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Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas Volume 149, No. 34

BREAKING NEWS: Suspect shot, killed at Chester County Justice Center By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer The lobby of the Chester County Justice Center in West Chester became the scene of violence and gunshots on Tuesday, Aug. 25, when Coatesville resident Curtis Smith entered the lobby at about 11 a.m. and slashed an on-duty Deputy Sheriff with a knife. A second on-duty Deputy Sheriff shot Smith, who was immediately treated for a gunshot wound and transported to Paoli Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The District Attorney’s Office later confirmed that the unidentified injured deputy was taken to the hospital for treatment of stab wounds in the hand and arm. District Attorney Tom Hogan identified Smith as the man who was arrested earlier this year for scaling a stone wall at the perimeter of the White House. Within minutes of the shooting, Chester County detectives arrived on the scene, as had other law enforcement officials, including members of the West Chester Police. The Justice Center closed to the public for the remainder of the day. Stay tuned to the Chester County Press’s website, www. chestercounty.com, for more details as they emerge.

INSIDE

2015 Mushroom Festival & Visitors' Guide

INDEX Calendar of Events.......2B Opinion..........................7A Obituaries.......................8A Classified......................7B Police Blotter......................9A

60 Cents

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Kennett Township total assets top $25 million By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer With its current assets sitting at more than $12.6 million and the cost of its property, plant and equipment valued at $12.5 million, Kennett Township’s balance sheet exceeds $25 million, it was reported at the township’s six-month financial

report on Aug. 19. In a presentation before the township’s board of supervisors and residents, Township Manager Lisa Moore gave a summary of the township’s financial picture, which included a breakdown of the township’s assets, of which $7.1 million is included in the general fund. Revenue for the general fund

was $1.9 million, a six pecent increase over last year. On the expense side, the township spent $1.6 million out of its general fund during the first six months of 2015 -- a two percent decrease from last year -- 89 percent of which went to wages and benefits; police expenses; Continued on Page 2A

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Kennett Township Manager Lisa Moore gives the township’s six-month financial report at the township’s board of supervisors meeting on Aug. 19.

New OMI leadership team plots course for Oxford’s revitalization

Economic development a priority for new OMI leaders

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

The reality is that the leadership team of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) has been together for just a few short weeks. But ask the three women about what is great about downtown Oxford, or about their plans to continue the town’s revitalization efforts, and they talk like they’ve been together for years. During Donna Hosler’s first six months as the executive director of OMI, she has assembled a team that now includes Heidi Kern as the office manager and coordinator of special events and Stephanie Crowley as the administrative assistant. Crowley joined the team not long after Hosler, and Kern arrived in July. Their enthusiasm for the work at OMI is palpable, especially when they start to talk about how supportive the town’s business owners are, or about how many people in Oxford have invested themselves in the town’s revitalization efforts. “It’s been fun trying to get the right dynamic,” Hosler explained. “Now, we have a strong staff so that we can all do our jobs. All of our committees are up and

One of the primary goals of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) is to bring economic development to town. Executive director Donna Hosler, the OMI staff, and the board of directors are hard at work on a vision of Oxford that includes bringing more visitors to the downtown area with art studios and galleries, boutique shops, restaurants, and entertainment during the evenings and weekends. Oxford officials are excited about the opening earlier this month of the Sawmill Grill, a restaurant on Market Street. The Sawmill Grill is holding a soft opening as a menu is being developed, but is already creating a lot of buzz around town. Another new business that will be opening soon is Wholly Grounds, which will sell coffee, kettle corn, and other snacks. Hosler said that the remodeling job has been beautiful for the storefront on Third Street that previously housed the Lighthouse Youth Center for many years. Hosler said that a group of gentlemen are working on starting the Bog Turtle Brewery. The hope is that production of the beer will begin in October, with the products available at local restaurants like the Sawmill Grill. The staff at OMI is exploring many different ways to promote Oxford as a good location for potential businesses. The Oxford Village Market and the monthly First Friday events serve as ways for vendors to test the market as they get to see how popular their items are on a limited basis, and to also get an understanding about the business community in Oxford, and the support that is available. OMI officials are excited to showcase everything that Oxford has to offer. OMI has an Economic Development Committee that recently prepared and presented a marketing package presentation to a potential developer. The Economic Development Committee includes all sectors of the

Photo by Steven Hoffman

The new leadership team of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc.: executive director Donna Hosler (on the right) office manager and coordinator of special events Heidi Kern (on the left), and administrative assistant Stephanie Crowley (center) in downtown Oxford.

running again. I think we’re now hitting our stride.” The OMI officials have been working on a number of different initiatives simultaneously, some large and some small. All the OMI committees have been re-established and are back on a regular schedule for meetings. The staff is building a database that will include all the properties, property owners, and businesses that are located inside

the boundary of the Business Improvement District. They also want to have a database for sponsors, volunteers, and other resources. OMI’s website is being completely revamped. A more comprehensive and interactive website should be online within the next few months. With the team now in place, Hosler, Crowley, and Kern are all enthusiastic about the work Continued on Page 3A

Continued on Page 3A

Sweating the details For the members of the Unionville High School Marching Band, the end of summer means getting ready for the big show By John Chambless Staff Writer On Monday afternoon in the side parking lot at Unionville High School, an arena-size show was coming together, 16 beats at a time. The 69 members of the Unionville Marching Band were counting out their steps under the watchful guidance of Monica Morrison, who was high up in a scaffolding, offering strict instruction and a little bit of encouragement to the sweaty teens below her. “You’ve got to be mentally tough,” she said over the PA

system. “I know it’s hot, but we stuck it out last week. Come on!” Beginning on Aug. 17, the musicians and color guard members have been working eight-hour days -- as well as some nights -- to learn the music for “Land of the Free,” the band’s patriotic-themed show for the fall season. But it’s not just music. It’s marching side by side, performing pinpoint turns, getting your arms in the right positions and ending up exactly where you’re supposed to be. It’s practiced over and over, until the routine becomes sort of a muscle memory. Getting a marching band show

By Uncle Irvin

Photo by John Chambless

Members of the Unionville High School drum line stand in formation during practice on Monday afternoon.

into shape is sort of like putting together a huge jigsaw puzzle, but first you have to teach the

pieces where to go, and then you reassemble them a minute later Continued on Page 4A

Eli Seth Matthews Foundation continues quest to see a cure for childhood leukemia September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Eli Seth Matthews inspired many people in the community with the way that he lived his life with joy and bravery. That’s why, more than four years after he passed away at the age of 10 following a lengthy and courageous battle against childhood leukemia, the community continues to rally to support the cause that he believed in.

“Eli is still touching hearts from heaven,” said his father, Paul, on Aug. 17, the day that Oxford Mayor Geoff Henry issued a formal proclamation that Oxford would be commemorating Childhood Cancer Awareness Month during September. Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children, and each year in the U.S. there will be 15,780 children under the age of 19 who will be diagnosed with some form of

Adjacent townships differ widely

cancer. Approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday. Globally, there are more than 250,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year, and every three minutes, somewhere in the world, a child is diagnosed with cancer. Matthews, a resident of Oxford, established a foundation in his son’s name with a goal of raising money to help support research to end childhood leukemia.

Courtesy photo

Eli Seth Matthews

During Eli’s short, but remarkable life, he raised over $7,000 to support the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, and the bELIeve Team of friends and family members raised another $30,000 through fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society during Eli’s lifetime. Continued on Page 2A

Even though they are next-door neighbors, Penn and London Grove townships are really on different planets. London Grove has been dysfunctional and has not operated with any level of competence for at least 15 years. Supervisor David Connors after Tom Houghton’s heavy-handed leadership fired blanks and caused zoning fights. Connors likewise fell on his swollen ego and personally cost township residents thousands of dollars with his Arnold Palmer impersonation of how to run the township public course, Inniscrone, profitably, which it is surely not. Inniscrone is a money pit with over $1 million in township debt (owed by the residents) and a very dim future. Now, look around the corner and see the new Red Rose Inn Community Hall taking shape. Penn Township bought out the blighted building with money from Continued on Page 3A