy Scott, North 55 degrees 03 minutes East, 558.54 feet to a point in said Northwesterly line of a our hundred fifteen feet wide strip of piece of ground of Philadelphia Electric Power Company, and thence through ground of Philadelphia Electric Power Company parallel with and 207.5 feet distance measured Northwestwardly from and at right angles to the established center line of Philadelphia Electric Power Company’s power lines the two (2) following courses and distances (1) South 61 degrees 42 minutes West, 624.69 feet to a point and South 61 degrees 18 minutes West, 155.72 feet re-crossing said Elk Creek to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

PLAINTIFF: First Citizens Community Bank, Successor by Merger to MidCoast Community Bank

DEFENDANT: James E. Davidson & Sons, LLC

SALE ADDRESS: 731 Ewing Road, Cochranville, PA 19330

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BARLEY SNYDER 717-399-1503

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via

Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, July 18th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, August 19, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-7-202

Writ of Execution No. 2021-03869

DEBT $469,904.14

TRACT NO. 3

BEGINNING at a point in the middle line of the aforesaid public road leading from Jennersville to Edenton and in the Northwesterly line of a 415 feet wide strip of piece of ground of Philadelphia Electric Company extending thence through ground of Philadelphia Electric Company parallel with and 207.5 feet distance measured Northwestwardly from and at right angles to the established center line of Philadelphia Electric Company’s tower lines South 81 degrees 42 minutes West, 469.65 feet to a point in line of ground now or late of R. Leroy Scott; thence by said ground now or late of R. Leroy Scott North 10 degrees 18 minutes East, 497.40 feet to an iron pin in the middle line of said public road leading from Jennersville to Edenton and thence along the middle line of last mentioned road South 50 degrees 37 minutes East, 420.20 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

EXCEPTING AND RESERVING therefrom and thereout a tract of land containing 1.794 acres more or less which Clarence W. Gray and Wilheimina E. Gray, his wife, convey to the Philadelphia Electric Company by Deed dated February 4, 1964, recorded in Chester County Deed Book P-35, page 918.

ALSO EXCEPTING THEREOUT AND THEREFROM premises described in the following conveyances in Record Book 263 page 159, 287 page 230, 1684 page 105, 2180 page 396, 2510 page 406 and 5232 page 1256.

BEING the same premises which Brothers Mushroom Farm, a Pennsylvania General Partnership, by Indenture dated August l, 2008, and recorded August 13, 2008, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for the County of Chester, aforesaid, as Document No. 10867861, Book 7497, Page 11961, granted and conveyed unto James E. Davidson & Sons, LLC, in fee.

UPI # 58-1-12

PLAINTIFF: First Citizens Community Bank, Successor by Merger to MidCoast Community Bank

VS DEFENDANT: James E. Davidson & Sons, LLC

SALE ADDRESS: 731 Ewing Road, Cochranville, PA 19330

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BARLEY SNYDER 717-399-1503

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, August 19, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-7-209 Writ of Execution No. 2022-08909 DEBT $210,086.00

ALL THAT CERTAIN TRACT OF GROUND SITUATE IN WEST NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Tax Parcel # 68-5-19.3

PLAINTIFF: MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC VS DEFENDANT: COLLEEN HUNNELL, IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF ELSIE J. HARBAUGH; EILEEN WELLS, IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF ELSIE J. HARBAUGH; UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS OR ASSOCIATIONS CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER ELSIE J. HARBAUGH

SALE ADDRESS: 250 Red Pump Road, Nottingham, PA 19362

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC 855-225-6906

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

SALE NO. 24-7-211 Writ of Execution No. 2022-02694 DEBT $387,190.00

ALL THAT CERTAIN piece or parcel of ground with the improvements thereon erected, situate in the Township of New Garden, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Tax Parcel # 60-1-5.10

PLAINTIFF: MMG INVESTMENTS II, LLC VS DEFENDANT: CHARLES E. CARDILE and DIANE M. CARDILE

SALE ADDRESS: 540 Church Road, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: JSDC LAW OFFICES 717-533-3280

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via

SALE NO. 24-7-212 Writ of Execution No. 2022-02951 DEBT $281,097.55

ALL THAT CERTAIN piece or parcel of ground with the improvements thereon erected, situate in the Township of New Garden, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Tax Parcel # 60-3-189

PLAINTIFF: MMG INVESTMENTS II, LLC VS

DEFENDANT: CHARLES E. CARDILE and MICHAEL P. CARDILE

SALE ADDRESS: Gap Newport PK, Avondale PA 19311 a/k/a 8816 Newport Pike, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: JSDC LAW OFFICES 717-533-3280

SALE NO. 24-7-214

Writ of Execution No. 2016-07139 DEBT $335,894.37

PROPERTY SITUATE IN BOROUGH OF PARKESBURG Tax Parcel # 08-06-0067

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: Mortgage Assets Management, LLC c/o PHH Mortgage Services VS DEFENDANT: KATHLEEN E. DURBOROW a/k/a KATHLEEN DURBOROW

SALE ADDRESS: 300 5th Avenue, Parkesburg, PA 19365

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-6271322

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Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Continued on page 6B

Legislators and education advocates rally in support of ‘Grow Your Own Educator’ teacher recruitment programs

As schools across Pennsylvania face increasing teacher vacancies, State Sen. Carolyn Comitta and State Rep. Mike Schlossberg brought together educators and education advocates to support funding “Grow Your Own Educator” teacher recruitment programs in Pennsylvania.

“Teachers are an inspiring force in fostering the success of our children and it’s important that we do everything we can to help meet the workforce demands of our education system,” said Comitta, a former publicschool teacher and member of the Senate Education Committee. “The Grow Your Own Educator model is a proven way to build a pipeline of high-quality educators -- educators who are invested in and representative of the communities they serve. It’s

time that we bring these programs to Pennsylvania to support schools, students, and families.”

“Grow Your Own Educator” programs are designed to recruit and retain teachers from within the communities they will teach and serve. Both Comitta and Schlossberg have introduced legislation to fund these programs in high-need regions of Pennsylvania.

“The House of Representatives voted to invest billions of dollars into education over the next seven years. However, if there are no educators to teach our children, this vote will not matter. Pennsylvania’s educator shortage is hurting our students,” said Schlossberg. “Our ‘Grow Your Own’ effort builds a pipeline to get today’s students from high school all the way to

the front of the classroom where they will return as educators. These programs work and they connect people from the community already involved in education to become world-class educators.”

Joining Comitta and Schlossberg on the Capitol steps in support of these programs were educators and education advocates, including the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

“There are support staff in our public schools who have proven experience serving students and would make excellent teachers,” said PSEA vice president Jeff Ney. “They just don’t have a path forward. In many cases, the cost of going back to college is prohibitively expensive for them.

Creating a Grow Your Own program will open the door for more of these folks to

become teachers and make a difference in the lives of thousands of students.”

The Grow Your Own Educators Program prioritizes assisting individuals

already heavily involved within a school district and community by providing financial assistance, support, and resources toward obtaining a state teaching certification. The legislation has been introduced by Comitta as Senate Bill 826 and by Schlossberg as House Bill 141.

Practical Nursing Students attend the CCIU job fair

The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) hosted its annual Practical Nursing Program (PNP) spring job fair in early May at the Technical College High School (TCHS) Brandywine Campus.

PNP is a postsecondary program focused on preparing students to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Through the annual job fair, PNP students are provided with opportunities to connect with potential employers and college-level educators to further explore their next-step options.

“The annual job fair is a collaborative partnership between the CCIU Practical Nursing Program and our industry partners that provides not only future job opportunities for our graduates, but also helps improve

Continued from page 5B

SALE NO. 24-7-217 Writ of Execution No. 2024-00872 DEBT $166,317.75

Property situate in the BOROUGH OF ATGLEN, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania, being BLR # 07-03-0055

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION VS DEFENDANT: JENNIFER L WHITEMAN

SALE ADDRESS: 216 Chester

Courtesy photos

A second level Practical Nursing Program student meets with an employer from Bayada Healthcare. the healthcare nursing shortage,” said Beth Ann Puckett, the director of PNP.

With over 25 employers and institutions and 65 students in attendance, PNP students experienced oneon-one conversations about their future aspirations, as well as the tools available to guide them. The job fair

Street, Atglen, PA 19310

provided these students with information regarding application processes, interview opportunities, and potential scholarships.

Leading up to the event, several students shared the goal of speaking with a few of the universities in attendance in hopes of furthering their education as a regis-

Legals

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC 844856-6646

Classifieds

Notice of Self Storage Sale

Please take notice US Storage Centers - Exton located at 371 Gordon Dr., Exton PA 19341 intends to hold a public sale to the highest bidder of the property stored by the following tenants at the storage facility. This sale will occur as an online auction via www. storagetreasures.com on 7/24/2024 at 10:00AM. LisaMarie M Barrett unit #B014. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

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excited to attend today’s job fair to look for schools that will help further my education. I had great conversations with representatives from Immaculata about their LPN and BSN programs.”

With a focus of preparing and educating students interested in nursing, CCIU’s PNP program continues to provide an array of resources to aspiring LPNs. For more information regarding the CCIU PNP or on becoming an LPN, visit https://www.cciu.org/pnp.

A group of students discuss potential future opportunities with a job fair representative from Immaculata University.

Courtesy photo

State Sen. Carolyn Comitta, pictured here, joined State Rep. Mike Schlossberg to

bring together educators and education advocates to support funding “Grow Your Own Educator” teacher recruitment programs in Pennsylvania.

Seven DCCC students selected for Wistar Institute Biomedical Technician Training Program

Seven Delaware County Community College students are taking part in advanced biomedical research this summer after being selected to participate in the highly competitive Wistar Institute Biomedical Technician Training Program (BTT).

The Wistar Institute is a Philadelphia-based global leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer, immunology, infectious disease and vaccine development. BTT is a paid, credit-earning 12-week pre-apprenticeship program designed to respond to the growing demand for well-trained laboratory technicians and research assistants in life

sciences. The summer program consists of a two-week intensive laboratory course at the Wistar Institute followed by two five-week internship placements in academic or industry biomedical laboratories. The students receive academic credits through the DCCC Student Employment Services’ internship program.

BTT is a registered preapprenticeship that can also lead into Wistar’s Fox Biomedical Research Technician Apprenticeship, the first-ever registered, nontraditional apprenticeship program for biomedical research ratified by the Pennsylvania

Department of Labor & Industry.

The DCCC students are Sara Alkurdi of Bryn Mawr, Marie Aude Bley of Upper Darby, Tatiana BowmanVailes of Collingdale, Kenechukwu Ilodigwe of Aldan, Karina Juarez of Collingdale, Adrian Mykhnych of West Chester and 2024 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team honoree Jay Rhoades of Ridley Park. In addition to DCCC, the BTT program accepts students from Community College of Philadelphia, Montgomery County Community College, Bucks County Community College and Camden County College.

For the Summer 2024 ses-

sion, DCCC had the largest number of admitted students of any of the participating colleges.

The BTT program is run by Kristy Shuda McGuire, Ph.D., the Dean of Biomedical Studies at the Wistar Institute, facilitated by DCCC’s Student Employment and Co-op Center, and the DCCC faculty liaisons are Biology professors Bela Dadhich, Ph.D., and Robert Suran, Ph.D.

“The program is impressive as the students are learning cutting-edge technology with leaders in the field,” Dr. Dadhich said. “It is a phenomenal opportunity.”

Authors Mary Walsh and Bruce E. Mowday

to conduct workshop on July 10

The General Warren Inne is hosting a book marketing workshop with Pennsylvania authors Bruce E. Mowday and Mary Walsh. The evening’s program includes ample time to talk with the authors about book projects and the writing life. The workshop, entitled, “You Wrote a Book...Now What?” will take place on July 10 beginning at 7 p.m. Walsh, who is featured in talks and signings in New Orleans, Florida, and Massachusetts, and Mowday, who conducts signings and talks on his history and true crime

books in numerous states, have teamed to provide valuable information on the publishing and marketing of books.

“This seminar is for published authors, aboutto-be published authors and those intrigued with the writing life,” Mowday said. “The General Warren provides a wonderful and relaxed setting for our workshop.”

The General Warren Inne is located at 9 Old Lancaster Road in Malvern. At 6 p.m., Walsh and Mowday will greet attendees in the Warren Tavern. Attendees are welcome to order

beverages and food from General Warren on an ala carte basis. The kitchen is open until 9 p.m.

With more than 25 years of combined experience, Walsh, who lives in Mechanicsburg, and Mowday, who lives in East Goshen, will share their priceless knowledge of marketing books in the independent and traditional marketing worlds. Their marketing is non-traditional and successful! Two publishers asked Bruce to write books on marketing tips for authors.

“We are limiting the audience because we want

to have enough time to talk individually with each participant,” Mowday said.

“While some marketing techniques are common sense and universal, finding out what works best for the individual author is usually the key to success.”

Some of the subjects to be covered include the following:

• Are you ready to publish?

• How do I identify my best salesperson?

• What is the good, bad and ugly of personal appearances?

• How do I make the

most of my marketing budget?

• What are the steps to building a following?

• What are successful marketing strategies?

• How do I identify my audience?

• Is self-publishing a money-making venture?

• What is involved in self-publishing?

• What are the realities of being an author?

A majority of Walsh’s books are fiction and the majority of Mowday’s books are non-fiction. Their approaches are somewhat different. Mowday, who has published more than

25 books and in December had 13 books ranked in the top two-percent of all books listed on Amazon, has a non-traditional outlook on marketing. To register for the event, go to bit.ly/ BookMarketingWorkshop. The workshop cost is $49 per person. Pre-registration is encouraged. Walsh and Mowday conducted a highly successful workshop similar to this one in Lancaster earlier this year. For more information on Mowday’s books, see www. mowday.com. For Walsh’s books, see www.marywalshwrites.com.

Courtesy photo

Jay Rhoades of Ridley Park and Karina Juarez of Collingdale, two of seven DCCC students selected to the Wistar Institute Biomedical Technician Training Program, with DCCC Biology professors Bela Dadhich, PhD and Robert Suran, Ph.D.

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By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer

Birdie’s Links and Drinks: The new, cool place for fun

The name “Birdie’s Links and Drinks” doesn’t adequately convey all the fun that everyone can have – and all the learning that golfers can gain.

Birdie’s is a new indoor entertainment center, it explains on Facebook, with eight simulator bays to practice golf techniques. The simulators also allow people to use golf balls to play other games.

There are also two 18-hole miniature golf courses, whose theming and audiovisual enhancements blow away the typical course that ends with a humongous mouth of a clown.

There’s a play area with ten games: cornhole, foosball, Subsoccer, ping pong, shuffleboard, darts, giant Jenga, giant Connect Four, Jet Pong and – for those who want ever more golf – PutterBall.

And there’s a full restaurant and bar.

The place is named after the late Eileen Bird, known for her Southern hospitality and family gatherings on Lake Norman in North Carolina. “It’s an homage to her,” said nephew Dylan Hannum, who owns Birdie’s with his brother David and their mother, Marge, who is Bird’s sister. “We want it to be a getaway,” Dylan said. “Forget your problems. Reconnect with the family. Have a good time.”

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All photos by Ken Mammarella

Jack Okonwicz, a member of the Appoquinimink High golf team, practices his swing at Birdie’s Links and Drink, a new golf-themed entertainment center in Middletown. Birdie’s is next to the Crooked Hammock Brewery and across Auto Park Drive from the Holiday Inn.

DESTINATION DELAWARE DESTINATION DELAWARE

Birth of a business

There’s one photo of Bird in the bar, plus a Southern element to the menu, such as hush puppies, Southern green beans, biscuits, the Creole remoulade for the shrimp and the tangy barbecue sauce that Dylan developed to blend “all the Southern barbecue traditions.” And the bar menu will have Lake Norman lemonade, “sweet but strong, as she liked it,” David said.

The menu overall is classic American bar and bistro, with sections for burgers, pizzas, salads, mac ’n’ cheese and flatbreads, plus sandwiches, wings, chili, nachos, a few entrees and a few desserts.

Birdie’s has taken years to develop for the family, who also run a Fish Window Cleaning franchise. John Hannum is retired and helps out wherever he can, like a good father would.

About eight years ago, David started playing golf with friends and decided that the sport “bit me like a bug.” Dylan and Marge picked up the sport as well, and early during the pandemic they realized that outdoor driving ranges were conducive to social distancing and involved already-existing bubbles of family members or close friends.

However, a driving range requires 18 acres. Instead, they bought six acres, at 320 Auto Park Drive, just west of downtown Middletown, built a 30,000-square-foot building – with a capacity of 504 – and opened in January.

What it all involves

Simulators allow golfers to play 30 to 40 courses from around the world, from Banff Springs to Wooden Sticks, with immersive video from hundreds of drones employed over six hours of tee times. Golfers swing into a high-tech net from the mat or off a specialized rubber tee that screws into the artificial turf. Statistical analysis comes up after each swing. Two curved bays sport enhanced features.

Golfers can also choose to hit balls into screens set up for various games, like darts and tac-tac-toe, first-person shooter video games and Angry Golf, an homage to the hit Angry Birds.

The miniature golf courses come from Blacklight Attractions, a St. Louis company that the family discovered at a trade show. One course follows a pirate theme through five rooms: in port, loading the ship, in Poseidon’s underwater kingdom, on a tropical isle and in the treasure room. The second course is a mashup of pop culture, including “The Simpsons,” “Jurassic Park” and “E.T.” The Pac-Man hole, with all those tiny, criss-crossing aisles between the bumpers, is the hardest.

Both courses run under a black light, which takes some time getting used to and also provides 3D effects for those wearing special glasses.

The business is evolving. The first addition is a golf pro,

followed by golf leagues and tournaments. They are developing party packages.

Before they opened to the public, they tested the course for safety, to ensure that it’s “100% childproof,” David said, noting that a sword was removed because of that testing.

Some elements in the building help muffle the sound, including the vines hanging over the bar, the the white “clouds” above the games area and slatted wooden panels throughout.

Birdie’s is open 9 a.m. daily, closing at 10 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and 11 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. It’s free to enter Birdie’s and play the games in the restaurant-bar area.

The golf simulators run $55 to $75 an hour, depending on time of day, day of week and features. Peak pricing is after 5 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends. All patrons under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Miniature golf is $12 for one course, or $20 for both. Details: birdieslinks.com.

In a visit a few weeks after the place opened, patrons were enthusiastic. “Awesome,” reported Dorothy McBride, hosting a group of young people. Early online reviews were very favorable.

And Bogey King Golf, a blogger and vlogger from the MOT area, posted an 11-minute video on YouTube that focused on the golf simulator but at least seven times concluded that Birdie’s is “cool,” “really cool” or “super cool.”

Brandon Saunders and River Rapone peek through the giant Connect Four, one of 10 free games in the restaurant-bar area.

The Pac-Man hole is the toughest in the two courses.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 27 • Noon-7pm

Downtown Newark Food and Brew

Food and Brew Fest is all about celebrating the unique relationship between the culinary arts and the brewing sciences! Out & About Magazine and Downtown Newark Partnership are proud to host what has become a summer tradition: the Downtown Newark Food and Brew Festival. The event showcases more than 40 craft and imported beers paired with creative food offerings from 17 of Newark’s restaurants.

August 17

Middletown Old-Tyme Peach Festival

Lifes’s a peach at this annual event, which features a parade, a pie-baking contest, music, food, games and local art. For more information, visit www. middletownpeachfestival.com

August 31 Arden Fair

Held the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, this centuryold tradition offers an antiques market for crafts, games, food and music in Arden. To learn more, visit, www.ardenclub.org

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UPCOMING EVENTS

September 7 • 12pm-5:30pm

Odessa Brewfest

The Odessa Brewfest is a fund-raising event for the Historic Odessa Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure the legacy of the Historic Houses of Odessa for future generations, through commitment to the preservation of Odessa’s unique historic, architectural, and cultural heritage. The Odessa Brewfest is intended to be an opportunity to sample some of the best regional and national craft beers, as well as locally-produced wine and spirits, accompanied by great food, great music, and great people.

September 7 • 10:00am - 6:00pm

September 8 • 10:00am - 4:00pm

Brandywine Festival of the Arts

Always held the weekend after Labor Day, this festival features more than 100 juried artists selling works at Brandywine Park’s Josephine Gardens in Wilmington. For more information, visit www.brandywinearts.com.

September 13-14

Weedstock

Camping/Food Trucks/Music/Vendors/Art/Advocacy

The Delaware chapter of NORML will present the annual Weedstock event in Townsend, DE. There will be 18 hours of live music, with food, beer,wine and soft drinks. The private location is Firebase Lloyd. Camping is available. Sunday brunch is included with a camping ticket. www.facebookDENORML

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DESTINATION DELAWARE DESTINATION DELAWARE

UPCOMING

September 15

Hagley Car Show

Destination event for fans of classic cars. Experience the wonders of automotive innovation. Over 500 antique and retored cars. Hagley Museum, Wilmington.

September 20 - 22

Oktoberfest

Saengerbund in Newark serves authentic foods and beverages. Music and dancing. To learn more visit Delawaresaengerbund.org.

EVENTS

September 28

Art on the Green

Annual art and crafts event takes place on the banks of the Delware River in historic New Castle. More than 200 artisans and craftspeople ahve their work displayed. Battery Park, New Castle. Sponsored by the New Castle Hundred Lions Club.

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s 20242025 season features concerts led by its music director finalists as well as spotlights on DSO artists in the Musicians’ Series, and more. Five Classics Series concerts at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, three Musicians’ Series concerts, and a holiday performance at the Hotel du Pont make up this landmark season. Opening the Classics Series on September 20 is candidate Mélisse Brunet, leading Brunet

November 15. Candidate Filippo Ciabatti leads the DSO for Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Fate Now Conquers by Carlos Simon, and guest cellist Tommy Mesa performing the First Concerto of Shostakovich.

Join us this season as we select the new artistic leader of the DSO. It’s an exciting time for our community and a year you simply cannot miss! — J.C. Barker, CEO, Delaware Symphony Orchestra

Conducts Tchaikovsky, with guest violinist Melissa White. The program includes works by Anna Clyne, Florence Price, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Next is Ciabatti Conducts Beethoven on

On January 24, 2025, candidate Taichi Fukumura takes the podium for Fukumura Conducts Dvořák. The concert features Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, works by Brian Nabors, and a Korngold piece featuring guest violinist, Oliver Neubauer. Di Russo Conducts Brahms on March 28 features final candidate, Michelle Di Russo, in a program of a new work by Gabriela Ortiz, Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto with pianist Janice Carissa, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4. Music Director Laureate David Amado closes the season on April 18 with Amado Conducts Stravinsky, featuring The Rite of Spring, alongside works by Takemitsu and Debussy.

The Musicians’ Series offers intimate concerts at partner venues. First is Woods & Waters with DSO Principal Keyboardist Lura Johnson on October 8 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The program includes poetry complementing works by Beethoven, Grieg, Liszt, and Debussy.

The DSO returns to the Hotel du Pont Gold Ballroom on December 10 for Holidays at the Hotel. Concertmaster David Southorn and young violin virtuoso Maxwell Brown perform in a program of Bach and Dvořák.

The final Musicians’ Series on February 25 spotlights the DSO Brass — Brian Kuszyk, Principal Trumpet; Karen Schubert, Principal Horn; Austin Westjohn, Principal Trombone; and Brian Brown, Principal Tuba — in a concert of Bach, Kurt Weill, and W.C. Handy at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Subscriptions are available now. Single tickets will be available beginning August 12. Visit DelawareSymphony.org or call 302.656.7442 for details.

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Beginning in 2018, childhood friends Nick Holmes and Kyle Hickey – both 33 -- combined their experience in recording, mixing and mastering with providing opportunities for up-and-coming local musicians to create Occupy Studio, an incubator of dreams, ideas and sound. Recently, we caught up with them between sessions to hear about their work, their industry and the local music scene.

Chester County Press: How did the two of you first meet?

Kyle: We first met in the second grade when we were growing up in Elkton. We played on the same football team together and gained a passion for working together early on. We eventually became best friends to the point where my mom would drop me off at Nick’s house and his mom would take us to the bus stop in the mornings. We were like brothers.

How did your friendship lead you to eventually getting into the studio recording industry?

Nick: In high school, Kyle became interested in recording both of us playing music with our friends in his mother’s basement, using the Rock Band microphone through his computer. We had a lot of fun, and then Kyle began to get more curious about recording and became more immersed in it through the use of additional software. Kyle then moved to Florida, where he attended the Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology in Orlando. Eventually, I attended the school as well. Once we had finished school and moved back to Elkton in 2017, we both thought, “Why don’t we open up a music recording studio in Newark?”

Nick: At that time Kyle was expecting this first child and I said “Are you sure man? You’re about to have a baby,” and Kyle said, “Let’s put on a parachute and take the leap!”

Kyle: My daughter was born in December 2017.

Nick: We signed a lease in January 2018, and we opened Occupy Studio in May 2018.

You arrived at Occupy Studio with nearly two decades of collective audio engineering experience. Who did you learn from, and what did they teach you about the recording industry?

Kyle: As far as formal education, the teacher we learned the most from was John LaRosa at the Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology. He was an incredible teacher and full of life. He believed in the power of ambition, and he was also extremely talented, and in addition to teaching, he was involved in a lot of projects. We were proud to be under his wing and excelled in his class and he leaned on us. Nick and I have a lot of belief in our abilities, and a lot of that first came when we were learning from John.

Once the recording is complete, we give distribution tips in helping them get their music out into the world.

Kyle: Many times, it comes down to us being able to ask the right questions, and that in turn creates a domino effect that illuminates how we can work proactively to create that person’s art. Asking the right questions comes with experience and we’ve been doing this for a while, so we know what questions to ask, whether it is to a new artist or someone who has been recording for some time.

Who comes to Occupy Studio?

Nick: I learned from John that this is a hospitality industry, and the way you treat people and the mood you bring are as equally important – sometimes more important – than the technical aspects of the industry. You are expected to know how to record a vocal, but you’re also expected to treat people well and communicate with them, and if they’re in the studio with you, to take care of their needs. That’s what we bring to Occupy Studio.

When this story comes out, there will be at least one young musician who will read this who believes he or she has musical talent, and moreover, harbors the dream of wanting to lay down tracks of his or her songs. How does Occupy Studio make that dream happen?

Nick: I try to be active in the community, so sometimes we find them and sometimes they find us. We will give a listen to their demos and tell them, ‘This is what we can do for you here at Occupy Studio.’ Once they’re here, we will record, mix, master and collaborate. Collaboration is the best part of a studio like this – being able to work with different people on different kinds of music.

Nick: We have had the pleasure to work with so many people in the music industry -- from Toronto to Los Angeles to Miami. Locally, we work with bands and solo artists that include singer-songwriters, rap musicians and pop singers. We also record audio books and a variety of other projects.

What is the best advice you can give that young musician who is anxious to get out of his or her bedroom and share their music with the world?

Nick: I would encourage them to create through whatever means they have. If they have a big budget and are willing to spend money on the recording of an album at a professional studio like Occupy Studio, then do it. If they only have a $40 microphone and free software at home to work with, then record their songs at home and put them out there for the world, and hopefully begin to make some money and put that money back into your life as an artist.

There was a period in Newark during the 1970s and early 1980s when the city was a hotbed for emerging musical talent, and much of it was showcased at the Stone Balloon, the Deer Park Tavern and other venues. You are located right on Main Street. Are you seeing any signs of a reemergence of that era in Newark nowadays?

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Nick Holmes and Kyle Hickey have owned and operated Occupy Studio since 2018.

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Nick: Just before COVID-19 arrived in 2020, I got the sense that a lot of Newark venues were gatekeeping in terms of their using the same artists over and over again, in order to draw a regular crowd of customers. Now that COVID-19 is over, things are starting to blossom again. I will open up Occupy Studio in the morning and see a flyer promoting an upcoming show under the door, and that is an indicator that there is a grassroots network of musicians doing small shows around town, and I think these businesses are beginning to learn that there is money to be made by showcasing these young artists. I am very optimistic about where the local music scene is headed.

Dr. Dre. Brian Eno. George Martin. Rick Rubin. Don Was. Brian Wilson. Every creative person learns from the masters that work in their same field. What does the best in the music recording and producing industry teach you?

Kyle: Oddly enough, I don’t really draw inspiration from others in the music recording industry. I’ve never been the type to draw inspiration from others, but my inspiration

tends to come from just doing it and determining if it works or doesn’t work.

Nick: Philosophically, I respect Rick Rubin’s outlook on the process of making music, which is to get two or three musicians in the room with two or three producers in the room, that works from the framework of ‘Let’s just try this.’ I like keeping an open mind, so if a musician tells me to ‘Can you turn that reverb up?’ I may be reluctant to do so in my mind, but I submit to the artist as if to say, “Let’s just try it,” because something really cool could come out that may change the whole sound of a recording.

Kyle: I enjoy walking up and down Main Street and do some people watching.

What do you both enjoy most about what you do at Occupy Studio?

Kyle: I am so proud to have a place right here on Main Street that people who are looking to further their musical careers don’t have to go off the beaten path to find. I love the fact that we are able to touch so many people in the music community. Some of the people we have employed have gone on to bigger and better things and they have told us that they would not have been able to get to that level without us. Hearing that gratitude and seeing how we’ve changed their lives and career paths for the better is my favorite aspect of this studio.

Nick: I love the fact that we built this studio ourselves with the help of our families. I love that we get to design our own merchandise, design the space, and I love that we have an outlet to express ourselves in a creative way.

What is your favorite spot in Newark?

Nick: I like walking on The Green at the University of Delaware. I also like Little Goat Coffee. Sometimes I am in the studio for as many as 14 hours, so it’s nice to stop in, grab a tea and take a quick mental break.

This is a question for each of you. You throw a dinner party and can invite anyone, living or not, famous or not. Who would you like to see around that table?

Nick: I would want to have a good time and I love comedians, so my idea would be to invite Robin Williams and Jim Carrey. I’m also a big fan of sci-fi, so I’d also like to invite Chewbacca and Yoda.

Kyle: I would invite Jesus and his 12 Disciples. I would like to sit and learn from them and ask questions.

What food or beverage can always be found in your refrigerator?

Kyle: Yogurts and applesauce and homemade lemonade and sweet tea.

Nick: I am a leftovers guy. My girlfriend will bring me leftovers from the dinners she has with her family, so that’s what you will always see in my refrigerator.

Occupy Studio is located at 170 East Main Street in Newark, Del. To learn more, visit www.occupystudio.com, contact (302) 223-4441, or visit them on Facebook and Instagram.

~ Richard L. Gaw

Photos by Richard L. Gaw

From its intimate studio, Occupy Studio records the work of a wide variety of recording artists.

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