Chester County Press 08-30-2023 Edition

Follow-up town hall to take place on Sept. 14

Fire, EMS volunteers in short supply, chiefs say

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Seated side-by-side at the far right of the Red Clay Room on Aug. 24, row after row of volunteers from three area fire and EMS companies attended the first of two Kennett Fire & EMS Town Hall meetings.

Throughout the meeting, a few in the audience of 100 publicly thanked them for their service and all received accolades for their selfless dedication from their supervisors. They were there in full force, but in keeping

with a national trend, there were not enough of them.

Representatives from the Kennett, Longwood and Po-Mar-Lin fire departments reported that the number of volunteers currently serving their units is well below their desired volume.

Their remarks were part of a presentation that provided an overview of emergency services to the 56-square-mile radius in the municipalities that make up the Kennett Fire & EMS Commission. Those chairing the event were A.J. McCarthy, chief of the Longwood Fire

Company; Rick Franks, assistant chief of the Kennett Fire Company; Stephen Nuse, assistant chief and president of the Po-MarLin Fire Company; and Matt Eick, assistant chief of EMS for the Longwood Fire Company.

Reflecting on those dwindling numbers, Franks said key factors contributing to the decline of volunteers point to the rising economic pressures of maintaining a household, higher standards for becoming a volunteer firefighter and a flatline of financial support.

“Previously, households were taken care of by one income, meaning there was a lot of extra time for people to do things such as volunteer at fire houses,” he said. “Now, a lot of houses are two-income, leaving a lot less time to volunteer. In addition, the standards and training requirements have continued to increase. For example, if you are coming in as a rookie firefighter, there is a 250-hour course, followed by a 100-hour course, and a rescue program which is about 50 [hours.]

“You will need about

400 hours of service just to become a basic, entry-level firefighter, which is a lot to ask someone nowadays to give up in order to volunteer their time.”

Nuse estimated that the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company has 25 active volunteers, while McCarthy and Franks estimated that there are about 40 active volunteers at Kennett and Longwood.

“You can’t put a number on how many volunteers we would desire to have, because there’s so much wear and tear on everyone who is already there,” Nuse

said. “If you [wished for] 100 or 150 volunteers, that still would not be enough.”

“At this point, I would just take ten people who would choose to stay,” McCarthy said. “Too often, we invest a lot of money and time to train them, and after a year or two in they realize that [being a volunteer] is very burdensome.”

The fight to recruit – and retain -- volunteer firefighters isn’t just being felt at Kennett, Longwood and Po-Mar-Lin. According to statistics provided by the

Kennett Library & Resource Center officially opens in grand ceremony

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

No one did it alone.

Everyone did it together.

From speeches to makers spaces to audio and video studios to informal gatherings on the Melton Terrace, the concept of inclusivity served as a consistent theme at the official opening of the new Kennett Library and Resource Center on Aug. 27, which drew hundreds of community members and elected officials to help usher in the reality of an idea that began a quarter century ago.

Throughout the fourhour ceremony, those who played crucial roles in the creation of the two-floor, 33,425-square-foot library gave credit to a wide swath

of municipalities, trustees, private and public contributors and most especially the community members who supported the library’s fundraising campaign, which to date stands just $1.7 million shy of its goal. In fact, 68 percent of all financial contributions have come from private donations.

“This day reflects teamwork, collegiality, empowerment and vision,” said Thomas Swett, chairman emeritus of the Library’s Board of Trustees.

“We had the opportunity to recreate a new board, to bring the people together and create a collegial atmosphere. Then we began to sense the potential for a groundswell of interest [in a new library], and it took catalytic agents to bring it

to fruition. Standing here today, you can see what some of those words like teamwork, collegiality, empowerment and vision mean.”

Even before the ceremony kicked-off at 1 p.m. with a ceremonial book pass along State Street from the old library to the new one, hundreds had already gathered to explore the new facility, which has enjoyed a soft opening for the past several weeks. After a land acknowledgement ceremony and performance by the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, local dignitaries and library board members cut the ribbon on the new building, which was followed by remarks by Board President Bradley Peiper, Executive Director

610.869.5553

Christopher Manna, Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick, County Commissioners Josh Maxwell and Marian Moskowitz and former Board President and current

Continued on Page 2A

Brandywine Conservancy and partners announce launch of Brandywine Flood study

Supported by the Chester County Water Resources Authority and the University of Delaware Water Resources Center, the flood study will identify opportunities for future flood mitigation measures to better protect residents living along the Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania and Delaware of Delaware Water Resources Center (UDWRC), the flood study is a coordinated effort to better understand where and why flooding occurs and identify the best approaches to protect our communities from future severe flooding events.

In response to more frequent and extreme flooding events impacting communities along the Brandywine Creek in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, the Brandywine Conservancy announced the launch of the Brandywine Flood Study—nearly two years after Hurricane Ida produced historic flooding that devastated the region.

Conducted in partnership with the Chester County Water Resources Authority (CCWRA) and the University

Encompassing the mainstem of the Brandywine Creek and key tributaries in Chester and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania and traveling downstream to impacted areas over the Delaware state line, the

flood study aims to identify options for reducing flood impacts to improve public safety and lessen property damage. The study will be funded, in part, through grants from Chester County Government and Delaware County Council.

“As we approach the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Ida, which caused significant threats to public safety and emergency services, along with over $100 million in flood damages to public infrastructure

in our region—including more than $10 million in damages to

Conservancy & Museum of Art’s 15-acre campus in Chadds Ford—there is an urgent need for this flood

study,”

“In order to identify the best strategies for mitigating the impact of

Continued on Page 3A

Unionville-Chadds Ford School District plans for the centennial school year

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District has unveiled some of its plans for celebrating the centennial school year. The community is invited to join the school district in celebrations throughout the school year, including a series of events that will honor the rich heritage, inspiring achievements, and a commitment to a bright future for the entire school district.

Centennial Parade on Oct. 6

The celebration will kick off on Oct. 6 with a Centennial Parade. This historic procession will wind its way from Unionville Elementary School to Patton Middle School. The parade promises to be a dazzling display of school spirit, featuring students and alumni marching proudly together.

This parade will be a testament to the rich history and bright future of the district and its students, families, alumni, and all community members are invited to line the parade route and be part of this grand spectacle

before the Unionville homecoming football game.

Historical bus tours of the Community

The centennial celebration will continue with bus tours that will explore the history and landmarks of the Unionville-Chadds Ford district. Dates and times for these tours are available on the U-CF Centennial website.

Open House at Unionville Elementary on Nov. 4 Visit the building where it all started in 1923, Unionville Elementary, on Nov. 4 for a special Centennial Open House. Guests will be able to take a walk down memory lane and witness the progress and evolution of the school district. See the original

‘The shining light of what is yet to come’

Photos by Richard L. Gaw

Flanked by Kennett Borough Council President Doug Doerfler and member at large trustee Michael Guttman, Executive Director Christopher Manna and Board President Bradley Peiper cut the ribbon at the official opening of the new Kennett Library and Resource Center on Aug. 27.

Photo courtesy the BrandywineConservancy Damage from the Ida flood at the Brandywine Museum of Art courtyard.

the Brandywine

said Grant DeCosta, director of community services for the Brandywine Conservancy.

Capital Campaign Chairman Jeff Yetter in a presentation held before an overflow audience at the library’s 110-seat auditorium.

remains an uphill climb.

Fire and EMS...

Continued from Page 1A calls in the coverage zone on a yearly basis.

National Volunteer Fire Council, the number of volunteer firefighters in the U.S. continues to decline dramatically, from 800,000 in 1984 to 676,000 as recently as 2020 – all while the volume of service calls to these agencies has skyrocketed 30 percent. The three departments respond to 3,500 EMS

Kennett Library & Resource Center...

Continued from Page 1A

Making mention of the natural light that seeps in through the Library’s floorto-ceiling windows, as well as the many makers spaces, meeting rooms, reading rooms, workstations, children’s play areas and its 85 parking spaces, Peiper said that the new Library is “a welcoming environment for whatever your needs are.”

“Our vision now is focused on all of the programs and services that this new and expanded space will be able to offer our communities,” Peiper said. “We have makers spaces, audio and video studios –hands-on components that people don’t necessarily need to know about but that we can teach them to use.

“Those who come to this library will find it to be a very welcome environment. Our mission is education, but if people who want

In Pennsylvania, the estimated number of volunteer firefighters is 30,000, compared to 1975, when there were 360,000 serving in the commonwealth.

While inventing creative measures to recruit volunteers such as incentive programs is high on the priority list of the three local fire and EMS companies, it

to use 3-D printers and engravers or for students who wish to develop STEM skills, we will have all sorts of activities that will be fun for them.”

‘This project had a 99 percent certainty to fail’

In his address, Manna compared the economics and technology of 1961 – the year the Kennett Memorial Library first opened—to today and reflected that the purpose and definition of libraries has been forced to be redefined in order to address these changing paradigms.

“The rising costs of living makes it really easy to focus on our own survival and not on those who are experiencing those same pressures,” he said. “Those external pressures influence the way that we are not capable of achieving more in our lives for our families and for our greater community. Those pressures go into default every time a new opportunity presents itself to us. It’s

“The thing that we’re all trying to overcome is that volunteers are a dying breed,” McCarthy said.

“It’s been well-studied in Pennsylvania for probably the last 30 or 40 years, and unfortunately, no one is doing anything about it at any level.”

‘Sitting down at a table together’

easy to say ‘No.’ It’s easy to say there’s 99 reasons why this can’t, won’t and shouldn’t happen.

“Finding the one reason why it will work is what defines success,” added Manna, who included several new initiatives and technology that is now available at the Library.

“This community, this staff, this board of trustees never gave into those 99 reasons. This project had a 99 percent certainty to fail, and yet everyone here – many who are not here today –said that it must happen, and because of that, you all found that one reason that led to 100 percent success.

“To those who say libraries are dead or just books on a dusty shelf; for those who expressed doubt at what we are capable of, all I can say is, ‘Look around.’ This building, all of you here today, all of our partners here today – instead of caving into to a 99 percent chance of failure, you all did not stop until we reached that 100 percent chance of success.”

Fetick called the ingenuity that created the new Library a regional effort that included the support and funding from New Garden, Kennett, East and

Centennial school year...

Continued from Page 1A

auditorium and gymnasium. This is a wonderful opportunity for alumni, current students, and families to reconnect and share in the pride of being part of the district’s history.

Centennial GalaApril 13, 2024

The pinnacle of the centennial celebrations will be the Centennial Gala on April 13 at Longwood Gardens. Join in for a glamorous evening of elegance, entertainment,

Against the backdrop of this growing reality, the officers said that the 2017 formation of the Kennett Fire & EMS Commission has allowed all three agencies to combine their resources in a way that has positively impacted the way emergency services are administered throughout the region.

The impact of the Commission, McCarthy said, has created more

West Marlborough, Newlin, Pennsbury and Pocopson townships, as well as the Kennett Square Borough. He called the Library a huge landmark that will continue to serve the people of the borough and area municipalities.

“It took a long time, but when you drive into town and see it at the top of the hill, I believe it has become the shining light of what is yet to come,” he said.

‘This is your library’

Fetick and Yetter acknowledged Dansko founders Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup and Longwood Gardens and its CEO Paul Redman for their respective roles in partnering with the Library on fundraising events and opportunities.

Yetter saved his most prominent praise for Manna, saying that the executive director made significant changes to the building’s original design, “and it has all been for the better,” Yetter said. “Chris has put life into this building, and this community will be the beneficiary of that.”

Yetter called the development of the new Library “a 25-year odyssey,” one whose original capital

and reflection as the district celebrates the achievements of the past and set its sights on the future. This grand celebration promises to be a night to remember.

Be a part of UnionvilleChadds Ford School District history

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is looking for individuals to be a part of history by submitting mementos to be used during the district’s centennial celebration. The mementos selected from the submissions will be displayed in centennial exhibits at various locations and at centennial events throughout the school year. Examples include but are not limited to art, clothing, books, signage, and pennants.

reliable funding streams; streamlined EMS operations; improved communication with the municipalities the Commission serves; inspired long-term capital planning concepts; and created a regionalized approach to fire and EMS services that has resulted in a partnership between the three agencies.

A second Kennett Fire & EMS town hall will be held on Sept. 14 beginning at 7

p.m. at the Red Clay Room. Topics expected to be covered will be fire and EMS service in Kennett Square Borough, and the potential impacts of the Kennett Borough’s recent decision to leave the Kennett Area Fire & EMS Commission at the end of the year.

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

campaign intersected with COVID-19, the increasing costs of materials that raised the cost estimate of the new library from $18 million to more than $22 million, as well as several local naysayers who told the board that they would never be able to raise more than $10 million.

“Today, we sit at $20.3 million dollars,” he said.

“In Delaware, they don’t pay for their libraries. In Pennsylvania, we pay for our libraries. One of the biggest challenges we have is explaining to people that ultimately, the state is not paying for this. It’s us, and this is your library.

“You guys are the ones who did it.”

Courtesy photo The Unionville School in 1923.

The district will also feature an online short video series to be published on the website, social media channels, and YouTube. This series will feature individuals sharing happy memories from their time at the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.

For more information about these events and other Centennial activities, please visit the dedicated UCF Centennial webpage at www.ucfsd.org/about/ centennial. This is where the latest updates, event schedules, and ways to get involved will be shared.

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

Photos by Richard L. Gaw Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick addresses an overflow audience in the Library's auditorium.

Chris Richardson and his daughters Marceline and Maxine enjoy the children’s area.

future flooding events, we need to better understand all of the factors that contribute to flood levels along the Brandywine Creek and its tributaries. Given the increasing likelihood of future severe weather events, the Brandywine Flood Study is key to our community’s health and safety.”

Led by the Brandywine Conservancy, CCWRA and UDWRC, the study will evaluate the Brandywine Creek’s flow regimes during intense storm events, along with the scale and potential impact of subsequent flooding.

The study will also include partnerships with the Stroud Water Research Center, West Chester University and other technical experts.

“On behalf of Chester County, the Water Resources Authority is proud to be a partner in this watershedbased approach to identify a range of solutions that address flood impacts in our communities,” said Seung Ah Byun, executive director of the Chester County Water Resources Authority. “We also view this as a way to build resiliency and mitigate the potential effects from future storm events that may be larger and more intense due to our changing climate.

“Approaching this from a more regional scale is important, because what our upstream communities do affects our neighbors downstream.”

One of the first tasks of the flood study will involve refining the study area to determine all the streams

and tributaries with flow regimes that contribute to major flood events. The study partners will then evaluate the designated area’s storm event and climate data, population, land use, water quality, natural areas and cultural resources.

Historical and present flooding data will also be evaluated, and then the partners will develop hydrologic and hydraulic models of the Brandywine Creek using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydrologic Engineer Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS).

Using these models, the partners will identify problems associated with the geography and hydrology of the flood study area. This process will also include public workshops and field reconnaissance of the defined study area.

“In 2021, Hurricane Ida sideswiped our area and caused the biggest flood in 200 years along the historic Brandywine Creek,” said Gerald Kauffman Jr., director of the University of Delaware Water Resources Center. “At the Water Resources Center, we look forward to working with our upstream partners in this bistate and intergovernmental Brandywine Flood Study to identify the root causes of the flooding, as well as recommend and hopefully implement real flood solutions for the people who live and work in the watershed in Delaware and Pennsylvania.”

Following the data gathering and field study phase, the partners will begin site assessment for improve-

ments to the flood study area to mitigate future flooding. The recommended solutions will be evaluated for various factors, including impact and cost, in order to facilitate strategic implementation throughout the study area.

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline said in a statement, “Chester County has more than 100 years of continuous stream flow records for the Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford, and during Hurricane Ida, the creek crested at over 21 feet—nearly four feet higher than the previous highest recording.

Chester County has a rich legacy of sound planning and environmental stewardship, and we know that it is important to continue to plan and prepare for future conditions that involve extreme weather patterns. This flood study is a key step in the preparation.”

“We are thrilled to support the Brandywine Flood Study, led by the Brandywine Conservancy in partnership with the Chester County Water Resources Authority and the University of Delaware Water Resources Center,” said Delaware County Council chair Dr. Monica Taylor.

“This coordinated effort will be key to helping us better protect our communities from future severe floods and will help us more fully understand and respond to all of the contributing factors that lead to extreme flooding along the Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania and Delaware.”

The study is expected to be completed by June 2024. A series of public workshops will be held during key stages of the flood study process to engage with impacted communities and gather feedback. The partners also plan to form a flood advisory committee made up of key stakeholders along the watershed. The public can stay informed on the flood study progress, along with upcoming public meeting dates and locations, at brandywine.org/flood-study.

Once the flood study is completed, the partners are committed to working with impacted communities, elected officials, key funders and government agencies to implement the study’s recommendations so that the watershed and its residents in both states are better prepared, protected and equipped to rebound from future severe flooding events.

The Brandywine

Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities.

The Conservancy uses a multi-faceted approach to conservation. Staff work with private landowners who wish to see their lands protected forever and provide innovative community planning services to municipalities and other governmental agencies.

The Conservancy cur-

rently holds more than 510 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of over 70,200 acres of land. The Conservancy is a program of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art, which preserves and promotes the natural and cultural connections between the area’s beautiful landscape, historic sites, and important artists.

Courtesy image

A map of the flood study coverage area.

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.

So it all went down last Tuesday night in Oxford, a nearly four-and-a-halfhour-long meeting to determine the fate of four books in the Oxford Area School District, and in a larger sense, to eliminate -- or further accentuate – the fear of a few to undermine the freedom of choice for the many and the right of an individual to construct the way he or she wishes to live.

Turning their backs on the advice of the district’s 12-person advisory committee – who overwhelmingly recommended that these books not be removed -- the school district’s board voted to completely ban

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky from district libraries; and to move

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and Lucky by Alice Sebold to a “professional” section of the district’s library system, where only staff and faculty will have access to

it. After much debate, the board voted to keep The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas in the library.

This charade of indecency, masqueraded as an effort to protect our children from objectionable language and sensitive themes like rape and homosexuality, was such a gross misuse of power that it may go down in the annals of the Oxford Area School District as the worst moment in its history.

With one deferential wave of a vote on Aug. 22, the decision of the Oxford Area School District Board to wipe most of these books away from the hands of students was another notch in the continuous dismantling of the American to think freely, rationalize and self-educate.

According to a recent report by PEN America -- a literary and free expression advocacy organization -school districts in 26 states banned or opened investigations into more than 1,100 books between July 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Over that nine-month period, the

Fear.

organizations listed 1,586 instances of individual books banned across the nation that affected 1,145 unique book titles, 874 different authors, 198 illustrators, and nine translators. The bans came from 86 school districts that represented 2,899 schools.

In perfect step with the Oxford Area School District’s ruling on Aug. 22, Pennsylvania is second in the nation – behind only Texas – with the highest number of banned books –456 to be exact across nine districts.

* * * *

We have become a nation whose direction increasingly comes from an ultra-conservative minority using the war stick of fear as their weapon of choice, and one by one, the bricks of our democracy are crumbling before our eyes and our children’s lives: the fear of those who do not look like us; the fear of those who do not love like us; the fear of those who think dif-

ferently than us; the fear of those who do not worship like us; and the fear of those who do not think like us.

In its place, we are a nation of new laws that already – and aim to -- erase the vestiges of our freedom to assemble in peaceful protest without recourse; to choose the course of our own bodies; to render our editorialized thoughts and opinions without evisceration and censorship; and yes, for the right of a teenager to enter a school library and have access to any book, film or data he or she chooses.

Fear, in the form that was rendered into policy by the Oxford Area School District board last Tuesday evening, is the latest in a long line of censorship that has attempted to keep young adults from some of our greatest books, which while controversial and profane in content and not for the hands and eyes of small children, are without question masterpieces of literature: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Grapes

Commentary

of Wrath, On the Road, Native Son, The Color Purple, The Lord of the Flies, 1984, The Diary of a Young Girl and the Bible, to list a few.

While it remains the ferocious determination of a loud minority to continue slicing away at the right for a young adult to access these books, they do so against the vivacious backdrop of a majority chorus that will not stop. Many of those voices were present at the Aug. 22 meeting, as well as a recent work session on Aug. 8, when a mother of a fourth grader in the district stood up and addressed the board.

“Judy Blume, the celebrated children’s book author who many of us here have read, once said, ‘It’s not just the books that are under fire now that worry me. It’s the books that will never be read, and all due to the fear of censorship.

As always, young readers will be the real losers,’” she said, quoting Blume.

“There is one word in that statement that stands out

for me: Fear,” she continued. “In watching the latest book ban debate –with many of those books focused on topics like race, gender, equality and sexuality – I notice that it boils down to exactly that, fear. Whether it is fear of educating our students to have free-thinking ideas, fear of them knowing that ideas exist that you may not agree with, or fear of those ideas yourself, I noticed that fear plays a big part in this discussion.

“If I don’t teach my child to face his fears and learn about them – be they about spiders, or different lifestyles, the harm of slavery, thunderstorms and the rights of sexual assault survivors, then I am doing him a great disservice. If you allow our schools to not teach those same values like diversity, acceptance and learning to value all others, then our district is doing a great disservice, not just to our students but to our community and our country as a whole.”

Sunshine Act abuse should not be tolerated

By William M. Cotter President and CEO Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association

Citizens should know what issues their school boards, borough councils and other government agencies plan to deliberate and/or vote on at public meetings.

Call this commonsense requirement what it is: the law in Pennsylvania.

Since 2021 the Sunshine Act, or state open-meetings law, requires that a government agency make its meeting agenda available at least 24 hours in advance of a public meeting. The agency must post the agenda on its publicly accessible internet website, if it has one, as well as at the agency office and at the location of the meeting. In addition, copies of the agenda must be made available to individuals in attendance at the meeting. The public must get a

heads-up from government on road repairs, contract agreements, tax hikes, budget proceedings, environmental matters affecting health and safety, and other pending issues so individuals can be fully informed, attend meetings on topics that concern them, and participate in the decisionmaking process.

Once the agenda has been finalized and posted for the public, according to Act 65, the agency may not take official action on any item that is not listed on the agenda ‒ except in emergency situations or on insignificant matters that create neither a contract nor involve expending funds.

The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association is concerned that agencies have begun to rely on the exceptions provision to address significant and controversial issues, which does not allow for meaningful public comment.

Examples where local government has improperly moved forward include:

Upper Mount Bethel Township in Northampton County, which approved an indemnity agreement with a developer seeking to build a 5.8-million-squarefoot warehouse facility that opponents believe would harm the rural character of the township.

Bucks County, where the water and sewer authority voted to enter exclusive talks to sell its wastewater system for $1.1 billion before formally soliciting public feedback on the proposal.

The exceptions provision is the subject of an appeal before the Commonwealth Court. A school board director for Lehigh Valley’s Parkland School District initially filed a suit after the board voted in 2021 to approve a collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union that was not listed on the agenda in advance of the meeting.

As a result of the vote, the

agreement, in part, provided teachers with 2.9 percent annual raises as part of a three-year contract.

Former board member Jarrett Coleman said at a subsequent board meeting that he did not object to teachers getting higher pay, but rather to the lack of transparency by the board. He argued in Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas that because the board did not put the contract on its agenda in advance of the meeting it violated the Sunshine Act. The court dismissed the suit; Coleman, who is a freshman state senator serving parts of Lehigh and Bucks counties, is appealing.

Because the outcome of the case has statewide implications for the news media industry and public access to information, PNA has filed an amicus brief in support of Coleman’s position. We make the argument that Parkland’s eleventhhour move to act on a big contract with wide-ranging implications for teachers

and taxpayers ventured far from both the intent and spirit of the law. Furthermore, the lower court’s holding would make the advanceagenda requirement utterly ineffectual, which decries the public policy behind its passage.

Government agencies must be limited in taking action on issues added to an agenda at the last moment or risk abuse to government transparency and accountability.

State Sen. Patrick Stefano of Fayette County sponsored the legislation after he learned that a school board in his district added an unexpected vote on a new superintendent to a board agenda.

“A lot of people were interested in the superintendent issue, and the board voted on it at a meeting where no one was there,’’ he said. “That should never happen.”

PNA and its members agree. That is why our organization supported and advocated for Stefano’s

efforts, which won unanimous approval in both legislative chambers. It is also why we call out those who threaten to limit or withhold the information essential to robust public participation.

The health of our democracy depends upon it.

The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association is the official trade organization for print, digital and news media-related members statewide. Founded almost a century ago, PNA has advocated for legislation that improves public access laws in the commonwealth.

Gregory legislation will protect

children from accessing pornography on mobile devices

State Rep. Jim Gregory said that his legislation, House Bill 1501, will ensure that children are protected from accessing pornography on mobile devices.

“While we certainly should be concerned about children having access to inappropriate sexual content and pornography in the school setting, we must also be diligent to ensure children are not able to

access the same material on mobile devices outside of the school setting,” Gregory said. “When children are exposed to explicit sexual content at an early age, either by accident or indoctrination, it has a significantly negative impact on their future development and ability to have a successful outcome. It is imperative we protect our children.”

Gregory’s legislation, titled the “Protection of Minors from Unfiltered Devices Act,” would require new smart phones and tablets activated in the Commonwealth to have a filter enabled that would protect children from finding harmful material online such as pornography.

This technology already exists and can be easily placed on devices. The filters can also be disabled by adults, meaning requiring activation of filters at purchase will not impinge on the ability of anyone of

legal age from accessing anything on their phone or tablet.

In addition, support for protecting children from internet pornography was the subject of a recent editorial from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“Ensuring children are protected from exposure to pornography should not be a partisan issue,” Gregory noted. “I hope more colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join my effort to ensure children can be children and be protected from this explicit content.”

Courtesy photo William M. Cotter

the Spotlight

by Gene Pisasale

Mines and quarries of Chester County

By Gene Pisasale Contributing Writer

Many people are not aware that Pennsylvania led the nation in the production of natural resources for 100 years, from 1820 to 1920, and Chester County played an important part in that development.

Mines operated in Chester County going back to the early 1700s.

The Warwick mine in the French Creek Valley started producing ore in 1714.

The French Creek Mine in northeastern Chester County near Phoenixville produced more than one million tons of iron as well as some copper from 1846 to 1928. Minerals extracted from Chester County mines and quarries include copper, iron (magnetite, limonite), lead, graphite, rutile, corundum, titanium, beryllium, chromium, feldspar, manganese, kaolinite, marble, lime, serpentine and quartzite.

Rocks possess a wide range of physical and chemical characteristics suitable for human applications. This author previously worked as a petroleum geologist and later acted as curator of an exhibit titled “Mines and Minerals of Chester County” featured at the Chadds Ford Historical Society in 2014 highlighting the many unique aspects of our landscape. Understanding the properties of various minerals gives you a better grasp of their importance in our society.

End uses of the minerals mined in Chester County include steel plates, girders and tools, cement, paints and industrial coatings, bricks and copper pipes to ceramics, abrasive agents and even Epsom salts.

Most of this mineral production occurred from the early-mid 1800s to the turn of the 20th century; some of it had notable applications.

Marble derived from local quarries was used in the building of Girard College and Villanova University. Some of the quarries still operate today.

The well-known Avondale Quarry has produced extensive amounts of building stone, flagstone, sand and aggregate

for construction and landscaping purposes. This venue near the intersection of Route 41 and Old Baltimore Pike was started in the 1920s. It contains several minerals such as mica, black tourmaline and some granite boulders. Graphite, marcasite and rutile have also been reported at this location. School children know mica as the glittery, sheetlike mineral which peels off in flakes. Mica has superior thermodynamic properties and is stable in the presence of electrostatic fields. It is commonly used in joint compounds for drywall, in a variety of coatings, in roofing shingles and concrete blocks. Rutile is processed to generate titanium dioxide, an opacifying agent in paints and other coatings. Du Pont has been one of the world’s largest suppliers of this product. Granite is often cut into large slabs and used to produce beautiful countertops for homes and other buildings.

Most people just like to look at pretty crystals— and you can find them at Avondale in large quantities. If you were born in January, you would have garnet as your birthstone. This maroon to ruby redcolored, semi-precious gem is found quite frequently in metamorphic rocks, including the local garnet schist. Black tourmaline crystals are also abundant, present in a feldspar/quartz/mica framework within pegmatite veins—intrusions of molten rock which cooled near the surface millions of years ago. The Unionville area once was mined for feldspar, marble, limestone, chromite, rutile and other minerals.

To the southwest, the Nottingham area holds copious amounts of chromite, feldspar and serpentine at the former State Line and Goat Hill mines, along with quarry deposits nearby. Chromite is processed into chromium, a metal used in a number of industrial applications.

If you tour the area in and around Nottingham County Park, you’ll see serpentine barrens—areas where very little vegetation except

weeds will grow. This occurs due to the presence of chromite and other minerals which inhibit plant development—with one exception. The serpentine aster actually thrives in this environment, and almost nowhere else.

Nottingham County Park was the first park established in Chester County in 1963. It offers 731 acres containing some of these natural features, allowing visitors to roam and experience local flora and wildlife, as well as eight pavilions and three playgrounds for the kids.

Drive around and you are bound to see houses with lovely olive-green serpentine forming their framework. Colonists used this in buildings for both endurance and beauty.

Feldspar is a chalky, off-white to pink mineral widely present in granite. When brushing their teeth in the morning, most people don’t think about rocks, but feldspar is ground into a very fine powder and included as an abrasive agent in toothpaste. It is used extensively in ceramics, as well as a filler in paint, plastics and rubber.

Feldspar even helps us see things better. Alumina from feldspar improves the hardness and durability of glass, adding to its resistance to chemical corrosion.

There are numerous places to collect minerals around the county, and 49 of the 57 townships hold quarries or abandoned mines containing worthwhile specimens. Be sure to ask permission from the landowner before you go searching. You may be pleasantly surprised to find some nice items for your collection.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Brandywine Valley’s rich mineral resources played a significant role in the economic development of America.

So the specimens you collect actually have a link to our industrial heritage. Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. His 11 books focus mostly on the history of the Chester County/midAtlantic region. Gene’s latest book is Heritage of the Brandywine Valley a beautifully illustrated hardcover book with over 250 images showcasing the fascinating people, places and events of this region over more than 300 years. His books are available on his website at www.GenePisasale.com and also on www.Amazon. com. Gene can be reached via e-mail at Gene@ GenePisasale.com.

The French Creek Mine, circa early 1880s. Earth moving equipment at Avondale Quarry.

Granite with large quartz inclusion.

Garnet.

Serpentine aster flower at Nottingham.

Chromite with serpentine matrix.

Serpentine Barrens. Serpentine.

Our Family Serving Your

JENNIE MAY EVANS

Jennie May Evans, a lifelong resident of Oxford, passed away peacefully to heaven on Aug. 22, 2023. She was 91. She shared 38 years of marriage with her late husband, Billy John Evans.

Jennie graduated from Oxford Area High School and received an award for perfect attendance.

Jennie was a longtime serving member of the Oxford Church of the Nazarene. She was a proud Sunday School teacher and led the Junior Church Program for several years. She was a member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. She enjoyed the ladies’ Bible study meeting where she had many close friends.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and spending afternoons on the phone talking with her friends. She loved taking long drives and eating out.

Jennie is survived by her son, Daniel Evans, two daughters, Bobbi Townsend (Andy) and Judy Evans, all of Oxford, seven grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, John Evans and daughter, Donna Ham.

Jennie will be remembered by all her love and good times shared with her family and friends. There are no words that can express how much Jennie will be missed.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at the Oxford Cemetery, 220 North Third St. in Oxford.

Obituary submissions

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

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

JACQUELINE FARRA SLAUCH

Jacqueline Farra Slauch, 97, a lifelong resident of Oxford, passed away on June 6, 2023 at the Jenners Pond Assisted Living Facility in West Grove.

She shared 66 years of marriage with her late husband, Leon T. Slauch.

Born in Oxford, she was the daughter of the late John R. and Genevieve McClurg Farra.

Jacqueline graduated as “best all-around student” from Oxford High School in 1943. She attended West Chester State Teachers College and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in music education in 1948. She went on to earn a master’s degree from West Chester State College and Temple University.

Jacqueline taught music for two years at the Atlantic City School District and retired from the Kennett Consolidated School District as a music teacher after 22 years of service.

Jacqueline was the longest serving member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church and was the director of music for 47 years. She was also a charter member of the Oxford Research Club and was a member of the Presbyterian Women’s Association and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.

She is survived by her four sons, Peter Slauch (Connie) of Oxford, John Slauch (Sandy) of Quarryville, Walter Slauch (Pamela) of Trappe, and James Slauch (Sandie) of Champagne, Ill. Jacqueline is also survived by ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at noon on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at the Oxford Presbyterian Church, 6 Pine St. in Oxford, where friends and family may visit from 11 a.m. to noon.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jacqueline’s memory may be made to the Oxford Presbyterian Church, 6 Pine St., Oxford, Pa. 19363.

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

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

Weareofferingaspecialdiscountof25%offeachandeveryhelp wanted/classifiedadvertisementtoanybusinessthatadvertiseson thePRESSchurchpage.

For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10

Regional Center for Women in the Arts and Delaware Center for Horticulture combine for three-artist show ‘Mother Nature’

A reception for the artists takes place Friday, Sept. 8

The Regional Center for Women in the Arts and the Delaware Center for Horticulture have combined to present a show on the observation and interpretation of nature by three established women artists.

Artists Susan Foley, Nancy Sarangoulis and Deborah Zuchman will exhibit their work at the Delaware Center for Horticulture, 1810 N. Dupont Street, Wilmington, Del., from Sept. 8 through Oct. 30.

The exhibition opens with a reception to meet the artists on Friday, Sept. 8 from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. RCWA is donating 50 percent of all sales to the Delaware Center for Horticulture for stipends to women artists to help exhibit their work. The mission of the Regional Center for Women in the Arts is to promote women artists.

The show concludes on Oct. 30.

For more information, contact Liz Davidson at

302 658-6262 ext. 108. Information is also available at www.rcwaweb.org and www.thedch.org.

Courtesy photo

The Regional Center for Women in the Arts and the Delaware Center for Horticulture have combined to present a show on the observation and interpretation of nature by three established women artists.

Obituaries

JUNE A. MCDONALD

June Annemarie (nee Rosenberger) McDonald, 90, of Lincoln University, Pa., passed away at home on Aug. 18, 2023 after a full life blessed with the love of her husband, Jerome (Jerry), seven children, 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Her husband, Jerry, predeceased her in 2020 after almost 65 years of marriage.

Born in Sellersville, Pa., June was the daughter of the late Roy Rosenberger and Mary Creedon Rosenberger. After her mother passed away when she was a young girl, June was grateful for the love and guidance of her grandparents, Frank and Mary “Mamie” Rosenberger, from whom she learned the values of hard work, thrift, self-reliance and charity.

June graduated from Sellersville-Perkasie High School and attended Immaculata College in Malvern. She worked as an accomplished seamstress in a bridal shop before her great life adventure began with mar-

riage to Jerry and the move from the Philadelphia suburbs to a Tioga County farm. They subsequently moved to Covington, Mansfield, Blossburg, and Conneaut Lake, Pa. Jerry and June’s 65 years of marriage and the love and commitment they shared was the most valuable lesson they imparted to their children. June’s education and values instilled by her grandparents served her well as she raised seven children and managed a household of nine with organization and precision. June was a loving, patient mother who valued her family above all else. She instilled a love of learning in all of its form, including being an assistant to an elementary school reading specialist. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed painting and ceramics. When Jerry retired, June became a student of the world, traveling, seeing plays and taking educational courses. She enjoyed their retirement in Florida, where they lived in Crystal River, then Dunnellon and finally Ocala. Jerry and June moved to Oxford to be closer to family in their later years.

She is survived by her seven children, Timothy (Gloria) of Olney, IL, Gregory (Madonna) of New Orleans,

LA, Steven (Elizabeth) of Pipersville, Pa., Patricia Valentine (Perry) of Lincoln University, Pa, Matthew of St. Petersburg, Fla., Eileen Nardo (Michael) of Farmingdale, N.J. and Jerome (Susan) of Tallahassee, Fla.; fourteen grandchildren, Nicholas (Amy), Lindsay, Benjamin (Lauren), Cameron (Chelsea), Connor (Ashley), Colin Valentine (Jessica), Megan Valentine, Patrick Valentine (Kelly), Mackenzie Valentine, Tyler, Preston, Brandon Nardo, Jack and Molly; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her grandchild, Creighton McDonald and her sister, Joan Hendricks. Services are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com), a book giving program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age 5, no matter the family’s income. The importance of reading to children, early and often, was paramount to June. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Fay A. Kelly, Late of Borough of Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania. LETTERS Of Administration on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Andrea Kelly, Administrator, Or Attorney:

Jeff P. Bryman, 225 Wilmington West Chester Pike, Suite 200, Chadds Ford PA 19317, Jeff P. Bryman, Esq., Law Offices of Kenneth R. Pyle 225 Wilmington West Chester Pike, Suite 200, Chadds Ford PA 19317

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ESTATE NOTICE

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

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NOTICE

PENN TOWNSHIP ZONING

HEARING BOARD

NOTICE is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board 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 Town-

ship 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

NOTICE

POCOPSON TOWNSHIP ZONING HEARING BOARD

NOTICE is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board of Pocopson Township will hold a Public Hearing at the Pocopson Township Municipal Building, 664 South Wawaset Road, West Chester, Pennsylvania, 19382, on September 21, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at which time the Board will hear the following matter:

Application of Raymond P. Gamble and Terry J. Gamble, concerning property owned by Sheila Bowie, seeking: (i) a special exception pursuant to Zoning Ordinance Section 250-19.C.(4) to permit building coverage exceeding 10% but less than 20% on a pre-existing parcel that is less than 2 net acres in area so as to increase existing building coverage from 7.8% to 13%; (ii) a special exception pursuant to Ordinance Section 250-87.M.(3) to allow modification of the natural resources conservation standards outlined in Section 250-87.B.(8) and Section 250-87.D.(1)(b) to permit greater than 25% disturbance of steep slope margins on the property so as to disturb approximately 47.6% of the 3,336 square feet of steep slope margins; (iii) a variance from Ordinance Section 250-86 to permit an individual on-lot sewage system on a lot having less than the required 20,000 square feet of contiguous area; (iv) a variance from Ordinance Section 250-17.D.(5)(b) to permit an individual on-lot sewage system with only one drainage field; (v) a variance from Ordinance Section 250-85.D.(1) to permit expansion of the existing nonconforming building by 73%, where 50% is the maximum permitted, so as to allow an addition of 769 square feet of habitable floor area for a total of 1,812 square feet of habitable floor area; (vi) a variance from Ordinance Section 25085.D.(2) to permit expansion of the existing nonconforming building without complying with the requirements of Zoning Ordinance Section 250-86; (vii) a special exception to allow the enlargement of a lawful nonconforming building on a lawful nonconforming lot, pursuant to Ordinance Section 250-85.D(3); and (viii) a variance from Ordinance Sections 250-17.C.(9) and 250-19.C.(5)(b) to allow the construction of a deck partially within the required front yard setback, but no closer to the road than the existing dwelling, and such other relief as may be required so as to permit an addition to the existing dwelling, and deck, replacement of the septic system, and reconfiguration of the existing driveway on

property located at 1861 Lenape Road, West Chester, PA (UPI #63-3-145) in the Township’s RA-Residential Agricultural District 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; or if you wish to participate remotely, please contact Susan Simone at 610-793-2151 to discuss how Pocopson Township may best accommodate your needs. Edward M. Foley, Solicitor, Brutscher, Foley, Milliner, Land & Kelly, LLP 213 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348

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NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that the Oxford Borough Council will hold a public meeting on Monday, September 11, 2023, commencing at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, to be held at the Borough Building, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, Pennsylvania, to consider and possibly enact an ordinance authorizing the execution of a Cable Franchise Agreement between the Borough of Oxford and Comcast of Pennsylvania, LLC, a caption and summary of which follows. The full text of the ordinance may be examined at the Chester County Law Library, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania and the Borough Building at the above address during regular business hours. Copies of the ordinance may be obtained at a charge not greater than the cost thereof.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF OXFORD, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOROUGH OF OXFORD AND COMCAST OF PENNSYLVANIA, LLC.

SECTION 1. Approves the Franchise Agreement between the Borough of Oxford and Comcast of Pennsylvania, LLC, including all of the terms and conditions contained therein, and authorizes the execution of the Franchise Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit A to the Ordinance.

SECTION 2. Provides for the severability of unconstitutional or invalid provisions of the ordinance.

SECTION 3. Repeals ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with any provisions of this ordinance.

SECTION 4. Provides that the amendment shall be effective as by law provided. OXFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL, GAWTHROP GREENWOOD, P.C., Stacey L. Fuller, Solicitor 8p-30-1t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of James L. Woodward aka James L. Wooward, Jr., Deceased. Late of Paoli, PA. Letters Testamentary on the above estate have been granted

to the undersigned. All persons having claims against or indebted to the estate should make claims known or forward payment to Michael J. Woodward, Executor, c/o John R. Lundy, Esq., Lundy Beldecos & Milby, PC, 450 N. Narberth Ave., Suite 200, Narberth, PA 19072. 8p-30-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, September 21st , 2023 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd , 2023. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

Sale No. 23-9-262

Writ of Execution No. 2015-03579 DEBT $474,464.24

Property situate in the BOROUGH OF OXFORD, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania, Being BLR#6851

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ABFS MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2002 2 MORTGAGEBACKED PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 20022 VS DEFENDANT: HENRY J. RUFFENACH

SALE ADDRESS: 224 Penn Avenue, Oxford, PA 19363

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC, 844856-6646

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, September 21st , 2023 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd , 2023. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

Sale No. 23-9-263

Writ of Execution No. 2023-01406 DEBT $14,243.09

ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground situate in Elk Township, Chester County, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, bounded and described in accordance with Survey made by S. Pusey Morrison, Registered Surveyor dated 12/28/1955 as follows, to wit:

BEGINNING at the mouth of Run at Frankford Cave in the centerline of Big Elk Creek; thence leaving said creek and passing over a corner marker 250 feet distant by land of Stokes B. Lewis, South 31 degrees 30 minutes West 1,023 feet to a public road; thence extending along the centerline of said public road North 12 degrees 30 minutes West 150.6 feet to a stake and North 9 degrees 30 minutes West448.8 feet to a stake; thence leaving said road and by land of E.G. Walters North 1 degree 15 minutes West 549.7 feet to a point in the center of Big Elk Creek; thence extending along the center of said creek South 67 degrees 28 minutes East 716.4 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

EXCEPTING therefrom and thereout all that certain lot or piece of ground which William R. Claypoole and Joyce Claypoole, his wife by deed dated 06/01/1979 recorded in Deed Book Z54, Page 450 conveyed unto James R. Perkins and Sandra J. Perkins, his wife, as follows, to wit:

BEGINNING at a p.k. nail set in the title line of public road L.R. 15008 known as State Road leading the Northeasterly direction to Thunder Hill Road and the Southwesterly direction to Pennsylvania Route 472 said p.k. nail marking the Northwesterly corner of this about to be described tract and a corner of lands of Ida Walkers, said p.k. nail also being set in the approximately township line dividing Elk Township and

New London Township; thence leaving said p.k. nail point of beginning, leaving the title line of said public road and by the approximate township line passing along Big Elk Creek South 72 degrees 53 minutes 44 second East 540.00 (erroneously omitted in prior deed) feet to a point set for the Northeasterly corner of this and the Northwesterly corner of Lot No. 2 on said plan; thence leaving Big Elk Creek and by said lands of Lot No. 2 37 degrees 12 minutes 30 seconds West 706.29 (erroneously omitted in prior deed) feet to a spike marking a corner of this and set in the title line of public road T307 (erroneously stated at T 503 in prior deed); thence by said title line North 10 degrees 06 (erroneously omitted in prior deed) minutes 11 seconds West 150.00 feet to a spike; thence leaving the said title line and passing by land of Ida Walters, North 06 degrees 14 minutes 16 seconds West 577.08 feet (erroneously omitted in prior deed) to a p.k. nail, being the first point and place of beginning

Tax Parcel : 70224

PLAINTIFF: ELK TOWNSHIP VS DEFENDANT: CURTISHA

HICKS AND WILLIAM T. STERLING

SALE ADDRESS: 1204 Old Forge Road, Oxford, PA 19363

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: LAMB MCERLANE, 610-701-3260

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF

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Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, September 21st , 2023 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd , 2023. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

Sale No.23-9-265 Writ of Execution No. 2022-08546 DEBT $109,360.76

Housing Fair returns to Chester County Library

The Chester County Library & District Center will host their third Housing Fair on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Multiple service organizations from throughout Chester County will be on-site to share information about their housing programs. Services cover a variety of needs, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, vouchers, and rental assistance.

Organizations that will be in attendance include ACT in Faith of Greater West Chester, Bridge of Hope Chester County, Domestic

ALL THAT CERTAIN , MESSAGE, LOT OR PIECE OF LAND SITUATE ON, IN THE BOROUGH OF AVONDALE, COUNTY OF CHESTER, STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED, AS FOLLOWS, TO WIT:

All that certain messuage and lot of land, situate in the Borough of Avondale, County of Chester and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, bounded and described as follows:

Beginning in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue on the Northern side of Fifth Street; thence by land of the Presbyterian Church along the middle of said Pennsylvania Avenue, North nineteen degrees West fifty feet; thence by land late of Almena R. Webb, now of Robert H. Heess and Mary P. Heess, his wife, North seventh one degrees East two hundred feet; thence South nineteen degrees East fifty feet to the North side of Fifth Street aforesaid; thence along the side of said Street, South seventy one degrees West two hundred feet to the place of beginning.

Excepting thereout ten feet in width across the Northeast end to the use of the public as an alley or street.

BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO JESUS SALUD CANO WHO ACQUIRED TITLE BY VIRTUE OF A DEED FROM ABEL CANO RAMIREZ AND JESUS SALUD CANO A/K/A

JESUS S. CANO ZAVALA, DATED JULY 24, 2009, RECORDED AUGUST 6, 2009, AT DOCUMENT ID 10951388, AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7742, PAGE 983, OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF DEEDS, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

PARCEL NO.: 4132

PLAINTIFF: US Bank Trust National Association, Not In Its Individual Capacity But Solely As Owner Trustee for VRMTG Asset Trust VS

DEFENDANT: Jesus Salud

Cano

SALE ADDRESS: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC

614-220-5611

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, September 21st , 2023 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will

Violence Center of Chester County, Good Samaritan Services, Home of the Sparrow, Housing Authority of Chester County, Housing Partnership of Chester County, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, North Star of Chester County, and W.C. Atkinson Memorial Community Service Center, Inc. A representative from West Chester University’s Community Mental Health Services clinic will also be available to provide information about their mental health services for the public.

file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd , 2023. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

Sale No. 23-9-270

Writ of Execution No. 2023-01748

DEBT $209,861.23

ALL THAT CERTAIN tract of ground situate in East Nottingham Township, Chester County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania being Parcel 2 as shown on the minor subdivision plan for property of Melvin R. Ludwig and Grace G. Ludwig, husband and wife, prepared by Franco R. Bellafante, Inc., the said property being more fully bounded and described as follows, to wit:

BEGINNING at a spike in Township Road 314, at 33 feet wide (known as The Oakes Road), the said spike being an angle point in the easterly line of lands of Claire S. Herr and Robert H. Herr, her husband and the northwesterly comer of Parcel 1 (one) of lands, now or formerly of E. Willard Bailey and Elwood R. Morris, and wife; thence from the said point and place of beginning, along Township Road 314 and the easterly line of lands of Claire S. Herr and Robert H. Herr, her husband, North 01 degree 43 minutes 50 seconds West, 200.00 feet to a point; thence leaving Township Road 314 and leaving the easterly line of lands of Claire S. Herr and Robert H. Herr, her husband, along lands of Melvin R. Ludwig and Grace G. Ludwig, husband and wife, by the following two (2) courses and distances (1) North 88 degrees 16 minutes 10 seconds East, 227.10 feet to an iron pipe and (2) South 01 degree 43 minutes 50 seconds East, 212.76 feet to an iron pipe set in the northerly line of Parcel 1 of lands, now or formerly of E. Willard Bailey and Elwood R. Morris, and wife; thence along the northerly line of Parcel 1 of lands, now or formerly of B. Willard Bailey and Elwood R. Morris and wife, North 88 degrees 30 minutes 50 seconds West, 227.46 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

Being the same premises which Louise D. Guss by Deed dated 4/30/2019 and recorded 5/7/2019 in Chester County in Record Book 9920 Page 392 conveyed unto Curtis W. Gill, in fee.

Containing 43,560 square feet of land.

BEING UPI 6966.1

At 10 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., the Housing Partnership of Chester County (HPCC) will lead credit counseling workshops in the Burke Room. Without good credit, it is nearly impossible to secure proper/stable housing, whether renting or purchasing. During the workshop, HPCC will cover the basic principles that everyone should understand including how credit is reported, the credit bureaus, FICO scores, and how to improve a credit situation. This event is intended for individuals who are unshel-

tered, housing unstable, or at risk of losing housing. Registration is not required. For more information, please visit bit. ly/CCLHousingFair23 or email Kelly Quigg, Community Engagement Librarian, at mailto:mkquigg@ccls.org.

The mission of the Chester County and Henrietta Hankin Branch Libraries is to provide informational, educational, and cultural services to the residents of Chester County so that they may be lifelong learners.

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The Chester County Library & District Center is located at 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton. For hours or more information, visit www.chescolibraries.org.

Legals

PLAINTIFF: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, its successors and assigns VS

DEFENDANT: Curtis W. Gill

SALE ADDRESS: 119 Oaks Road, Oxford, Chester County, PA 193634014

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BARLEY SNYDER 717-231-6615

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, September 21st , 2023 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd , 2023. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 23-9-273

Writ of Execution No. 2018-11548

DEBT $367,144.70

PROPERTY SITUATE IN NEW GARDEN TOWNSHIP

TAX PARCEL #60-040-171/ 60-4-l 71

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: M&T BANK VS DEFENDANT: BOUBACAR

TOURE

SALE ADDRESS: 106 Birkdale Circle, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML

LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-6271322

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale.

Boomi LP Software Senior Engineer in Chesterbrook, PA.

Responsible for maintaining/improving the testing strategy that we use for testing various services within Boomi. To apply, please send resumes to jobpostings@boomi.com.

Reference#:000001. We encourage you to apply, whatever your race, gender, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or veteran status.

Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, September 21st , 2023 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd , 2023. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 23-9-274

Writ of Execution No. 2022-01513

DEBT $55,607.53

PREMISES "A"

ALL THAT CERTAIN messuage and lot of land situate in Penn Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described as follows, to wit:

BEGINNING at an iron pin and running thence by land now or late of Oscar G. Hoopes, South 62.25 East, 7.70 perches to a stone in a public road leading from Kelton to New London, thence along said road, South 28 West, 8.14 perches to a stone in said road; thence leaving said road and by land now or late of the Milton Hoopes Estate, West, 8 perches to an iron pin; thence by land now or late of Oscar G. Hoopes, North 23.75° East, 11.68 perches to the place of BEGINNING.

CONTAINING 77.79 square perches of land, more or less.

PREMISES "B"

ALL THAT CERTAIN piece or parcel of ground situate in Penn Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a preliminary subdivision plot plan of property owned by J. Lambert Smith to be conveyed to Christopher Shipp made by George

Boomi LP

Software Quality Senior Engineer in Chesterbrook, PA.

Work with team of developers and testers to produce quality software for customers. 10% travel required. Telecommuting allowed from anywhere in the U.S. To apply, please send resumes to jobpostings@boomi.com. Reference #: 000087. We encourage you to apply, whatever your race, gender, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or veteran status.

E. Register, Jr. & Sons, Inc., Registered Land Surveyors, dated 10/31/1973, last revised 2/24/1977, as follows, to wit:

Tax Parcel # 58-5-7

PLAINTIFF: FIRST HORIZON BANK, A TENNESSEE BANKING CORPORATION SUCCESSOR BY CONVERSION TO FIRST TENNESSEE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION VS DEFENDANT: Juan A. Ortega SALE ADDRESS: 360 South Jennersville Road, West Grove, PA 19390

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: LAW OFFICE OF GREGORY JAVARDIAN, LLC 215-942-9690

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t

Classifieds

Notice of Self Storage Sale

Please take notice US Storage Centers - Exton located at 371 Gordon Dr., Exton PA 19341 intends to hold a public sale to the highest bidder of the property stored by the following tenants at the storage facility. This sale will occur as an online auction via www.storagetreasures.com on 9/20/2023 at 10:00AM. Georgiana Gamanga unit #C021. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

Antiques:

ANTIQUE LOVERS TAKE NOTE! BRIMFIELD IS HERE – ALL SHOWS! September 5-10. New shows open daily! BrimfieldAntiqueFleaMarket. com. 2024 dates: May 14-19, July 9-14, September 3-8

Rentals OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of full/ partial week rentals. FREE Color Brochure. Holiday Real Estate, Inc: 1-800-6382102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com. $75 discount - new rentals. Code: “SummerExtended2023” (Expires 10-15-2023)

Miscellaneous:

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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

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.

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.

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