Chester County Press 08-16-2023 Edition

Council hears ideas for creating affordable housing options in Kennett Square Borough

By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

The increasingly crucial issue of making housing more affordable in Kennett Square Borough -- one of the key priorities of the current Kennett Borough Council -took a step forward on Aug.

9, when council heard from a Planning Commission member who proposed three new initiatives.

Finding – and ultimately developing – affordable housing options in a borough that is a little more than one square-mile in size

“is a complex challenge,” said Planning Commission member Luke Zubrod, who in a public workshop suggested that council direct the seven-member commis-

sion to develop “first-step” changes in the form of three policies that aim to improve housing affordability and increase “non-luxury” housing supply in the borough:

1. That the construction of internal, attached and detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) be permitted in the development of future borough residential development within all zoning districts. (ADUs are defined as smaller, independent residential dwelling units that can be in the form of additions to new and existing homes or new stand-alone structures. Now supported by cities and counties across the U.S., ADUs have the potential to increase housing affordability and create a wider range of housing

options.)

2. Reforming minimum parking mandates at new developments and redevelopment sites.

3. Taking the steps to accommodate “Missing Middle Housing,” an initiative that will invite greater density within a community while still attempting to enable development at a neighborhood scale.

The initiatives proposed by the Planning Commission were included in its July 11 letter the Borough Council that stated the need for policies aimed at housing affordability in the brough are supported by several compiled facts:

• Twenty-nine percent of households in the borough Continued on Page 6A

Post-pandemic, Philter writes its next chapter

By Caroline Roosevelt Contributing Writer

Through the turbulence of a worldwide pandemic, Philter owner Chris Thompson somehow cleared hurdle after hurdle and kept his popular coffee shop in the heart of Kennett Square afloat. Now, on the soon-to-be occasion of its tenth anniversary on Dec. 9, Philter has come to mean so much more than just coffee.

Although its coffee keeps Philter’s loyal customers coming back, the concept that Thompson began also represents community, creativity and camaraderie, and it has emerged from COVID19 better than ever with a new menu in partnership with business partner Meredith Mitchell and her new catering and culinary business called A Little More. I recently sat down with Chris and Meredith to unpack the new Philter and its business plan.

Caroline Roosevelt: Let’s start with what happened during the pandemic. It killed so many businesses, and yet you were able to ride out wave after wave.

Dan Breslow turns wood into art

By Betsy Brewer Brantner

Contributing Writer

Few people can resist the allure of a craft show. Everyone is intrigued by creative people, and the process of finding a unique handmade item. Recently, Dan Breslow made an appearance at Ware’s Christmas In July craft show in Oxford, and astounded people with his contributions in the art of wood turning. “I was the unicorn in the show at Ware,” he said. “My price range may have been higher than others, but I sold very well.” He was the unicorn, and people couldn’t walk by his table without stopping and talking to him and his wife. And many onlookers quickly

Chris Thompson: It took a while to get back to normal. There were temporary changes but when we reopened, we knew that people wanted quicker service and I wanted to maintain quality. We invested in new equipment, and we didn’t do in person dining at all, and everything

was to-go. We had the grab n’ go breakfast sandwiches because I did see a need for those. It was a good option, but it was never right, because it was never what Philter was supposed to be.

CR: How did you transition back to the original model?

Continued on Page 3A

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

With their crests and backs shining in the midday sun, these horses enjoyed a frolic in a pasture along Hillendale Road near Kennett Square last Friday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Philter Philter has re-emerged from the pandemic with a new business model and a partnership with Meredith Mitchell and her new catering and culinary business, A Little More.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

The Kennett Square Borough Council heard a presentation at its Aug. 9 meeting that proposed methods of providing more affordable housing in the borough.

Brandywine Festival of the Arts returns for 62nd year.……1B

Dan Breslow

Continued from Page 1A

learned that what they were curiously gazing at was not a craft but an art object.

The difference between crafts and art is obviously in the eye of the beholder, and on any given day that decision is almost impossible. However, the number of people stopping at Breslow’s table kept climbing, and each one had questions: How did you do it? Can you put anything inside of them? What kind of woods do you use?

Breslow and his wife loved the questions and made a good effort to answer many. Breslow retired from a job as a mechanical engineer. How did he get from there to this point, where he is creating such interesting art?

“I retired six years ago,” he said. “I dealt a lot with air conditioners and pressure facilities. Then I became a project manager. I moved away from the technical aspect of engineering and became involved with the politics of it. Negotiations are a challenge too.”

Eventually, there was some pressure and stress to his job,

but he discovered he liked working under pressure. He also liked the idea of having a bird’s eye view of a project.

It wasn’t long after retirement that Breslow jumped into the art of wood turning. He began to create a shop that would be efficient, comfortable, and that would have an atmosphere that stimulated his creative juices.

“I love the fact that I only have to step outside my door and I can walk into this world I created,” he explained.

Marrying many different kinds of woods into one piece of art is not as easy as it sounds. Different kinds of wood expand differently and melding them together is not for the faint of heart.

“Gluing all of those woods together takes a lot of time,” Breslow explained. “I have to make sure they are absolutely dry. I have to fit them together perfectly. The glue has to set overnight. I put the completed piece on the lathe turning it, shaping it, sanding it, until it is what I want.”

Once the work is just the way Breslow wants it, he covers it with polyurethane and then more sanding until

the finished product looks like glass. He makes bowls, vases, containers that are not really meant to hold anything except maybe dried

flowers, but Breslow's work stands on its own and doesn't need additional decorations. Nothing needs to be placed

in the container. It is truly a piece of art.

“The joy is in finding the right kind of wood,” he said.

“I work in cherry, mahogany, walnut, oak, maple, dark walnut. I love the contrast between the woods.”

It is that contrast, and preciseness, that makes everyone stop and stare and ask, “How did you do that?” when they see Breslow's work.

“I have researched and realize some colors and shades are more attractive to me. I like dark walnut and cherry together,” he explained. “The thing I like about wood is that it is naturally colored. The textures are different. I love the smell and touch of wood.

The shapes you can make are endless. You never know what the finished product will look like. I can combine so many different kinds of wood. It’s as if I’m going on a journey and I don’t know where it will take me. But, I do know when I arrived.”

Transforming wood is one thing, but Breslow was genuinely surprised to find out how much wood transformed his life.

“It took me some time to realize how much satisfaction creating gives me,” he said. “The process of being creative has been a wonderful experience for me. I channel every nuance in the wood and let it take me where I should go. Just lately, I have realized what creating means to me. It’s funny I started with a few pieces of wood I had. I put them together and I liked what came out. I’ve gone to art and craft shows but haven’t seen what I do. I do like to see what others

do. Wood is beautiful, when you put different woods together, and hand sand it, it is amazing. I’m astonished that more people don’t think about putting different woods together.”

This artist likes doing things by hand. The work is not done on a production line. Breslow loves to create different colors, shapes and sculptures.

“No two pieces are the same,” he explained. “I put a lot of myself into every piece and each piece I’m working on is the best I’ve ever made. I lose track of time. I also discovered something else, my patience is increasing. It takes me hours to create a piece. Of course, you don’t get paid for your time. My prices go from $30 to as high as $200. Not many people do what I do so I don’t have a reference point. I charge what I think people are willing to pay.”

It is not about making money, it is about doing something he is compelled to do. He feels so thankful that, in his retirement, he found something that gives him purpose.

He said, “Every morning, I look at what I’ve created and it brings me joy. Some people don’t understand my art, but that doesn’t bother me. Every person has a unique vision and a unique talent.

“My wife Roz, is my biggest champion. Her support is unbelievable. She likes wood, like I do, but is not into turning wood. I started getting better and now she is my biggest fan, she is the force behind us going to shows. She is the marketing director.”

The beauty of his work is that it is never boring. There are many different sides to his creations. Sometimes he keeps the bark on his creations and keeps the piece rough. Other times it may look like glass. Each one is a different size. The light, colors and angles gives his work a thousand faces. For more information on his work or where he will be showing, email him at: DanbreslowArt@gmail.com or visit his Etsy Store at: woodAsArtByDan.

Courtesy photo

A close-up of one of Breslow's beautiful creations. No two are alike and the melding of different woods is pure magic.

CT: I did keep up with showcasing the work of area artists, but I just didn’t add any new products and as we ran out, I didn’t replace them. I was getting to the point where I finally realized I wasn’t happy with the current model. It didn’t feel right, and it wasn't as rewarding as it used to be. Then Meredith came one day, and we had a heart-toheart talk about Philter. She is part of the Philter family -- her sister and brother have worked here, so I trusted her. I told her I was trying to get Philter back to the way it was. Later that night she sent me an email and after a few meetings, we settled on her leasing the kitchen and running her operation through here. She subleases and then, obviously, we share the space with the customers. I hadn’t seen this

model before, but I knew it existed, and because of it, we can both do the things we love to do.

Meredith Mitchell: I was at Longwood Gardens working as a horticulturist and at Temple finishing a degree.

I’d been at Longwood since 2015 and was really feeling a need to move on and school was just not clicking for me.

I liked what I was studying but it was not a good fit. So, when Chris and I met up, I had left Longwood, stopped graduate work, was working at Harvest Market with Megan Bushnell and was having a reset. I have always had a connection to growing food, and Philter was always a topic at the dinner table between my siblings.

CR: It really does feel like a family here. As a customer, I was so excited when everyone came back after the pandemic.

CT: It took me a while to realize something wasn’t

right. I was missing those connections -- the friendships that were formed, the bonds and the professional connections.

CR: Tell me about how you both came to create the new menu at Philter.

MM: We had to honor the classics, beginning with the Bahni Mi, Hummus Sandwich and the Spicy Egg Sandwich. I really wanted to make a menu based on locally sourced, simple food. We also wanted to keep the rotating pastries – from our talented baker, Chase, and from Tess Baker from O So Sweet in Chadds Ford.

CR: Fall is fast approaching. Any sneak peaks or menu updates?

MM: We are bringing back some grain bowls, warmer salads and the lunch special of a cup soup, a salad and a half sandwich. We want to keep the things people love while keeping it fresh.

CR: Let’s talk more about

Press conference announcing Brandywine flood study set for Aug. 22

On Tuesday, Aug. 22, a press conference to announce the funding and launch of the Brandywine flood study, led by the Brandywine Conservancy, Chester County Water Resources Authority (CCWRA) and the University of Delaware Water Resources Center (UDWRC) will take place at the Brandywine Museum of Art.

The press conference will begin at 11 a.m.

The flood study is being undertaken in response to more frequent and extreme flooding events impacting communities along the Brandywine Creek in both Pennsylvania and Delaware. The study will identify opportunities for future flood

mitigation measures.

Officials at the press conference will include Grant DeCosta, the Brandywine Conservancy’s director of Community Services; Seung Ah Byun, the Chester County Water Resources Authority’s executive director; Gerald Kauffman Jr., University of Delaware Water Resources Center’s director; Josh Maxwell, a Chester County Commissioner; Dr. Monica Taylor, Delaware County Council chair, and a host of local elected officials in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The Brandywine Museum of Art is located at 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road in Chadds Ford.

the partnership between A Little More and Philter. Will this be a long-term collaboration?

CT: At least for the next three years.

MM: I would not be able to do this without Chris. I did not have the capital to start my own business. I’m only here because Chris was able to lease me that space. He’s been very patient as I’ve navigated through running my own business.

CT: I found this when I was cleaning up my office the other day... (Chris disappeared then quickly re-emerged from the kitchen with a crinkled strip of paper with the original mission for Philter typed onto it.) “To provide our guests and community with a comfortable place to enjoy high quality coffee and food, delivered with sincere hospitality, and to provide a workplace that is supportive of our employees’ individual pursuits and growth.”

CR: I love that you invest in the creative community, and everyone invests in you.

CT: That was my philosophy in hiring.

MM: I don’t think everyone who works here realizes that our regular customers are invested in our lives and supporting us. I’ve met customers’ grandchildren. You don’t get that everywhere.

CT: The things I needed to do to get through a very strange time took away a big part of what made this place special. When we brought our furniture back in after the pandemic, I just stood behind the counter and smiled, because it felt so right.

Kennett Square resident selected to lead county’s Department of Children, Youth & Families

Eve Large has been named director of the Chester County Department of Children, Youth & Families (CYF) by Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline. Eve has worked for CYF since 2001, most recently as deputy director. She takes over leadership from Doug Waegel, who recently retired.

Moskowitz said, “The role of the Department of Children, Youth & Families is crucial to ensuring that the lives of children and families in our community are whole, healthy, and safe. It’s a service that all of our CYF staff take seriously and Eve is uniquely equipped to take the lead, as demonstrated in her two-plus decades with the department.”

Chester County’s Department of Children, Youth & Families provides social services to children and their families so that they can live and thrive in stable, permanent homes. Those services, provided to nearly 5,000 children and families, include child/general protective services, assessment of needs, prevention services, linkages to community resources, life skills education, and foster care and adoption services.

“The mission of the County’s CYF Department is to help strengthen a family’s ability to provide for the safety and well-being of its children,” said Maxwell. “Upholding that mission requires a collaborative, inclusive, team-focused, strategic-minded leader who can think critically. We are confident that Eve possesses those qualities and is the right person to lead CYF.”

Eve received a degree in psychology from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Immaculata University. She is a founding member of the Chester County Children’s Advocacy Center, and has participated as a member of a variety of county and state child welfare committees.

Eve is a graduate of Unionville High School and she lives in Kennett Square with her husband.

New book highlights Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley

Longwood Gardens

recently announced the release of Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley, a new book featuring photographs by Larry Lederman and text by Marta McDowell.

The book explores the rich history and unique attributes of five former du Pont estates that have become cultural landmarks in the Brandywine Valley, including Hagley Museum and Library, Nemours Estate, Mt. Cuba Center, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, and Longwood Gardens.

Published by Monacelli, Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley features 240 pages and 220 photographs. The book opens with a preface by Lederman that details his personal experience with the gardens, an introductory essay by Charles A. Birnbaum, President and CEO of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, who writes about the du Pont landscape legacy, and a chapter dedicated to the du Pont heritage of horticulture and stewardship.

McDowell, a garden writer who combines a deep knowledge of garden design and horticulture with a penchant for social history, contributed the book’s thoughtful text, relating the stories of these gardens, both their history and their commitment to the future through strategies for sustainable management and growth.

“The Brandywine Valley is home to some of the most spectacular gardens in the world and so much of that beauty is owed to the thoughtful vision of the du Pont family who created and preserved these estates for all to enjoy,” said Paul B. Redman, president and CEO of Longwood Gardens. “We are delighted to join these other great gardens in celebrating the release of this new book. The inspiring stories by Marta McDowell coupled with the beautiful images by Larry Lederman make this book an inspiring read for garden lovers, landscape designers, and horticulturists.”

To celebrate the launch of the new book, a book signing and lecture will be held at Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. McDowell will share stories and histories of the gardens, while Lederman will describe his approach and experience photographing these beautiful places throughout the seasons. A selection of photos from the book will be on display. Tickets for the lecture only or including the lecture and a signed copy of the book, are available now on the Winterthur website.

Since arriving in America in 1800, the descendants of the du Pont family have made their mark as

innovative industrialists, generous philanthropists, pioneering preservationists, collectors of American decorative arts, and ecological stewards of natural environments. Longwood’s own legacy finds its beginning interwoven with the du Pont family’s passion for nature and preservation. In 1906, industrialist Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954) purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Through that act of preservation, Longwood Gardens was born. In Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley, readers can view the iconic landscapes of one of the

Bethany Presbyterian Church

CLOTHING DRIVE

Free clothing giveaway serving the Oxford and surrounding area.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

12:00PM - 4:00PM

2483 Baltimore Pike Oxford, PA 19363

Please come on out on Saturday, September 2nd from 12pm - 4pm for our free clothing giveaway. We have all sizes for boys/girls and men/women. Stock up on fall and winter clothes (Spring and Summer too) as well as back to school clothes for the kids. We will be there rain or shine and can’t wait to see you there!

Feel free to tell your family, friends and neighbors. God bless!!

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world’s great horticultural displays and its 1,100 acres of dazzling gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, and grand conservatory.

Lederman’s vivid photographs exquisitely capture the beauty and spirit of each place, moving through the seasons and the day from dawn to dusk. With an individual chapter dedicated to each garden, readers will travel to the naturalized woodland at Winterthur,

the Beaux-Arts elegance of Nemours, the striking ruins atop ruins of the Crowninshield Garden at Hagley, and the picturesque native plant gardens and scenic trails of Mt. Cuba Center. The hardcover book retails for $60 and is available now onsite at Longwood’s Garden Shop and online at shop.longwoodgardens.org/product/ dupont-gardens-of-thebrandywine/.

About the Authors

Following a successful career in corporate law, Larry Lederman turned to photography as an avocation. From an initial focus on the forms and foliage of trees, Lederman now captures the beauty of gardens and landscapes through the seasons. He is the author of many books, including Magnificent Trees of the New York Botanical Garden, The Rockefeller Family Gardens: An American Legacy, and Garden Portraits: Experiencing Natural Beauty, all published by Monacelli, and the principal photographer for the 125th anniversary edition of The New York Botanical Garden (Abrams). Marta McDowell is a garden historian and writer whose books include Emily Dickinson’s Gardening Life, Unearthing the Secret Garden, and Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life. She teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden and is a featured speaker at garden clubs and horticultural organizations. Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA, FAAR, founder, president, and CEO of The Cultural Landscape Foundation, is the editor of Experiencing Olmsted, a survey of parks and public spaces.

Photo courtesy Monacelli

The book explores the rich history and unique attributes of five former du Pont estates that have become cultural landmarks in the Brandywine Valley, including Hagley Museum and Library, Nemours Estate, Mt. Cuba Center, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, and Longwood Gardens.

Food for thought:

Children will be better students as a result of Pennsylvania’s Universal School Breakfast program

The start of a new school year will soon be upon us and state lawmakers recently took a small step to ensure that all students have a chance to make the most of their school days.

Pennsylvania’s Universal School Breakfast program was officially extended through the 20232024 school year, and lawmakers and school district officials alike lauded the fact that schoolchildren will have access to a nutritious breakfast to start their day. Statistics show that 1 in 8 Pennsylvania students live with food insecurity.

“Students will be heading back to school in the next few weeks and knowing that they will be able to start every day ready to learn with a healthy breakfast is a huge relief for families and schools,” said State Sen. Lindsey Williams. “School meals are just as essential to learning as textbooks and pencils—students can’t learn when they’re hungry. I’m incredibly glad to see this program funded for the 2023-2024 school year as we work to make this cornerstone of food security for students permanent.”

The Universal School Breakfast program should be permanent.

Simply put, students can’t be expected to learn if they are hungry.

The Universal School Breakfast program was started in Pennsylvania by former Governor Tom Wolf during the 2022-2023 school year after pandemic-era federal waivers that had given all students access to free school breakfast and lunch expired.

Following advocacy from State Sen. Williams and others, Gov. Wolf established the Universal School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfast for all Pennsylvania students enrolled in schools that participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. This program proved to be an enormous success, with many school districts seeing the number of students taking the opportunity to eat a healthy breakfast at school doubling from pre-pandemic numbers.

State Sen. Judy Schwank and State Sen. Williams have introduced SB 180, the No Student Should Go Hungry - Universal School Meals bill, which would provide free school lunch and breakfast to all students who are not already covered through the federal free and reduced-price-meal and Community Eligibility Provision programs. The bill will also eliminate existing school lunch debt so both schools and families can have a fresh start.

State Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-20) has introduced companion legislation in the House. Since the introduction of this legislation, locally elected school boards across the state have passed resolutions expressing their support for the Universal School Meals legislation. In these resolutions, school boards have noted that the free breakfast program has resulted in improved attendance rates and participation rates have gone up, while the number of behavioral incidents has gone down.

Studies have also shown that the school meals help reduce childhood hunger and they are often the healthiest meals of the day for many children. The school meals help decrease childhood weight issues and obesity, and they improve overall child nutrition and wellness. The studies also support the school boards’ conclusions that the school meals enhance child development and school readiness and also help with learning, attendance, and behavior. A healthy breakfast also contributes to positive mental health outcomes for students.

‘We don’t have enough hospital beds’

Doctor quoted jarring statistics reporting that one quarter of teen girls meet criteria for in-patient admission when discussing mental health crisis therapies or as standalone support.

Cheryl L. Green, M.D., quoted jarring statistics when discussing the current mental health crisis among teens: 30 percent of America’s teenage girls have contemplated suicide in the past year, 24 percent had suicidal thoughts “with a plan,” which meets the criteria for in-patient admission, she explained.

“Professional help is in short supply right now because it’s such a crisis,” she said in a recent interview. “We don’t have enough hospital beds; we don’t have enough child and adolescent psychiatrists. So the question becomes, how can parents help right here, right now? And there are a lot of things parents can do.”

In her critically important new book, Heal Your Daughter: How Lifestyle Psychiatry Can Save Her from Depression, Cutting, and Suicidal Thoughts, Dr. Green empowers parents with lifestyle psychiatry strategies that can be used in conjunction with traditional

“Lifestyle Psychiatry can supplement in-patient psychiatric treatment as usual, after they are out, but can’t replace in-patient admission if your child is truly suicidal with a plan,” Dr. Green said. “It goes a long way toward preventing that from ever happening, which is critical, considering our teens have been experiencing grave problems in their mental health for over a decade, and the recent pandemic greatly deepened what was already a crisis.”

In Heal Your Daughter, Dr. Green addresses the unique stress factors impacting teenage girls and gives parents or other caregivers six concrete ways to help their daughters develop health-promoting, depression-reversing habits. She begins by explaining the new field of lifestyle psychiatry, and provides state of the art, evidence-based information and guidance related to six lifestyle domains: nutrition, detoxification, exercise,

sleep, emotional connectedness, and stress reduction.

“The good news is that healing, even from the worst disasters of childhood and early adolescence, is possible,” Dr. Green said. “The early traumas that life inflicts need not be ‘managed’ with ever-escalating doses of psychiatric medications; I believe that they actually can be healed — completely or almost completely healed. There is every reason for hope.”

Dr. Green explained that the method outlined in her book doesn’t require a diagnosis. It is drug-free and affordable. And perhaps most importantly, it offers new hope to those who have given up on psychiatry and on the traditional mental health care system.

“Teen girls with depression are often overwhelmed, and are unable to help themselves,” Dr. Green added. “But you, the caregiver, can help them take tiny steps in the six domains described in the book. The more tiny steps taken, the closer teen girls

can come to reclaiming the foundations of their physical and mental health.”

Ultimately, Heal Your Daughter and its companion book, The Heal Your Daughter Workbook, aim to make important new contributions to society’s collective understanding and support of today’s girls.

Dr. Cheryl L. Green is a lifestyle psychiatrist based in Southern California. She works part-time at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and part time in her own private practice based in the greater Los Angeles area. She holds degrees from Harvard University (A.B.), Princeton University (Ph.D.) and Stanford University School of Medicine (M.D.). She is board certified in Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Lifestyle Medicine. Her passion is inspiring others to achieve vibrant physical and mental health. She can be found online on her website, www.CherylLGreenMD.com.

State officials want to move date of Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said that time was of the essence if hopes of moving the date of Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary are to be realized in a letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward.

“As you know, Governor (Josh) Shapiro has also publicly stated his support for moving the 2024 General Primary – which currently falls on the first full day of Passover, a major Jewish holiday, to ensure that all eligible voters have every opportunity to exercise their right to vote and to serve their community as election officers and poll workers on that day,” wrote Schmidt. “I know the Governor hopes to work with the General Assembly to make this date change a reality.

“While I certainly support making this change, as a longtime election administrator, I strongly urge that any legislation moving the date of the primary be passed by the General Assembly as soon as possible. Given that

you have not scheduled the Senate to return to session until September 18, meaning any legislative action on this topic is at minimum two months away, I am deeply concerned we will not give county election officials the time they need to adjust thousands of polling locations to accommodate a new, earlier Primary date.

“Typically, county election boards reserve polling locations and poll workers a year or more in advance of an election to avoid conflicts with other events and to have ample time to inform voters of where they will cast their votes. There are more than 9,000 polling locations that need to be secured across the Commonwealth for the Primary election. To provide some context on what that undertaking is like for counties, election administrators in Westmoreland County need to secure 307 polling places and Montgomery County needs to secure 301. County election officials will have to confirm the availability of each of those polling

places and their poll workers and make alternative arrangements if necessary. Additionally, school districts that close their schools to students on election days will have to adjust their academic calendar.”

State Senators David Argall (R-Carbon/Luzerne/ Schuylkill) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) have introduced Senate Bill 224 that calls for the state’s presidential primary to move from the fourth Tuesday in April to the third Tuesday in March. Rep. Keith Greiner (R-Lancaster) has introduced a similar bill in the House that would do the same.

“This will allow our voters to have a significant say in the outcome of these essential elections, while not running afoul of any rules set forth by the Democratic National Committee or the Republican National Committee,” said Argall and Street in their cosponsorship memoranda.

“The lateness of Pennsylvania’s presidential primary diminishes its significance for voters of both the

Democratic and Republican parties,” said Greiner in his cosponsorship memoranda. “Pennsylvania’s presidential primary should have a significant impact on the process of selecting presidential candidates, to reflect our standing as The Keystone State.” While applauding Ward’s interest in moving the date, Schmidt also provided background from his experience as a Philadelphia City Commissioner.

“With each passing day, it grows more challenging for county election officials to identify and reserve alternative polling locations where conflicts are identified for the current locations,” he wrote. “The legislation that has been introduced in the State Senate would move the Primary date five weeks earlier in the year, increasing the pressure on county election administrators even further. Giving counties adequate time to coordinate the people, facilities, and supplies that are necessary to administer an election is integral to a well-run 2024 Primary.”

Chester County Community Foundation welcomes new board member

The Chester County Community Foundation recently welcomed a new board member, Duke Schneider, Esq. of McElree Harvey to the Board of Directors.

Schneider is an attorney who works closely with individuals on a wide variety of estate and wealth transfer planning and estate and trust administration matters. He has many years of community involvement, including working with Bishop Shanahan High School and Community

The organization also recognizes out-going leaders Volunteers in Medicine.

The Chester County Community Foundation also extended its gratitude and appreciation to out-going board members, John J.

and commitment has led to opening doors to legacy philanthropy, strengthening the nonprofit community and contributions to the growth and success of the foundation.

Courtesy photo John J. Allegretto, Esq., Mike DeHaven, CPA, Mary T. Holleran, Matthew Holliday, John F. McKenna, Esq., Jacqueline Motyl, Esq., and Phillip C. Wagner, CFA were thanked by the Chester County Community Foundation for their work.

Allegretto, Esq.,

Mike DeHaven, CPA, Mary T. Holleran, Matthew Holliday, John F. McKenna, Esq., Jacqueline Motyl, Esq., and Phillip C. Wagner, CFA for their exceptional service. Their leadership

Kennett Borough Housing

Continued from Page 1A

had four or more residents, but only 19 percent of housing units had more than three bedrooms.

• Realtors have indicated that houses listed for sale in the borough often receive double digit offers, and most are well over the original asking price.

• New housing construction in the borough – either in rental or in owner-occupied form – continue to rise substantially, making these units unaffordable for those at lower income levels.

The encroaching reality in these possible options, however, lay in the simple fact that demand has exceeded supply in the borough, which affects a development company’s need to take affordable housing into serious consideration. The hard-to-digest truth is this: realtors are seeing potential gold in the growing popularity of a borough that has consistently ranked as one of the most popular small towns in the U.S. The Flats of Kennett, opened in 2020, is at full capacity with a long waiting list, with monthly rents that start at $1,920 for a one-bedroom apartment; the Lofts at Kennett Pointe are anticipated to reach full capacity when completed, and where one-bedroom apartments start at $2,150 a month; and the current construction of Kennett Square Apartments on West State Street and Mill Road will showcase 166 Class A luxury units.

Zubrod then shared another reality.

“The 2020 census tells us that the median family income level in Kennett Square was $76,000, and housing experts tell us that at that income level, a family can afford a house selling at $260,000,” he said. “A recent review of home prices in the borough suggest that there were no family homes selling for less than $320,000.”

Council provides feedback, direction

Following Zubrod’s presentation, members of council addressed various issues.

“We don’t regulate pricing of apartments or homes as borough council,” council member Kathleen Caccamo said to Zubrod. “In creating more units in the area, it’s a struggle between what the market bears and what people charge. Council can’t suddenly say [to realtors], ‘You can only charge this much for an apartment’ without input from people who publicly and privately own the buildings. It’s their choice on how they’re priced, so how does council work within those constraints?”

“Price is a function of supply and demand, so when you increase supply, that lowers price,” Zubrod told Caccamo.

“We are one square mile, mostly densely populated currently and everybody wants to live here,” Caccamo replied, referring to the marked spike in the value of homes in the borough. Her response was were followed

by a comment by a borough resident in attendance, who told Zubrod that the issue is not one of zoning, but population.

“Where are you going to put all these people?” he asked. “You can’t put ten pounds in a five-pound bag, and we’re a five-pound bag. Our roads can’t handle it and we can’t expand them. You put another one or two thousand people here, you’re going to ruin this town.”

Council President Doug Doerfler said that while several initiatives to provide for more affordable housing in the borough are beyond the council’s control, “one of the things that is in our control is to look at zoning polices and regulations –which we could have some control over.”

“I strongly think that we owe the folks in the borough who can least afford to live here the opportunity to take a look at how we can help affordability in the borough – across all of those folks who need a place to live,” Council member Bob Norris said. “They are the ones who are the most vulnerable. In my opinion, we owe them a look to see how we can make certain properties in the borough more affordable than they are now.

“It was our second-highest priority last year. When we sat down, we said what is the most important thing we can do as a council, and it was to get our financial house in order, and number two was to do something about affordability.”

“Our situation is not a unique one,” Zubrod said.

“Communities in Chester County and in the state are facing similar challenges. These aren’t silver-bullet solutions, but they would lay a foundation for progress in this area.

“The Planning Commission’s goal is to spark a conversation about housing policies. I think the value of going through a process like this is that we are looking at all of the issues and pursuing some concrete action steps in parallel. I don’t think we need to get through the end of the journey in order to start making progress on it.”

Enhancing communications in the borough

Deputy Borough Manager Sonny Greco conducted a public workshop that spelled out the many upgrades the borough is making to improve communications with borough residents. They include monthly e-newsletters that now have 6,000 subscribers; inclusion in the ReadyCheso notification system, a county-wide application that has 5,000 subscribers who obtain pressing information about road closures, floods and emergencies; Facebook postings; two annual mailers; digital borough forms that allows for two-way communication between the borough and its residents; and the development of a Kennett Square application, which is scheduled to be unveiled in the fall. Greco told council that the borough held strategic planning sessions in March that

invited residents, community stakeholders, business leaders and council members. The feedback from those sessions identified the need to better integrate borough information to the Hispanic community. Since June, all borough newsletters are now published in English and Spanish, as will the end-ofthe-year mailer.

In other borough business

Council approved the formation of a borough infrastructure committee that will be charged with the responsibility of exploring short- and long-term infrastructure initiatives in the borough that will include discussions on the prioritization of road development and the capital replacement schedule for the borough's buildings.

Norris said that the timeline for finalizing the borough’s 2024 budget will include a first draft presentation before the public in October and at some before the end of the year, the borough will hold an information session open house that will allow residents to speak with members of the borough government. He said that residents also have the option to review the borough’s budget on the borough’s website.

Police Chief William Holdsworth reported that the Kennett Square Police Department held an active shooter training session on Aug. 3 at Kennett High School in cooperation with the Kennett Consolidated School District and local

fire and EMS units. He said that the police department has been working with the school district for the past three-and-a-half years on implementing safety and security protocols in district schools.

Holdsworth called the session “an incredible collaborative effort that gave us the opportunity to see how well our protocols actually work, assure us that what we have put into place are in fact life-saving measures and will reduce the severity if [a shooting incident] ever did happen.”

He said that the department and district will continue to develop its training efforts over the next year.

Several residents in attendance urged the council to explore ways for the borough to end the contract it has the Kennett Area YMCA to operate the outdoor pool at 636 South Walnut Street, obtain the financial resources to purchase the pool and hire a management firm – and possibly community organizations -- to operate the pool. They complained that while the YMCA has opened the pool on the weekends for the community, the wading pool for children is not in use.

The board approved the appointment of Lynn Sinclair as a borough representative for the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway Commission’s Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Project.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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Brandywine Festival of the Arts returns for 62nd year

The two-day event features 250 artisans, music, children’s activities and 16 food vendors

With more than 250 artisans displaying and selling their works as well as 16 food and snack vendors, the Brandywine Festival of the Arts, a Wilmington tradition since 1961, returns to Brandywine Park on Sept. 9 and 10 for its largest show ever.

In addition to art works and food, the event features music, children’s activities and pet-adoption opportunities.

The artisans, coming from not only the mid-Atlantic states but also from New England, Virginia, Florida and the Midwest, include painters, photographers, jewelry makers, ceramicists, woodcrafters and fabric artists.

This year’s festival will feature Edwin Lester, a self-taught artist who brings a very sophisticated and technically advanced style of realism to his figurative and atmospheric paintings. The Philadelphia native has exhibited in galleries and museums across the country. His painting, “Worn But Not Out,” is on the cover of the 2023 U.S.

Civil Rights Trail Travel Guide.

The end of the COVID19 pandemic and the completion of the Interstate 95 reconstruction project through Wilmington have made the festival more attractive to artisans this year, and all vendor spaces were reserved by mid-June, the earliest ever, according to Barry Schlecker, whose Barry’s Events has produced the festival since 2010.

The festival, held on the banks of the Brandywine on the weekend after Labor Day, attracts as many as 15,000 visitors, with some regulars returning to reconnect with their favored artists, while others seek out the works of new exhibitors, Schlecker said. The event is timed not only to mark the transition from summer to fall but also to signal peak season for home redecorating and the early purchase of holiday gifts.

Schlecker said the festival team has put added emphasis this year on expanding and diversifying food and snack options. This year’s

offerings include Asian fusion, vegetarian, BBQ, soul food, chicken, seafood, ice cream, water ice, kettle corn, caramel and honey treats.

Musicians from OperaDelaware will perform on Saturday and Sunday. Face-painting and other activities will be offered in the Kids Korner. Animal rescue organizations will be on hand to describe pet adoption procedures.

Brandywine Park is located at 1001 N. Park Drive, opposite the Brandywine Zoo. Free parking and shuttle bus service will be available at Incyte, 1801 Augustine Cutoff.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10. Admission is $5 per day, with children 12 and under accompanied by an adult admitted free. Friendly pets on leashes are welcome at the festival and on the shuttle buses.

For more information, visit brandywinearts. com or facebook.com/ brandywinearts.

The Brandywine Festival of the Arts returns to Brandywine Park on Sept. 9 and 10 for its largest show ever.

Delaware Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival takes place on Aug. 19

The first annual Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival Tour is coming to Wilmington on Saturday, Aug. 19 from noon to 6 p.m. at Tubman Garret Riverfront Park at Rosa Parks Drive in Wilmington. This festival offers up beer, bourbon, BBQ, boots, bacon, biscuits, bluegrass and smoked beasts. It’s a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’ and bbq eatin’.

The cost of admission buys a sampling glass so attendees can enjoy an All-You-Care-To-Taste sampling of more than 60 beers and 40 bourbons. There is the Shrine of Swine where you get to enjoy whole hogs during each session—VIP and general admission. Take in

Photos courtesy Brandywine Festival of the Arts

The Brandywine Festival of the Arts will feature more than 250 artisans displaying and selling their works. The Brandywine Festival of the Arts has been a Wilmington tradition since 1961.

JOHN DAVID WOODWARD, JR.

John David “Dave” Woodward, Jr., 53, of Kennett Square, passed away suddenly on July 28, 2023 in Kennett Square.

He was the husband of Doreen (nee Cotter) Woodward, with whom he shared over 20 years of marriage.

Born in West Chester, he was the son of John Woodward and the late Patsy (nee

Dave was a graduate of West Chester East High School. He was the director of public works in West Goshen Township and was an employee there for 23 years.

He enjoyed family trips to Disney and attending his daughter’s high school marching band events and competitions and chorus concerts.

He had many activities that he enjoyed, including lounging in his backyard pool and on his back porch, breakfast at Hank’s, watching Phillies and Flyers games and NASCAR races, bike rides on the Delaware and Maryland boardwalks, grilling on his deck, landscaping and tending to his vegetable garden, listening to Frank Sinatra, and spending quality time with his family.

He will be remembered for being a loving and devoted husband and father, and a wonderful son, brother, uncle,

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and cousin. Dave was a man of great integrity with a quiet, but kind, soul who would give you the shirt off his back if needed.

In addition to his wife, Doreen, and father, Dave, he is survived by one daughter, 17-year-old Emily Woodward, a sister, Diane Conner (Matt), his father-inlaw, David Cotter, a sister-in-law, Michelle McMahon (Joe), as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, niece, and nephews. Dave was predeceased by his mother, Patsy, and mother-in-law, Donna.

Services and a celebration of his life were held on Aug. 3 at the Church of the Advent in Kennett Square. Interment will be held privately. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Emily Woodward Education Fund at https://www.tmcfunding.com/funds/ emily-woodward-education-fund-daughter-of-davewoodward/8233.

Arrangements are being handled by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-7348100) of Kennett Square.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

LESLIE PAULA BROOMELL

Leslie Paula Broomell, of Lancaster, Pa., died on July 30, 2023. She was 75. She was the wife of the late Glenn L. Broomell.

Born in Reading, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Lester and Shirley Hoffman Conrad, and the sister of the late Cheryl Conrad.

She graduated from Oley Valley Area High School in 1966. She was a member of the color guard, and she twice marched in the Philadelphia Eagles halftime show at Franklin Field.

A lifelong global traveler, Leslie retired from USAir in Harrisburg.

She was a huge advocate of the Rohrerstown Fire Company and enjoyed cooking for the live-in firefighters.

She is survived by her son, Sean Broomell, her sonin-law, David Dumas, her boyfriend, Jack Kohout, and her beloved cat, GG.

Interment will be 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.

Obituary submissions

The Chester County Press publishes obituaries free of charge for funeral homes with active advertising accounts only. Others with a connection to southern Chester County are charged a modest fee. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received with a Monday 5 p.m. deadline. They are also posted on www. chestercounty.com. Photos should be sent as .jpeg attachments to the obituary text. To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press or for a rate quote, email the information to editor@chestercounty.com.

PA CareerLink Chester County hosts open house and resource fair on Sept. 7

PA CareerLink Chester County will host a PA CareerLink Day Open House and Resource Fair on Thursday, Sept. 7 at its Exton location.

The annual event allows job seekers, employers, and community organizations to explore the resources and services offered by PA CareerLink Chester County and its

partners to assist individuals in joining or re-entering the workforce.

Jeannette Roman, the director of the Chester County Workforce Development Board, said, “PA CareerLink Chester County is an incredible – and free – resource for anyone in the job market who wants to connect with job opportunities and employers, learn new skills,

and get career coaching.”

Butch Urban, the site administrator for PA CareerLink Chester County, added, “PA CareerLink Day is timely because it coincides with Labor Day and Workforce Development Month in September, which recognizes the importance of workforce development programs that PA CareerLink Chester County offers.

“This day is significant because it provides the opportunity for in-person engagements for individuals who have not interacted with PA CareerLink before or simply do not know where to start when looking for a job.”

PA CareerLink Day kicks off with an interactive Employer Panel workshop featuring hiring profession-

Obituaries

MILDRED SPEAKMAN CHAMBERS

Mildred Speakman Chambers passed away on July 31, 2023 at her home in West Grove. She was 91. She was the spouse of the late Richard Chambers, with whom she shared 66 years of marriage.

Born in West Grove, she was the daughter of the late John Speakman and Lillian (Prange) Speakman.

Mildred had several jobs, but the most significant amount of time was spent as a Dutchmaid clothing party representative. Many friends knew Mildred as the person to go to complete their wardrobe. She was also the office secretary for Star Roses for many years. In her spare time, she enjoyed crossword puzzles and fill-in-the-blanks. She loved watching wildlife in her back yard, particularly the birds and squirrels. She enjoyed cooking and baking pies and she loved watching game shows and Hallmark movies. She collected angels and often received pineapple-themed gifts because she loved the fruit so much. She and Dick used to spend the majority of their spare time at Rehoboth Beach. They made weekly trips during the years they were able.

Mildred will be remembered for sending cards for every special occasion to all of those she held dear to her heart. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren

were all recipients as well, and their cards always held a little extra love. She was also always in attendance at all of her grandchildren’s sporting events.

She was a member of West Grove United Methodist Church and for many years enjoyed singing in the church choir.

Mildred is survived by her son, John Chambers (and his wife, Cindy) of West Grove and her sister, Nancy Townsend of Louisiana. Also surviving are her grandchildren, John (and his wife Jamie), and Kaite Moran (and her husband Ben), who are expecting Mildred’s great-grandchild in September, and her great-grandchildren, Noah and Olivia.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she is predeceased by her brother, Donald Speakman.

Services were held on Aug. 5 at the West Grove United Methodist Church. Interment followed immediately after the service at the New Garden Friends Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to West Grove Fire Company https://www. wgfc.org/content/donations/ or West Grove United Methodist Church https://westgroveumc.org/ (click on the "give" tab).

Arrangements are being handled by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. of Kennett Square (484-459-6217).

To view Mildred’s online obituary, please visit www griecofunerals.com.

als from local companies. Job seekers can ask questions, and the employer panel will give feedback on interviews, resumes, and social media, as well as how to stand out from the pack and job searching in a virtual world. The free Employer Panel runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and registration is required. To register, go to https://bit.ly/3DL2zzi.

The PA CareerLink Chester County Open House and Resource Fair runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton. Tours of the PA CareerLink Chester County office will be offered during this time. Registration is not required for the Open House and Resource Fair, and there is no cost to attend.

CELIO PADILLA VAZQUEZ

Celio Padilla Vazquez, of Elkton, Md., passed away on Aug. 6, 2023 while at home. He was 78.

He was the husband of Zaida D. Vazquez.

Born in Naranjito, Puerto Rico, he was the son of the late Raymundo Padilla and Flora Vazquez. Celio enjoyed watching the New Yankees and the New York Giants.

He loved and cherished his wife, daughters and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Doris V. Padilla (Luis A. Narvaez), Bethzaida Padilla (Mark A. Zebley) and Florimar Padilla; and 11 grandchildren, Luis A. Narvaez, Reycel F. Narvaez, Jan L. Narvaez, Rancel Narvaez, Kenneth G. Narvaez, Kenielys Narvaez, Joniel Ortiz, Payton M. Zebley, Cenuel O. Rosado, Carimar Rosado and Eddie Y. Diaz.

He is also survived by two sisters, Generosa Padilla and Nelida Padilla, and one brother, Manuel Padilla. He had three great-grandchildren on the way.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Jose Padilla.

A visitation was held on Aug. 10 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.

Services and interment will be held Puerto Rico.

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

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Fay A. Kelly, Late of Borough of Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 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 Andrea Kelly, Administrator, Or Attorney: Jeff P. Bryman, 225 Wilmington West Chester Pike, Suite 200, Chadds Ford PA 19317, Jeff P. Bryman, Esq., Law Offices of Kenneth R. Pyle 225 Wilmington West Chester Pike, Suite 200, Chadds Ford PA 19317 8p-16-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Clifford B Benham, late of West Grove, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Nickolas E Williams, Executor: 45804 Horsehead Rd, Great Mills, MD 20634.

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YMCA of Greater Brandywine GYMCATS make team history at National Gymnastics Championship

Alexis Nemchik becomes first team member to place as a National All-Around Champion Finalist

The YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) gymnastics team, the GYMCATS, made history at the YMCA National Gymnastics Championship and Invitational held last month in Cincinnati, Ohio. The YMCA National Gymnastics Championship has been held annually since 1938 and showcases the highest level of YMCA gymnastics.

At the 2023 competition, gymnast Alexis Nemchik, a junior at Downingtown West, made team history as the first member of the GYMCATS to place as a National All-Around Champion Finalist. The all-around includes vault, beam, floor and bar.

In total, the GYMCATS sent 35 athletes and five coaches to the competition where more than 1,800 athletes from 80 different YMCA teams took to the floor in spirited competition.

In individual competitions, six members of the GYMCATS placed first in the following events:

Vault - Alexis Nemchik

Bars- Alexis Nemchik

Bars- Ava Kraatz

Beam- Bridget Hoban

Floor- Sophia Renaldo

Floor- Lauren Hillanbrand

Floor- Lilly Campli

Additionally, 12 members of the GYMCATS placed within the top 25 in the nation for the Level 8 and Diamond teams. These members are Angela Morris, Julia DeLuca, Reese

Paterno, Sophia Renaldo, Kristen Cuskey, Lilly Campli, Bridget Hoban, Natalie Kamper, Lauren Loeper, Kelly Warner, Gillian Malany and Alexis Nemchik.

In group competitions, the Diamond team placed third, Level 7 and Level 8 teams placed fourth and Level 6 team placed tenth.

“I am so incredibly proud of our gymnasts and coaches,” said Megan Hartman, the director of gymnastics for YGBW. “Throughout the weekend,

I was approached by officials, judges, fellow coaches and competitors who shared positive comments about our athletes’ tremendous sportsmanship.

While I am so very proud of our many accomplishments and standings, I am even more proud of the way that our GYMCATS carried themselves throughout the competition.

“None of this would have been possible without our passionate coaching staff and their dedication to this program. I look forward to seeing what this team will continue to accomplish.”

The GYMCATS is a competitive gymnastics team based out of the Oscar Lasko YMCA & Childcare Center in downtown West Chester. Recreational and preschool programs, as well as summer camps, are also available.

For more information about the YMCA Gymnastics program visit ymcagbw.org/ gymnastics or contact Megan Hartman at mhartman@ymcagbw.org.

Chester County 4-H hands out awards

Chester County 4-H honored one winner of the Spirit of 4-H Award and three additional 4-H members with Certificates of Achievement.

The recipient of the 2023 Chester County Spirit of 4-H Award is Emma Uhlman.

Emma is a 10-year 4-H member who participates in the Beef, Sheep, and Swine clubs. She credits 4-H with helping prepare her for future life and find a strong passion for agriculture. She feels that participating in 4-H has taught her about hard work and prepared her for whatever life throws at her. She has engaged in several community events to promote agriculture and made many friends through her 4-H journey. Her leader, Tiffany Bell, said Uhlman is a real go-getter and always willing to volunteer without hesitation to take on leadership in the Beef Club. Uhlman. will be attending Penn State in the fall and resides in West Whiteland Township

Uhlman received a plaque in recognition for being selected winner of the Spirit of 4-H Award, as well as having her name on a plaque displayed at the 4-H Center.

The Spirit of the 4-H Award started in 1998 by Saddle Up 4-H Horse and Pony Club. The award went to a member of the club that demonstrated the most spirit, enthusiasm, and willingness to do anything for

4-H or the community.

Those youth being recognized with Certificates are Audrey Ibach, River Lease, and Olivia Macomber.

Ibach is a six-year member of the Northern Chester County Horse club. She is active in her club serving in different leadership positions, helping with her club horse show and participating in several community events representing 4-H. She has attended the 4-H

State Leadership conference to expand her leadership and communication skills and competed in the hippology contest to expand her equine skills.

Lease is a nine-year member who participates in the 4-H livestock program raising and showing goats, sheep, and beef as well as participating in the livestock judging team. His 4-H experience has opened his eyes to careers in agri-

culture and led him to his current job at a local dairy farm as well as his own small farm to table business selling home grown meat and eggs. His leader, Betsy Macauley, said he exemplifies the spirit of 4-H and has seen tremendous leadership development. He mentors less experienced members of the judging team without hesitation and is a great representative of Chester County at local, regional, state, and national livestock events.

Macomber is in her final year of 4-H having had an exemplary 9-year 4-H career. She credits 4-H as

helping her grow to the person she is today crediting the 4-H community help her overcome being shy and afraid to speak to people, to now being able to speak to groups with confidence.

Her 4- H family has continued to support her as she moved out of state for college while staying active on the Chester County Livestock judging team and participating in club meetings using virtual meeting platforms. She has participated in various Pennsylvania and national agriculture and leadership conferences through her

involvement in 4-H and the Twin Valley FFA programs. Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a community of more than 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Penn State Extension 4-H youth development educators in all 67 counties throughout the commonwealth administer local 4-H programs through non-formal education and outreach. To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/ programs/4-h.

Courtesy photo

Chester County 4-H honored one winner of the Spirit of 4-H Award and three additional 4-H members with Certificates of Achievement during the recent event.

Courtesy photo

Emma Uhlman received a plaque in recognition for being selected winner of the Spirit of 4-H Award.

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