Chester County Press 08-23-2023 Edition

Kennett School Board presents building plans at Act 34 hearing

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer

The Kennett Consolidated School District board presented its plans for two new elementary school buildings at an Act 34 hearing in a mostly empty room at Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center on Aug. 14.

Act 34 hearings are public meetings mandated by the state and applied to districts that are planning a significant building project. The hearings are described as a chance for the public to see what is coming and to

provide those individuals an opportunity to express their own opinions or ask questions about the details of the project.

Although no one from the public attended, the board and building contractors proceeded with the meeting twice consecutively that evening: once for New Garden Elementary School and once for Greenwood Elementary School. The hearing was publicly broadcast online, officials said.

District CFO Mark Tracy was tasked with introducing the speakers and describing

the planning process up to that point. He also announced that this was a review of decisions already arrived at. Nothing new was to be announced that evening.

Tracy said that his personal anticipation of elementary school building projects to replace the current New Garden and Greenwood elementary schools went back many years. In fact, he said, when he was hired by the district in 2001 and toured the buildings, it occurred to him that some day he would be involved in Act 34 hearings for those facilities.

New Garden Hills’ planting project taking root

By Richard L. GaW Staff Writer

In the middle of the black-and-white, page-turning business of the Aug. 21 New Garden Board of Supervisors meeting, another color took center stage, and it was the color of nature.

Township resident Stan Lukoff, a master watershed steward with certification from Penn State Extension and a key component of the township’s efforts to provide education about the importance of plantings to the environment, gave an update of a year-long project that has created a riparian buffer and live stake nursery in the southeastern quadrant of New Garden Hills.

A riparian buffer is an area adjacent to a stream, lake or wetland that contains a combination of trees, shrubs and/or other perennial plants and is managed differently from the surrounding landscape, primarily to provide conservation benefits like improved water quality, erosion and flood control, food for wildlife, as well as serve as a deterrent to flooding and low stream flows.

Similarly, live staking of shrubs helps to stabilize stream banks, prevents erosion, and filters nutrients and other pollution from upstream runoff.

Originally approved by the township in April of 2022, the project received a $33,000 grant as well as an additional $34,000 in in-kind contributions that kick-started the project last September with site clearing, invasive and dead tree removal, mowing and

Continued on Page 3A

Tracy described both schools as “aging” and each is over 55 years old. New Garden was opened in 1957 and Greenwood opened in 1963.

In that connection, Tracy also praised the maintenance crew of the district for keeping the buildings clean and safe all these years. Still, he acknowledged that the time has come to address the building conditions for both schools.

“The district has identified the need to address the capital needs and educational program deficiencies at the

aging schools,” he said. He added that the board is not only thinking of the students in their planning, but the needs of the community as well.

“The board has done its best to determine what is best for the community,” he said.

Tracy recounted what the board has done so far in the process: There has been a feasibility study in 2019, an enrollment projection in 2021 and another feasibility study by Breslin Architects in 2022.

Tracy’s first task at the

hearing was to call upon legal counsel Colleen Degnan to introduce the legislation that prompts Act 34 hearings. She was followed by architect Michael Bell of Breslin Architects and Henry Guarriello of D’Huy Engineering, and then a review of financing options by Jamie Doyle.

Bell presented diagrams and sketches of the two new proposed buildings in the successive hearings at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Both elementary school plans showed two adjacent

‘Stop

the insanity’

Supervisor slams PECO at township board meeting

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Supervisors meeting was coming to a close, supervisor Scudder Stevens used the public comment portion to deliver a sharp criticism of PECO on the heels of the Aug. 7 severe storm that saw PECO power lines throughout Chester County damaged by fallen trees

that left as many as 27,000 county customers without power.

Referencing his handwritten notes on a yellow legal pad, Stevens delivered a ten-minute diatribe against the power company that was preceded by his expression of gratitude to the PECO employees who work to restore power during sever weather incidents – several from states other than Pennsylvania.

Despite the company’s best effort to restore power during severe storms, Stevens said the company is at fault for not developing underground cabling which would have prevented the power outages that occurred throughout the township and the entire county on Aug. 7.

“Early on as a supervisor, I expressed a concern that PECO would continually

State Police continue search for missing Lower Oxford

Township woman

on her chest, “Teti” tattooed on her arm, and a large scar on her right hand. Teti was last seen several months ago. She frequents the Kensington and Hunting Park areas of Philadelphia. Any person with information about her whearabouts is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police Avondale Station at 610-

268-2022 or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online at https://www. p3tips.com/tipform. aspx?ID=107. All callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads

to an arrest, the solving of a crime or cold case or the location of a wanted person, fugitive or a missing person.

Courtesy image Linda Teti, who lives

Lower Oxford Township, has been missing for

Photo by HaLeigh Abbott

Members of Bike Kennett joined with local officials on Aug. 17 for the official opening of the Kennett Bike Park .

Kennett School Board...

Continued from Page 1A

structures each, connected by tunnels and halls. Each school picture had a large program called “public” that had common areas like gyms, offices, and cafeterias. The other structure had classrooms. The tunnels and halls appeared to pass through an open area he said would be appropriate to outdoor education.

Greenwood, in deference to its sloping land, will have a two-story classroom area.

The buildings are scheduled for completion in 2026 with demolition of the old buildings by summer of 2027.

Those new building plans and configurations were selected by the school board over three other options, known as 1, 2, 3a and 3b,

PECO...

Continued from Page 1A

fail to provide the managerial decision services to our residents – the adequacy and the effectiveness of that service,” Stevens said. “There were many times when we suffered power outages that lasted for five days or longer here in Kennett Township, and those seem to have occurred during the winter so you can imagine with snow on the ground and having no power for more than five days was not an unusual event.”

Stevens said that several years ago, he and supervisor Rich Leff held a meeting with PECO representatives and convinced them to meet with the township’s residents who had expressed concerns about the company’s managerial decisions in the power outages that occurred in the township. Stevens said that he and Leff prevailed upon PECO to expand power lines in the township to facilitate more power throughout Kennett Township and neighboring municipalities.

“But we continue to lose power,” he said, “and particularly with global warming and a transition from the kind of weather we had in the past to the kind of weather we are evolving into, [it led to] the storms a week or so that shut us down and the complications it had on the entire region.

“And so I ask you, PECO management, why is this?’” Stevens said. “I continue to ask this question and they continue to deny the

during the process the board used to consider a variety of plans.

Option 1 was a mere upgrade of buildings, while Option 2 was an upgrade with additions. Option 3a was replacement with no increased capacity. Option 3b was replacement with increased student capacity.

Tracy said the choice of new buildings (3b) would have capacity of 750 (over the current 625) and provide uniformity of programs and adaptability for progress.

The board chose the construction of new buildings and the accommodation of more than 100 additional students as the preferred option.

Bell also presented descriptions and sketches of what each building would look like when the project is completed.

Guarriello outlined the

answer, but the answer to me is very clear: The infrastructure and particularly the wires are all above ground and all entangled in the trees.”

Stevens accused the power company of not keeping up with underground power technology and “the better building practices that should apply.”

“PECO spends a fortune trimming trees and re-hanging wires from what I call ‘dead trees’ – telephone poles – and lo and behold, they all come down again,” he said.

Stevens’ remarks were illuminated by a visual accompaniment. In his monthly report to the board, Public Works Director Ted Otteni displayed photographs of power lines downed by fallen trees along several roads in the township during the Aug. 7 storm – Bayard, Creek and Hillendale roads, to name a few -- when his crew worked with local fire companies, police units and PECO representatives to remove debris and restore power.

“There is an old adage that comes to mind for me,” Stevens said. “’Insanity is continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different result. PECO’s behavior is an illustration of such insanity in keeping the wires in the trees, so that we have to keep going back and re-installing the wires, and all of that goes along with the disruption to the people who live in that particular area.

“I would really like the management of PECO to

costs of the options, saying they are dictated by the designs. He gave estimates of the basic costs and mentioned variations that could add additional fees. During the Act 34 hearing, the maximum cost of each new school was set at $56 million.

Doyle presented three options for financing—general obligation bonds, local authority and State Public School Building Authority. Each option showed paybacks of about $4 million per building per year over 20 years.

School Board President Vicki Gehrt, who presided over the hearing, said the new buildings are being designed for now, but also for the future.

There is still a chance for the public to express opinions and ask questions about the projects. District residents who desire to

stop the insanity and bury the lines, so that we can move on to the 21st century, instead of the 19th century.”

In deference to Stevens’ comments, PECO has made strides to convert to underground sources of energy in southeastern Pennsylvania. It currently supplies 16,900 miles of underground cable to its 1.7 million customers in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties. Its commitment toward establishing underground electrical networks began as far back as 2003, when it spent $3.8 million to install underground cable and associated circuit switchgear in the Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square and Old City areas in Philadelphia. In 2012, PECO invested $3.2 million to replace and perform preventative maintenance on about 19 miles of underground cable.

As listed on a PECO fact sheet on its website, the power company is projecting to spend $6 billion in infrastructure improvements over the next five years that will include completing targeted infrastructure enhancements, corrective maintenance and investing in new equipment. The price tag includes PECO’s Reliability & Resiliency Plan, which will spend $1.36 billion on targeted reliability-focused electric system infrastructure through 2025.

Other township business

The Board of Supervisors gave the township’s support

be heard must the questions/statements on paper which are either mailed

to the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway Commission to submit a multi-municipal grant proposal to Chester County’s Vision Partnership Program.

The Commission, begun in 2005, is made up of representatives appointed by the boards of Chadds Ford, East Bradford, Kennett, Pennsbury and Pocopson townships.

The grant, if awarded, will assist in the Commission’s development of a website to promote the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, which was designated by PennDOT last November.

The 7.68-mile thorofare begins at the Delaware state line along Route 52 and extends through Kennett, Pennsbury, Pocopson and Birmingham townships.

The Commission is pro-

jecting that the cost of website development will be $20,000 and is seeking a grant in the amount of $12,000, with the remaining $8,000 coming from the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway Commission budget. The application is due by Sept. 7.

John Haedrich, who represents the township on the Commission with Karen Marshall, said the website will tell the story of Tubman’s efforts to help the enslaved seek freedom through the Underground Railroad, which navigated through southeastern Pennsylvania.

The grant will also enable the Commission to develop the website in partnership with several other Underground Railroad advocacy groups and organizations throughout

southeastern Pennsylvania to establish an interpretive and connectivity plan.

The Byway will incorporate the stories of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad into the significant historical and cultural intrinsic qualities of the area representing Chester County’s part in the greater story of this phase of the nation’s past. A key feature of the Byway will be Barnard Station, which will serve as an educational and interpretive component of the Underground Railroad Heritage Center.

“What we hope to do with this Vision Partnership grant is to bring those parties together and all work on a consensus story,” Haedrich said, “so that we can embody that on the website and help build a coalition of Underground Railroad interest groups, and do the job right for the community and the travelers who come to the area.”

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

Photo of diagram by Chris Barber

Michael Bell of Breslin Architects provided sketches of what the completed new buildings will look like that included this rendition of the future Greenwood Elementary School.

first class or delivered by hand to Superintendent Dusty Blakey, Kennett

Consolidated School District, 100 E. South St., Kennett Square, Pa. 19348.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Kennett Township Supervisor Scudder Stevens delivered a sharp criticism of PECO at the board’s Aug. 16 meeting, excoriating the power supply company for not burying power lines that caused several throughout the township to be affected by fallen trees during a severe storm on Aug. 7 that led to lengthy power outages.

Local News

New Garden Hills...

Continued from Page 1A

clearing and the installation of an eight-foot-tall metal fence for the live stake shrub nursery, and culminated with the planting of 425 trees, 70 shrubs and 65 live stake shrubs by a group of coordinators and volunteers last November.

Additional trees and shrubs were planted this past April, and educational signs explaining riparian buffers and live stake nurseries were installed in May. While the project is expected to be completed this fall, it will continue to be maintained by the township over the next 25 years.

In addition to Lukoff, the project was managed by township residents Sarah Dooley, Steve Dooley, Mike Estep and Nancy Henderson; Master Watershed coordinator Meagan Hopkins-Doerr; Shane Morgan, a project consultant and administrator with White Clay Wild and Scenic; and Mike Buck, the township’s Parks & Open Space Superintendent.

Other township business

The board formally adopted two measures that will both serve to enhance residents’ quality of life and lower the potential cost to public safety. The board adopted the township’s Rental Inspection Ordinance that will provide for the inspection of -- and permits for -- residential units in the township and will require landlords to

file reports to the township listing their rental units; authorize the township’s code enforcement officer to inspect the condition and use of the units; permit the officer to enforce compliance with township regulations; and authorize the officer to establish permits and fees and advertise penalties for violations.

The ordinance will go into effect in January of 2024.

To establish controls and regulations governing the safety and occupancy of township buildings, the board formally adopted the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code that will safeguard residents and properties from fire and explosion hazards arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices; and provide for the issuing of permits and the collection of fees.

New Garden Flying Field Aviation Director Jon Martin shared the success of this years’ Future Aviators Camp, which brought 280 youngsters – some from as far away as Hong Kong –to the New Garden Flying Field. He also informed the board that the access road to the Flying Field will be resurfaced, and that the initial stage to refurbish and expand the airport’s aviation center and administrative offices is anticipated to begin after Labor Day.

The board approved 180-day extensions to the Kaolin Real Estate Holdings Corporation and to Purolite, LLC for their land development plans on Starr Road.

Township Manager Christopher Himes said the Public Works Department has nearly completed the paving project on Starr Road, with strip-

ing and landscaping still to come. Supervisors Kristie Brodowski and David Unger thanked the

department for their work in clearing downed trees during the severe storms that swept through Chester

County on Aug. 7.

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

AG Lions at Sunset Park Day

Photos courtesy of Stan Lukoff

A substantial project to establish riparian buffers and live stake shrubs in New Garden Hills included the planting of 425 trees, 70 shrubs and 65 live stake shrubs by a group of coordinators and volunteers last November.

Courtesy photos

At Penn Township’s Sunset Park Day, the Avon Grove Lions conducted a vision screening for children and also handed out information about the organization’s efforts to help the community. Pictured at the information booth are Lion Barry Marteny, Avon Grove Lions hospital equipment program manager Bob Yeatman, and Lions Dave Graham and Ben Keller. The Lions screened 31 children and handed out children’s books and lollipops to all the children in attendance. Pictured are Avon Grove Lions President George Steel, Dr. Eric Miller and Lion Dave Priebe.

The project also includes educational signage that will introduce visitors to the importance of riparian buffers and live staking on the environment.

Chester County has a rich history, but there’s probably one story that you haven’t heard that happened here in Chester County, about a breakthrough discovery, a world war, and of course, mushrooms

The Quiet Man

By Lori Harrison VP Communications for American Mushroom

This story begins in the early 1900s with a young man named Raymond Rettew.

Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, he attended the University of Delaware and Swarthmore College, graduating with a degree in chemistry. In March 1926, after working in his father’s law office, Rettew accepted a position as a chemist at the Charles E. Hires Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

While Rettew’s primary work was in microbiological control, the company allowed him enough time to take an advanced bacteriological course at the University of Pennsylvania, and the professor allowed Rettew to use the laboratory during late hours and on weekends to conduct studies and help Rettew start his own business.

In his own words from his memoir, “A Quiet Man from West Chester,” Rettew talked about this time in his life.

“My father-in-law, Mr. Wilmer J. Divine, was employed in the cultivated mushroom industry. In my talk with him, it became evident that the business needed scientific help,” Rettew said. “During my off-hours I did research in the production of mushroom spawn and in pH studies of casing soil and compost.

My brother-in-law, Floyd W. Divine, who was also in the mushroom growing field, tested the results in the mushroom houses.”

In the meantime, another factor was developing in Rettew’s life. While commuting to the Hires Company, he rode on the train from West Chester every day with Joseph W. Strode. On their commutes, they would talk about a variety of things, including Rettew’s interest in the challenges faced by the mushroom industry.

One morning, Strode made Rettew an offer: “When you are ready to go into the mushroom spawn business, let me know.”

As Rettew explained in his memoir, “That very evening, I went to see him and for many years to come, we were partners.”

In 1929, the two started production at the Chester County Mushroom Laboratories, in West Chester. Strode supplied the money and Rettew supplied the know-how. The idea was to supply mushroom growers with the highest quality spawn produced by scientific methods and conduct original research for applying spawn. In three years, the lab was the largest spawn maker in the United States.

In 1931, a subsidiary corporation was established, The Premier Mushroom Company. Rettew visited Clarence Birdseye—yes, that Birdseye—concerning freezing mushrooms. Birdseye was pioneering freezing vegetables, so Premiere entered into a contract with Birdseye, and

The War Effort

In the decade that followed, Rettew’s company enjoyed many successes; spawn sales increased here in the United States and overseas, he was awarded a few patents for use in his research, and more. Things were going very well.

World War II changed Rettew’s approach to business. He encouraged the industry to study the food value of mushrooms so they could be declared an essential food. Rettew also tapped into his hobby studying chemical substances produced by fungi to see if he could be of any help in the war effort. He was a self-described ‘tinkerer’ and had been working on the extraction of the enzyme tyrosinase from mushrooms. The extraction was successful, but the medical use was questionable.

A few years before, Alexander Fleming observed the growth pattern of mold on a staphylococcus culture plate. Specifically, he saw that if penicillium, a genus of fungi, was grown in the appropriate substrate, it would produce an antibiotic substance, which he called penicillin. Fleming later deduced that penicillin could be used as an antibiotic to treat life-threatening illnesses including meningitis, pneumonia, syphilis and other forms of bacteria.

It wouldn’t be until more than 10 years later that it was discovered penicillin was in fact, a ‘miracle cure.’ On May 14, 1942, the first American patient was treated with penicillin. The patient was a woman named Anne Miller. The diagno-

sis was septicemia, also known as blood poisoning, that had left her near death from an infection that followed a miscarriage. She had had a fever of at least 103°F for multiple weeks. She received roughly a tablespoon of penicillin, and within about a day, her temperature was back to normal.

The Discovery

Back in Chester County, Rettew was researching ways to help. He was familiar with the work of Dr. Harold Raistrick of the University of London, who pioneered research on the chemical composition of fungi. He had also studied penicillin, and in 1941, Rettew read papers and articles that indicated penicillin had great promise for healing infected wounds. He was also aware of the news that the men fighting in WWII were dying at high rates from infections and amputations.

So Rettew went to work.

Having studied penicillin intermittently since 1928, Rettew knew that by altering the culture, or medium in which the mycelium grew, he could improve the quality of the spawn. He figured the same process would apply to penicillin growth.

“This,” he wrote in his memoirs, “would be our way of contributing to the War effort.”

The original work was done in Rettew’s private laboratory above the garage of his home. There, he proved that the experience of extracting chemical substances from fungi, together with the techniques used for the culture of mushroom spawn, made a good starting point for the study of penicillin.

Rettew had found a way

to commercially produce

penicillin. This was a significant discovery, as previous attempts by researchers to make penicillin widely available was “difficult and expensive to extract” from its original mold source. Before Rettew, it had not been available in synthetic forms; every time scientists wanted to make penicillin, they had to wait for new mold to grow. So, he put his idea into action.

Through his friend Dr. E.B. Lambert, he contacted the Chairman of the Committee on Medical Research of the Office of Scientific Research and Development located in the National Academy Building in Washington, D.C. The building is of note because it’s the same building where the control center was housed for the atomic bomb. It was there that Rettew convinced the leaders that the Chester County Mushroom Laboratories could contribute to the penicillin program, which the Federal Government had just established as a priority.

Funded by the federal government and John Wyeth and Brother Incorporated, a subsidiary of the American Home Products Corporation, Rettew went to work with penicillin samples provided by the Department of Agriculture’s Northern Regional Research Laboratory at Peoria, Ill.

Using his own lab’s UV lights and temperature control mechanisms to meticulously sterilize the medium bottles, Rettew

was soon able to produce five-gallon drums of penicillin–but there was a problem. “Since penicillin was not particularly stable,” Rettew later wrote, “degradation was often faster than separation of the liquids.” The solution, it turned out, was to use a centrifuge manufactured by the Sharpless Cream Separator Company of West Chester to separate the penicillin from the growth medium. “Penicillin production today would not be possible without this method,” Rettew later noted. He then constructed a penicillin recovery building equipped with a large refrigerator, Sharpless centrifuge, and a 100-gallon tank. By June 1943, Rettew’s Chester County Mushroom Laboratories were the nation’s most consistent source of commercially available penicillin, more than ninety percent of which went directly to the armed forces. By the fall of 1943, an expanded lab in West Chester, utilizing Rettew’s surface culture technique, was producing most of the world’s penicillin.

The Next Chapter History books point to Alexander Fleming for discovering penicillin, and he and his colleagues were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery in 1945. Rightfully so.

But there is more to the story. Rettew was a selfdescribed quiet man, happier with his research

and experiments than standing in the spotlight. You’re hard-pressed to find mention of Rettew in the history of penicillin; a quick Google search offers only the slightest nod buried deep in a Wikipedia page: “The private sector and the United States Department of Agriculture located and produced new strains and developed mass production techniques.”

Those “mass production techniques” helped to save countless lives on the battlefield and even more throughout the years that followed. The “Quiet Man from West Chester” may have shied away from the spotlight, but his discovery changed the world.

Decades later, his family is trying to not only keep his story alive and increase awareness of Rettew’s impact through a documentary titled, The Mushroom Man Who Changed the World: G. Raymond Rettew. Recently premiered at the Chester County History Center, the documentary tells the story of a man who took his work producing spawn for the mushroom industry and turned it into a groundbreaking discovery. American Mushroom, headquartered in Avondale, is a national voluntary trade association representing the growers, processors, and marketers of cultivated mushrooms across the United States and industry suppliers worldwide. For more information, visit www.americanmushroom. org.

The Mushroom Festival takes place in Kennett Square on Sept. 9 and 10. In the weeks leading up to the event, the Chester County Press is presenting stories from our Mushroom Guide that will be published on Aug. 30.

Courtesy image

Raymond Rettew was one of the early pioneers in the mushroom industry. after some successful tests with freezing mushrooms, Premiere became one of the first companies to package and sell frozen foods.

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.

Angels in emergencies

On Aug. 7, late in the afternoon, a severe storm ripped its way through southern Chester County with an assault so furious and straight-line terrifying that it stopped commuters along county roads and highways, closed businesses, shut down traffic signals, cancelled events and brought a crashing halt to everyday normalcy. Within minutes after the storm subsided, home generators began humming their quiet chorus, signifying that power was out from Kennett Square to Oxford and everywhere in between. By Tuesday morning, Aug. 8, PECO reported that strong winds and heavy rains had led to power outages to 27,000 customers in Chester County alone.

The reason behind these outages was simple: power lines had been obliterated by hundreds of fallen trees and left suspended across roads, tangled in the brush of leaves and limbs. Road closure signs began to blink furiously, leading drivers to invent new methods of getting home. In all of the debris and chaos, signs of hope began to emerge in the form of men and women arriving at these scenes in yellow reflective jackets. They waited patiently for PECO to handle the downed power lines and once completed, they went to work in complete collaboration with local fire departments and police units, clearing roads of tree limbs and trunks and debris as the sun fell and night came.

Hours later, as most of southern Chester County slept, they were still there in near darkness, illuminated by rigged-up lights, cleaning and clearing, and by the next morning – to the degree that it could – the business of southern Chester County began moving again.

Together, they returned the rest of us to normalcy, and not many of us even know their names.

Throughout our many municipalities, the members of our public works departments toil in the humble servitude of maintenance and repair – paving and fixing our roads, salting down our wintery streets and then snowplowing them, chipping mulch and trimming roadside trees. They do not take center stage at public meetings, except to give monthly reports. They do not advertise their efficiency and do not self-promote their progress. It is ironic to note that it is their quiet and proficient excellence that too often renders them invisible to the residents they serve, and yet it is during our most challenging moments when severe weather wreaks havoc on our routines that they become angels in emergencies.

It would not be too forthcoming for us – the beneficiaries of the public works staff in our respective municipalities – to thank them for their dedication and their service.

Kennett School Board needs work on communication

Guest editorial by Chris Barber Kennett Consolidated School District Board President Vicki Gehrt made this announcement to a mostly empty room at the Aug. 14 Act 34 hearing:

“We’ve made every effort to make sure the public is fully aware of our plans.”

For some, it was hard not to feel that a tinge of hypocrisy was riding on that statement.

Act 34 hearings were instituted by Pennsylvania to ensure that when school districts are undertaking expensive projects, they get the word out to their constituents and listen to what they have to say in return. The potential tax impact of the project must be revealed to the public.

It was appropriate as well that the state in 1973 instituted Act 34 to protect its residents from rogue boards and commissions whose members are overzealous to fulfill their own egos. That’s why they have to be publicly advertised ahead of time and accommodations made for citizen comments.

It was odd then to see the room empty of community members when time came for public input.

First, the caveat: There is no question that the New Garden and Greenwood elementary school buildings need replacement. The board must be praised for bringing its constituents two new educational facilities that they can be proud of and will make their students happy and smart.

It’s obvious as well that the board is not waiting

until the two old buildings start falling apart, leaking from rain, becoming unsafe or failing to give their students the buildings that they need to meet the challenges of the future.

Furthermore, as CFO

Mark Tracy mentioned at the hearing, the maintenance staff should be praised for keeping the buildings clean and safe through the years.

It will be exciting to watch these two very beautiful facilities rise to replace their predecessors.

But for some reason, this particular Act 34 process led to an empty room.

Why?

First, the board’s official hearing announcement was in the classified section of a mid-July Saturday edition of another newspaper in the smallest type point possible and with several inches of hard-to-decipher legal language.

This was published a month ahead of time when people don’t even read the paper because they are taking off for vacation, not to mention that the newspaper is more expensive that day of the week.

Then, if someone wanted to find out when the hearing was to be held, it was not on the KCSD calendar page. …or anywhere else online on the Kennett school page that we could find.

Additionally, when the Act. 34 evening rolled around, it was a little offputting that several of the board members were not there (including the two on the Communications Committee and all of the Kennett Square Borough representatives).

Conspicuous by his absence as well was Superintendent Dusty Blakey.

It could have been interpreted by some as the district’s way of saying, “We don’t want to hear what you have to say.”

Somewhere in the publicity, it should have been made loud and clear in plain, down-home English: “We want to know what your ideas are!”

That apparently didn’t happen. Here are some suggestions:

There is an apparent “Catch 22” when it comes to permission for the public to take the microphone for comment at meetings: If someone has something to say about the agenda, the deadline is Friday before the meeting. But the agenda is not even posted until the Friday before the meeting.

It wouldn’t hurt to let people sign up to talk as late as the day of meetings.

The timing of committee meetings, as well, which the board advocates for the public to attend, are usually held at the hours when people are arriving at home from work, having a beer, sitting down to dinner or getting ready to help their kids with homework.

It wouldn’t hurt to have the board members discuss at the monthly meetings how they arrived at their conclusions. As it is now, most of the votes are approved unanimously. We rarely, if ever, hear a dissent, and comments are often self-congratulatory.

It would also help if the board members created a reputation for getting their own ideas out in the public

before they makes decisions rather than giving the impression they are keeping secrets.

When the district started using a strange alteration of the historical Kennett “K” logo in its publicity, even without board approval, the board refused to reveal, when asked, who was on a branding committee, even as the president of the alumni association said he had not been contacted.

The board members should not underestimate the power of mixing it up with the public outside the monthly board or committee meetings—talking about stuff at the barber shop or grocery store.

Think about former State Sen. Andy Dinniman showing up virtually everywhere and chatting it up – advocating for dogs and waving from parades.

Think about former secretary of agriculture Charlie Brosius bringing his calliope and playing merry-go-round music at the community fair.

Think about State Rep. John Lawrence riding in on his restored old mail truck at community events. That’s when the public wants to hear and share their representatives’ enthusiasm.

When their elected representatives—like school board members—are always around and wearing their hoodies and digging dirt, that’s when the public knows it’s okay to say their piece. They are called “public schools” for a reason. This board has work to do in that respect.

Ecker to introduce legislation regulating child influencers

State Rep. Torren Ecker announced that he will be introducing legislation to regulate social media child influencers and celebrities under Pennsylvania’s Child Labor Law.

“We always hear about the

devastating later-life impact that childhood celebrity and wealth can have on those who experience fame early in life. Now, every parent or relative with a cellphone can work to make their children or relatives into social

media celebrities that, without their consent, can deprive children of privacy, income from their work, and fair working conditions within the scope of current law,” Ecker said. “As someone with an active social media presence and young children, I know there is a fine line between appro-

priate inclusion of young children on social media platforms and exploitation.”

According to a co-sponsorship memo preceding the introduction of legislation, Ecker’s legislation will protect children under Pennsylvania’s Child Labor Law who earn money as influencers and content-

makers or whose likeness, name, or photograph is substantially featured in a parent or guardian’s content that generates income for the parent.

Some childhood social media influencers make over $50 million per year.

“While I normally believe government should take a

hands-off approach to regulating private business, protecting children from exploitation is of paramount importance in any society,” Ecker said. “We must make sure that we are putting children in the best possible position to have healthy and successful lives.”

Chester County Department of Procurement and General Services moves to electronic bidding

Public Purchase is the New Electronic Platform and General Services announced the transition to electronic bid and solicitation submission using Public Purchase as the platform.

The move to electronic bidding allows the County to post, accept, and open vendor responses electronically, eliminating the need for vendors to submit paper copies.

Good Governance – the pursuit of excellence through exceptional customer service, transparency, accountability, and innovation – is a priority of Chester County Government, and providing online and elec-

tronic services across more departments and types of business needs is in line with that priority. The move to the Public Purchase platform is another example of why Chester County Government ranks 4th in the nation for its digital technology practices.

The current Procurement system will remain in place until Nov. 14, 2023. Learn more and register for Public Purchase at https://www.chesco. org/DocumentCenter/ View/73149/ Vendor-Announcement.

The Chester County Department of Procurement

Kennett Square Borough, Kennett Trails Alliance break ground on new demonstration project

The Borough of Kennett Square, Kennett Trails Alliance (KTA) and other community stakeholders broke ground Aug. 9 on the Red Clay Demonstration Project, a 33,000-squarefoot area located behind 500 East Cypress Street in downtown Kennett Square that will soon be transformed into a pocket park and gathering space. The groundbreaking ceremony included interactive activities for children and families, and appearances from local elected officials, including Rep. Christina Sappey, County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz and Josh Maxwell and members of the Kennett Square Borough Council.

The demonstration project is part of the “Red Clay Park Project,” which aims to restore the east branch of the Red Clay Creek, which includes more than 30 acres from Anson B. Nixon Park to Kennett High School’s Legacy Fields.

The groundbreaking signifies the connection of the Kennett Greenway to its various trails, parks and shops, which in turn will help to connect the community to nature and each other.

Included within the demonstration project’s transformation are restoration of a portion of the east branch of the Red Clay Creek; stormwater management and water quality improvement; removal of invasive species and planting of native plants; access to the creek, public gathering spaces, and play spaces;

completion of a portion of the Kennett Greenway to specification; and access to the Greenway and the pocket park for people of all mobilities.

“This groundbreaking represents a pivotal time in the development of the Kennett Greenway and our commitment to providing all people with access to nature,” said Christina Norland, executive director of the Kennett Trails Alliance. “This park starts to extend the beauty of

Anson B. Nixon Park further into the borough and creates our community’s first accessible natural play spaces for children. We are thankful to our many partners and funders, without whom this groundbreaking would not be possible.”

“The Red Clay Park project is a prime example of what can be accomplished through public-private partnerships,” said Kennett Square Borough Council President Doug Doerfler.

“When non-profits and

government entities work together, we can create assets that enhance the quality of life of our residents and can serve as a benefit to the entire community for generations to come. This project is a major step in achieving our broader goal of creating a more walkable borough that respects our natural surroundings. The borough is proud to be part of this important initiative and thanks the Kennett Trails Alliance, and all our

partners, who helped move this project forward.”

Construction of the park is estimated to be completed in the fall of this year. KTA is enlisting community input to help name the park by submitting ideas to the Red Clay Park Advisory Group related to geological, cultural, and historical features of the park.

The $1 million transformation was supported by grants from Square Roots Collective, Chatham

Financial and from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenway, Trails and Recreation Program. Contract construction work for the Red Clay Demonstration Project is being performed by Land-Tech Enterprises, Inc. of Warrington, Pa. For more information on Kennett Trails Alliance and the Red Clay Demonstration Project, visit: https://www. kennectivity.com/red-claydemonstration-project.

Comitta, Kane secure $100,000 for KACS new building project

Kennett Area Community Service’s (KACS) plans to build a new, larger facility to house its food cupboard, emergency assistance, and other programs recently got a major boost thanks to $100,000 in state funding secured by State Senators Carolyn Comitta and John Kane.

Comitta and Kane worked together to secure the grant funding, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, to support architectural and engineering costs related to the non-profit organization’s new building project.

“I am thrilled to support KACS’s plans to expand and grow in its mission to help more individuals and families in southern Chester County overcome poverty and achieve selfsufficiency,” Comitta said. “I want to thank KACS supporters, staff, and volunteers who continuously strive to serve the community with effectiveness, integrity, and respect for the dignity of all people.”

“KACS is an invaluable asset to our Chester

County communities. They provide essential services to those in need and work tirelessly to combat poverty,” said Kane. “Their dedication and hard work are truly inspiring, and we are fortunate to have them as a partner in our efforts to make our community a better place for all.

“This funding will allow KACS to continue servicing folks in need not only with food but also with social services and lifeenhancing workshops.”

“The offices of Senator Kane and Senator Comitta have been instrumental in helping us plan for this vital project that will serve those experiencing food insecurity and imminent and actual homelessness in southern Chester County, said Leah Reynolds, KACS executive director.

“They have been proactive by reaching out to us to tell us about opportunities, and their guidance has been invaluable.”

located on West Cypress Street in Kennett and New Garden townships.

The new facility is expected to include a 10,000-square-foot warehouse for food storage and distribution, as well as space for a food cupboard, social service offices, workshops, and administrative operations.

The new building will provide much needed space for KACS to expand its offerings to meet the needs of a growing population, as building upkeep and maintenance at its current home are no longer cost-effective or sustainable. In addition, the new site also offers the potential for room to grow and further expand in the future.

KACS offers several important services to the community. Its food cupboard is the largest in Southern Chester County.

Currently operating out of two buildings in Kennett Square Borough, the group plans to build a 24,500 square-foot-building on 5.8 acres of land donated by Michael

and Nancy Pia

In June, it fed more than 2,300 individuals and distributed more than 83,330 pounds of food. Its Social Services Program offers financial assistance, emergency housing assistance, and collaboration with local agencies to connect

Courtesy photo

Area elected officials and members of the Kennett Square Borough Council and the Kennett Trails Alliance celebrated the groundbreaking for the Red Clay Demonstration Project, a 33,000-square-foot area located behind 500 East Cypress Street in the borough that will be transformed into a pocket park and gathering space.

Courtesy photo

State Senators Carolyn Comitta and John Kane recently worked together to secure $100,000 in state funding for Kennett Area Community Service’s new building project.

individuals and families with sustainable living solutions. And its Bridges Out of Poverty

VANYA EASTMAN

Vanya James Eastman, of Landenberg, passed on Aug. 11, 2023.

Vanya was born on July 2, 1992, in Bryansk, Russia, to Anna Alexandrovna Pushenkova and Viktor Vladimirovich Pushenkov.

In 2001 Vanya spent his first summer in the United States with his soon-to-be adoptive family. On March 1, 2002 he was adopted by his loving parents, Mark and Majella Eastman.

Vanya grew up first in West Chester and then in Landenberg, with his brother, Mark James Eastman, Jr.

Vanya was a graduate of Kennett High School, and a proficient CNC machinist employed by 3D Fabrication, in Newark, Del.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, making his loved ones laugh, sketching, spending time in nature, and he had a deep love of all animals.

He is survived by his mother, Majella; his father, Mark; his brother, Mark, Jr.; his grandmother, Susan (Donald Massey) Kintz McGiver; his uncle, John

(Denise) Bardino; his uncle, Charles (Debbie) Bardino, III; his aunt, Amber McGiver; and his uncle, Justin (Jamie) McGiver.

Vanya was preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles, Jr. and Sally Bardino.

Vanya was a light who touched all who knew him. His family and friends meant everything to him, and he would do anything for any one of them. His contagious smile, kind heart, and quick wit will be remembered by all who knew him. His loving spirit will live in their hearts forever.

Services were held on Aug. 19 at First Baptist Church in Kennett Square, and a Life Celebration Service followed.

Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Brandywine Valley SPCA https://bvspca.org/donate/donation-form in honor of the beloved Vanya.

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

Condolences may be shared at www.griecofunerals. com.

MARY FERNALD MYERS

Mary Fernald Myers, of Lincoln University, passed away on Aug. 14, 2023 at Chester County Hospital in West Chester. She was 86.

She was the spouse of Ronald Myers, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage.

Born in Rochester, New Hampshire, she was a daughter of Winfield Fernald and Abigail Huckins Fernald.

Mary graduated from University of Connecticut and earned a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management. She worked at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center for several years. She chose to be the homemaker for her husband and children until her death. She also did some work in Ron’s lab on occasions.

She is survived by two daughters, Trudy Myers of Lincoln University and Cynthia Myers Haggerty of Bedford, Pa., her son, Mark Myers, of Langhorne, Pa., her sister, Edna Pelto, her sister-in-law, Kay Fernald, and grandchildren, Anna Krohn and her husband Ethan Heilman, Daniel Haggerty, Christine Haggerty-Kipp and her husband Zachary Kipp.

She is predeceased by her brother Carl Fernald.

She enjoyed making many different stained-glass creations. Since the passing of her husband she enjoyed vacationing on cruises, sometimes with her family, sometimes on her own. She especially liked Holland America. Her motto was “I’m going to go as far as I can, as fast as I can, for as long as I can.” And she certainly did!

Interment will be held privately. Contributions in her memory may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org/).

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

Local News

Study dishes up surprises in deer behavior, forest impacts

By Ad Crable, Bay Journal News Service

Who knew that deer salivate about two gallons a day or that a fawn has 272–342 spots on its coat? Or that a doe may choose to give birth to fawns near a road so that fewer bears, coyotes and bobcats are around? Or that a deer may consume more than 100 different plant species a year?

After a decade of following and studying 1,200 live-trapped deer, fitting them with ear tags and GPS radio collars to track their movements, Pennsylvania researchers are getting an unprecedented look into the behavior of one of North America’s most widespread mammals and their imprint on the landscape.

In 2013, the sweeping Deer-Forest Study was

launched and funded by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, U.S. Geological Survey and Penn State — each with an interest in what happens between deer, soil and plants in 2.2 million acres of state forests, 1.5 million acres of state game lands and millions more acres of private land across the state. The study, which won’t

JERRY N. ARNOLD

be wrapped up until 2026, could shape how land managers ensure healthy forests in an age of climate change and invasive plants. It offers new nuances to be considered by game managers in determining how many deer are being killed by hunters because hunting is the primary means for controlling deer populations. And it helps the Game Commission with the difficult decision

Obituaries

Jerry N. Arnold, 80, of Oxford, passed away on Aug. 13, 2023 while at home.

He was the husband of Shirley Sumner Arnold, with whom he shared 56 years of marriage.

Born in Mt. City, Tenn., he was the son of the late J.D. and Iva Sadie Ditmore Arnold.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Jerry was employed with NVF in Kennett Square for over 30 years as a boiler operator and he was also employed with Cheyney University for 15 years.

He was a member of the Oxford Church of the Nazarene and served as usher and with building maintenance.

Jerry was also a member of Atglen Sportsmen’s Club, Inc., and he enjoyed fishing, hunting and shooting.

He is survived by his wife; three children, Gary Arnold (Antje) of Oxford, Denise Hildenbrand (Keith) of Exton and James Arnold (Katie) of West Grove; seven grandchildren, Emily, Jessica, Joshua, Tyler, Kylee, Halle and Cade; four greatgrandchildren; two brothers, David Arnold of Tenn. and Dennis Arnold of Del.; and two sisters, Janice Myer of Pa. and Judy Webb of Tenn.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Oxford Church of the Nazarene, 116 E Locust St. in Oxford. Interment is private.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford (www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com).

Photo courtesy Deer-Forest Study

Researchers tag a fawn in a Pennsylvania forest. about how many deer should be culled each year for the herd to remain in balance with available habitat.

“This study is unique,” said Duane Diefenbach, leader of Penn State’s Continued on Page 4B

LAURA BLEVINS WALLS

Laura Blevins Walls passed away on Aug. 16, 2023 at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tenn. She was 80.

Laura was a loving wife to Lloyd for almost 61 years, a loving mom, and mom-mom to her grandson Dylan.

In her younger days in Chester County, Laura was a caregiver, and taught line-dancing for more than 20 years.

In her home time, she loved to garden and plant flowers in her yard. She and Lloyd enjoyed going to festivals, listening to country music, and decorating their home with English Hunt Scene artwork. Laura loved caring for people and animals, especially her cat Tom. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Cora Blevins, a brother, Arthur “Jack” Blevins, brother-in-law, and Arvel Lee Blevins, Sr., as well as nephews, Arvel Lee Blevins, Jr., Steven Blevins, Roger Farmer, Ricky Walls and James Walls; and all of Lloyd’s siblings and their spouses.

Laura is survived by her husband, Lloyd Walls of Troutdale, Va., a daughter, Michelle Roberts and her husband, David, and her grandson, Dylan Roberts, all of Sugar Grove, Va.

She is also survived by a sister, Lessie Ann Blevins of Whitetop, Va., a sister-inlaw, Dorothy “Dottie” Blevins of Galax, Va., and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Laurel Valley Community Cemetery, Crabapple Lane, Troutdale, Va. with Pastor Jim Lundy officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Laurel Valley Community Cemetery, c/o Joyce Brooks, 122 Old Slash Road, Troutdale, Va. 24378.

To share memories of Laura Blevins Walls, please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for Laura has been entrusted to Fraziers’ Seaver Brown Funeral Service & Crematory, 237 East Main Street, Marion, Va. 24354.

Pennsylvania Cooperative

Fish and Wildlife Research

Unit. “Looking at all these different factors at the scale we are looking at, and the interaction over a long time, is really a first.”

One aim of the year-round study is to learn how vegetation responds to changes in deer densities and various tweaking to forests by managers. It’s commonly known that unchecked deer can browse the forest floor so heavily that trees and desirable plants never get a chance to regenerate. But the study is showing that what happens in a forest and the best ways to ensure its future growth is much more complex and involves a dance of wildlife, plants and soil.

In some cases, deer may be overly blamed for problems in the understory. A team of about 20 people scrutinized approximately 170 species of herbs, shrubs and trees on 200 fenced and unfenced plots in three state forests with a mix of unfragmented forests, and other plots with a mix of forest and farmland.

They found that the absence of a native plant does not always indicate overbrowsing by deer. For example, the researchers found that Indian cucumberroot, an important native species and delicacy for deer, did not grow in areas where the soil was acidic and high in manganese. This is important because the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources uses a browsing index to determine how many deer can sustainably live in a section of forest and how many need to be removed by hunters. Indian cucumber-root is one of the species monitored and, at least in some cases, its disappearance may be blamed falsely on deer.

In a related finding, researchers found that field technicians had trouble consistently scoring how deer browsing affects understory vegetation. That subjective measurement is part of the deer impact index used by state forest managers. Generally, plants that deer like to browse are sampled for abundance and regrowth. The study is investigating if there is a more reliable way to accurately determine the effect of deer on vegetation.

The study is also highlighting the importance of sunlight filtering through treetops to understory vegetation. Again, deer may be excessively blamed for lack of regrowth in the forest.

Still, Diefenbach cautioned, “that doesn’t mean we can have more deer. A healthy deer population relies on a healthy forest.”

In addition to impacts from deer, forest plots are showing that controlled burns help to regenerate trees and many plants. Also, tree-cutting and herbicide treatments for invasive plants help a forest maintain itself. One preliminary finding is that spraying invasive nonnative plants does indeed help tree seedlings rebound.

Deer insights

Discussions of soil and forest interactions aside, the most interest shown in the study by far has been from wildlife lovers and deer hunters who are gaining new and surprising insights into the behavior of white-tailed deer.

To gain an intimate look into the lives and times of deer, researchers have livecaptured more than 1,000, from fawns to geriatric bucks in four areas of the state.

Attracted by a bait of shelled corn, deer are lured into cages or netted in 60-by40 foot traps triggered by a nearby technician.

Classifieds

NOTICE:

DEStorage.com Newgarden

Located at 710 Newark Rd Landenberg, PA 19350

Will be holding a Public ONLINE Auction at www.ibid4storage.com

Closing on September 20, 2023 at 10 AM. The following units will be sold because of nonpayment of rent pursuant to the Pennsylvania Self Service Storage Facilities Act. Auction bidding and additional information about the contents, including photographs, is available on www.ibid4storage.com. Sale and payment will take place at the storage facility. Containing: Furniture, household items, totes, clothing, and boxes

Unit # 3025- Cecere Lezerne

Unit # 3043 & 3068- Ray Lundquist

DEStorage.com Newgarden reserves the right to withdraw any storage unit from sale or cancel the sale without prior notice.

Most captured deer are fitted with GPS radio collars so their movements can be tracked remotely around the clock. Researchers analyze DNA in deer pellets to track those that were captured but not fitted with radio collars.

GPS collars have enabled researchers to plot deer locations more than 1 million times over the last 10 years. Their movements are related in the conversational field diaries that researchers share online. The often-humorous dispatches have attracted more than 2 million views as they shed light on deer behavior.

While many deer are shot by hunters — most bucks will not survive to age 3 — a doe tagged in 2003 was recovered in 2015 after being killed, at nearly 14 years of age, during muzzleloader deer season.

Some females have small transmitters placed in their birth canals. When they give birth, the device is expelled and activated, revealing the newborn’s location. Technicians rush to the birthing bed to capture the immobile fawn nearby.

The fawn’s collar communicates with the doe’s collar, enabling researchers to study doe-fawn interactions, learn which kind of terrain a doe selects to have her fawns and assess fawn survival rates.

It turns out that mother does are somewhat handsoff. They only approach their fawns two or three times a day to nurse and hang around about 300 feet away. The rest of the time, the fawns are lying camouflaged on the forest floor.

Too often, this leads some people to conclude the fawn has been abandoned. Not so. And if you approach the fawn and leave your scent, it may attract predators. Also, it takes several days for fawns to imprint on their mothers. Until then, a fawn may imprint on almost any moving thing, including humans.

There also have been surprises to conventional assumptions long held by hunters. For example, hunters generally believe that

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

deer are most active first thing in the morning, and therefore they head out well before dawn, assuming few deer are moving at lunchtime.

But deer movements tracked in the study showed that most spent the early hours bedded down, finally beginning to wander around at about 10 a.m. The peak movement for bucks took place 12–1 p.m. They rested in the afternoon before moving again from 4 p.m. to dusk.

“How often is life fair? Umm, never. So, rifle hunters rejoice. You too can spend an extra hour or two in that nice, cozy, warm bed,” confided one of the study’s bloggers.

The study is providing answers on another question: Do human activities affect deer survival?

Deer typically avoid hanging out near roads, though they do have to cross them between territories. Yet sometimes a doe may seek out a roadside area to serve as a “human shield” when she gives birth, deterring predators that could threaten her or her young. But that safety may be nullified by increased chances of being hit by a vehicle.

A three-year side study into fawn survival yielded surprising revelations. Between 28 percent and 43 percent will not live to 6 months of age. The study found that in about twothirds of the cases, predators such as black bears, coyotes,

bobcats, and dogs killed the fawns.

High stress levels may play a big part in fawn mortality. Necropsies sometimes reveal the presence of the stress hormone cortisol in deceased fawns. Cortisol can help a fawn flee danger with a quick burst of energy but, when produced over a long time, it can be harmful to health.

The exact cause of elevated stress hormones in fawns is not known, but it does not appear to be related to the number of nearby predators. Poor rearing from their mom is one hypothesis.

Other causes of fawn mortality are starvation, failure to nurse, infections, parasites and collisions with vehicles.

Buck on the run

No deer tracking was followed more closely by the public than that of Buck 8917.

In his second year of life, the male was captured in 2013 and fitted with a GPS collar and ear tags. During the next rifle hunting season, his movements were plotted every 20 minutes, with 2,570 movements in all during 2013. He eluded hunters into a second deer season.

The buck’s behavior is typical of males. During most of the year, he moved pretty much in a core area of 1 square mile. He frequently bedded on a ridgetop where he could see and

Legals

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

smell approaching danger and leap over the ridge to escape.

But during the rut, when bucks search far and wide for receptive mates, Buck 8917 wandered widely almost nonstop. In one 12-hour period, he covered a 5-mile route and more than a mile in elevation change.

Wily number 8917 survived three hunting seasons before dying in January 2015. When his collar sent an email to researchers saying that he had not moved in eight hours, they went looking for him and found his carcass. Unfortunately, coyotes beat the team to the spot, and we will never know the cause of death.

Do bucks that spar by locking antlers for supremacy ever cause injuries? The study found that in at least one case, yes.

A mortality signal from a 4.5-year-old buck in 2015 sent field technicians out to recover his body. A lab necropsy revealed multiple lacerations and puncture wounds on the buck, including one near the heart. The buck died from loss of blood, presumably from a fight with another buck.

Ad Crable is a Bay Journal staff writer based in Pennsylvania. You can reach him at acrable@bayjournal.com. This article first appeared in the July/ August 2023 issue of the Bay Journal and was distributed by the Bay Journal News Service.

to the decedent to make payment without delay to Nickolas E Williams, Executor: 45804 Horsehead Rd, Great Mills, MD 20634.

8p-16-3t

NOTICE

PENN TOWNSHIP ZONING

HEARING BOARD

NOTICE is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board

A doe is fitted with a GPS collar to track her movements.

Photos courtesy Deer-Forest Study Wearing a masked hockey helmet for protection, a Deer-Forest Study researcher gets ready to tag and collar a deer in a Pennsylvania state forest.

Plant now for a bountiful fall harvest

By Melinda Myers

Boost your fall garden harvest with some midsummer plantings. Fill vacant spaces left in the vegetable garden after harvesting lettuce, spinach, and other early maturing crops. Expand your edible plantings to other vacant spots in flowerbeds, mixed borders, and containers.

Sow seeds of beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, and other vegetables that will have time to reach maturity before the end of your growing season. Simply count the number of days from planting to the average first fall frost in your area. You’ll find frost dates for your location on the internet, extension publications and other gardening resources. Next, check the back of the seed packet for the number of days needed from planting until harvest. As long as

you have enough time for the seeds to sprout, grow and produce before the first frost, they can be added to the garden.

Some plants like collards, kale and broccoli tolerate, and even taste better, after a light freeze. This makes them great choices for a fall-harvested garden. Some garden centers sell transplants of these and other vegetables suitable for summer planting.

Check the plant tags for the number of days needed for transplants to grow and start producing. Extend the harvest season by providing frost protection in the fall. Cold frames and cloches that act like mini greenhouses for individual plants protect the plants from frost. Vent them on warm sunny days and close the lids when frost is in the forecast. Use floating row cover fabrics for an even lower

maintenance option. They are designed to let air, light, and water through to the plants while protecting them from frost. You will find row covers available in various weights that provide different levels of cold weather protection. Select the one best suited to your climate and the vegetables you are growing.

Loosely cover the plants with the fabric and anchor the edges with stones, boards, or landscape pins. Just lift the row cover to harvest, recover, and leave it in place until the harvest is complete, or the temperatures drop below what the row cover and plants can handle.

Wait for the soil to cool before planting lettuce, spinach, and other vegetable seeds that require cooler temperatures to germinate. Increase germination success by planting the seeds as directed, watering them

in, and covering the row with a wooden lath to keep the soil cooler. Remove the lath as soon as the seeds sprout. Or start the plants indoors and move them into the garden as transplants. Then help keep the soil cool throughout the remainder of summer by mulching with leaves, evergreen needles, or other organic mulch. Increase the health and productivity of your second planting by preparing the soil before planting seeds and transplants. Mix an inch of quality compost into the top six inches of soil or fertilize with organically rich low-nitrogen fertilizer. Once your seeds and transplants are in the ground, be sure to water them properly. Keep the seedbed and roots of transplants moist for the first few weeks. Gradually reduce the watering frequency as seedlings sprout and grow, and trans-

plants become established. Most plants need about an inch of water each week. Water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly and slightly moist. Adjust your watering schedule based on your weekly rainfall, soil type, and air temperatures.

Harvest vegetables when they are at their peak of ripeness and early in the morning after the dew dries whenever possible. Regular picking avoids waste and results in a bigger harvest of flavorful and nutritious vegetables to enjoy throughout the fall.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition, and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series

and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www. MelindaMyers.com.

Local Reiki business expands services as mental health and emotional needs grow

As the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic, Avondalebased R&R Reiki Room aims to empower individuals by offering unique holistic healing approaches that foster mental and emotional well-being.

According to the 2022 KFF/CNN Mental Health in America Survey, 90 percent of U.S. adults believe that the country is facing a mental health crisis, and nearly half of parents said that the pandemic had a negative impact on their child’s mental health.

“R&R Reiki Room recognizes the critical importance of addressing mental health needs as part of a holistic approach to healing and self-care,” said Marianne Difabio, the founder of R&R Reiki Room. “Through our Reiki sessions, we aim to help people restore balance,

of Penn Township will hold a Public Hearing at the Penn Township Municipal Building, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, Pennsylvania, on September 12, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at which time the Board will hear the following matter:

Application of Brian R. Lebo and Megan M. Wenner seeking: (i) a variance from the 25% maximum impervious coverage limit under Zoning Ordinance Article V, Section 502.G. so as to allow 36.84% impervious coverage; and (ii) a variance from the minimum setback requirement of ten (10) feet from an existing or proposed on-site sewage absorption area under Section 1501.A.3.e(2); and (iii) a variance from the fifteen (15) foot minimum rear yard requirement under Section 1501.A.3.e.1, all to allow for construction of a 25’ X 40’ inground swimming pool (650 sq. ft.), a concrete deck having an area of 312 square feet, a pool equipment pad having an area of 32 sq. ft. and fencing on property located at 72 Allsmeer Dr., West Grove, PA (UPI#58-3-33.5) in the Township’s R-S Residential Suburban zoning district.

If you are a person with a disability and wish to attend the public meeting scheduled above and require an auxiliary aide, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceedings, please contact the Township Secretary at (610) 869-9620 to discuss how Penn

find inner strength, and cultivate a sense of peace amidst the challenges they may be facing.”

“I never truly understood the power of Reiki until I experienced it firsthand,” said Alyssa Capes of Reading Pa., a client of R&R Reiki Room. “The anxiety I felt during the pandemic took a toll on my health, leaving me feeling overwhelmed.

“After trying other methods, I decided to try Reiki. The session provided me with a sense of calm and tension release, helping me to relax. I started to sleep better, my mind felt clearer, and I felt more equipped to handle the challenges and uncertainties of this postCOVID era.”

“Reiki can be a game changer for anyone struggling to manage job-related stress, mental health and emotional challenges at

Township may best accommodate your needs. Edward

M. Foley, Solicitor, Brutscher, Foley, Milliner, Land & Kelly, LLP, 213 E. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348

8p-23-2t

PUBLIC NOTICE

Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless are proposing to construct a 155-ft monopole telecommunication tower located at 1451 Pughtown Rd, West Vincent Twp (Phoenixville), Chester Co, PA 19460 (40° 8’ 23.5” N / 75° 35’ 16.2”

W). Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30-days from the date of this publication to:

K. Eisele, Terracon, 844 N Lenola Rd, Ste 1, Moorestown, NJ 08057, 856-813-3267 or Kathy. eisele@terracon.com.

8p-23-1t

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the London Grove Township Board of Supervisors will a hold a special meeting on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. to interview candidates for the open supervisor position, and any other business that comes before them. The meeting will be held in the London Grove Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA 19390. The public is invited to attend.

8p-23-1t

work or home. Even pets can benefit from Reiki,” said Difabio. In addition to providing Reiki healing sessions, R&R Reiki Room offers a curated collection of exquisite crystals and Reiki-infused crystal jewelry. Difabio handpicks all crystal goods for their unique energy properties. From quartz to amethyst, obsidian to malachite, their diverse array caters to all spiritual aspirations.

R&R Reiki Room is dedicated to promoting holistic well-being and relaxation through the healing power of Reiki. R&R Reiki Room offers a peaceful and nurturing environment in the midst of the chaos of daily life. Founded in 2020 by Difabio, a highly skilled and compassionate Reiki master, R&R Reiki Room provides personalized Reiki sessions tailored to meet clients’ unique needs

PUBLIC NOTICE

with sessions designed to nurture mind and body with a rejuvenating experience while reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, or pain. Discover the transformative journey of self-discovery and the healing power of Reiki at R&R Reiki Room at rrreikiroom. com.

Legals

OXFORD BOROUGH ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Oxford Borough has developed an Active Transportation Plan to identify strategies for implementing infrastructure improvements to enhance sidewalk and trail connectivity, ADA accessibility, public transportation, and the Borough’s overall multimodal transportation network. The public review period of Oxford’s Active Transportation Plan will begin on August 23, 2023 and will continue through September 22, 2023. A draft of the plan will be available for public review and comment at Borough Hall, located at 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, PA 19363, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. A copy is also available on the Borough’s website at www.oxfordboro.org. Comments must be submitted in writing by September 22, 2023 to Borough Hall at the address listed above (Attn: Borough Manager) or by email to manager@oxfordboro.org, and must include commentor’s name and address. Comments can also be made in person at the Borough Council meeting on Monday, September 11, 2023 at Borough Hall at 7:00 pm. Acceptance of the final Active Transportation Plan will be on the agenda of the Oxford Borough Council at their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, October 2, 2023, at Borough Hall at 7:00

pm. If you are a person with a disability wishing to attend the aforementioned meetings on September 11 and/or October 2, 2023 and require auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to observe or participate in the proceedings, please contact the Borough secretary at 610-932-2500 to discuss how your needs may best be accommodated. OXFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL Pauline Garcia-Allen, Borough Manager 8-23-1t

Classifieds

AUTO AUCTIONS

2011 Cadillac SRX4, Vin # 3GYFNEEY2BS569333.

To be sold on August 23, 2023 @9:00 am. Chews Towing, Inc., 722 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363

2017 Ford Edge, Vin # 2FMPK4G98HBB0078.

To be sold on August 23, 2023 @9:00 am. Chews Towing, Inc., 722 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363

Rentals: OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of full/partial week rentals. FREE Color Brochure. Holiday Real Estate, Inc: 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com. $75 discount - new rentals. Code:

“SummerExtended2023”

(Expires 10-15-2023)

Miscellaneous:

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on Vet Bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-888-616-1622 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow. com/pasn temporarily

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material - Steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available.

Guaranteed to last a lifetime!

Limited Time Offer - 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.)

Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-844290-9042. Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855569-3087

Dish Network: Only from Dish3 year TV Price Guarantee! 99% Signal Reliability, backed by guarantee. Includes MultiSport with NFL Redzone.

Switch and Get a FREE $100 Gift Card. Call today! 1-855335-6094

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator. $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options Request a FREE Quote – Call now before the next power outage: 1-888-6054028

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877-670-0236 or visit dorranceinfo.com/pasn Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-855-672-8674 Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-833-437-1428

Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com

Floating row cover fabrics are a lower maintenance option, protecting plants from frost while letting air, light, and water through.

Courtesy photos

Some of the unique crystals used during sessions at the R&R Reiki Room.

Marianne Difabio, the founder of R&R Reiki Room.

Kohler Crushed Stone Showers By Home Smart

Why settle for shower walls that look like plastic?

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

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

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

Read more reviews from our satisfied customers!

4.9 Stars, 374 reviews

OFF