Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 154, No. 36
INSIDE
Vince Lombardi, the great football coach, once said that obstacles are what you Service dog’s remarkable see when you take your story...1B eyes off the goal. The Avon Grove School Board’s three-hour meeting on Sept. 3 provided plenty of evidence that district officials have their eyes focused on the goal of getting student-athletes back on the playing field as soon as possible. The school district is hoping that other schools in the Ches-Mont League will agree to seek some guidance from the Chester County Health Department on whether it would be safe Bridge repairs on Clay to start the fall sports seaCreek Road...3B son at the same time that in-person classes resume. Right now, the recommendation from the Chester County Health Department has been to not reopen public schools until at least Oct. 9. The recommendation from state and county health officials has been to not hold any sporting
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
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events for the remainder of 2020. But Avon Grove officials are holding out hope that a fall sports season can be salvaged—even if it is an abbreviated one. The school board received numerous public comments from parents, local residents, and student-athletes themselves asking district officials to find a way to allow students to play fall sports. But district officials were quick to point out that there is no way for Avon Grove to move forward with a fall sports season without some cooperation from public health officials and some collaboration from the other schools in the Ches-Mont League. “Let Them Play” was a theme of some of the public comments. It’s a sentiment that many parents of public school students in Pennsylvania can relate to right now. “Let Then Play” could be featured on a t-shirt or a yard sign, but it's not a direction to a path forward for Avon Grove and other school districts that are grappling with the
impact of the coronavirus pandemic. “We all wish it was as simple as voting to let them play,” said school board president Bill Wood. “It isn’t.” He added that every school board member and administrator in Avon Grove is aware that sports and co-curricular activities are vital to the emotional, social, and physical wellbeing of students. Av o n Grove Superintendent Dr. Christopher Marchese said that district officials are looking forward to the day when they can welcome students back to the classrooms and athletes back to the playing fields. But that’s not something that Avon Grove, or any school district, can achieve on its own. Wood offered a proposal for the school board to draft a letter that would petition the Chester County Health Department to align the start of fall sports with the start of in-person classes Continued on Page 2A
Photo courtesy of Donna Hosler Charlton
Ross with Donna Hosler Charlton, one of her three grandchildren.
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
fashion as she has in that town since she first became a resident there On the morning of Oct. in the 1940s -- with one 15, Barbara Ross will exception. wake up in her Oxford On that day, the sun Continued on Page 3A home in much the same
Beef shortage throws light on unsafe working conditions for undocumented workers
During this pandemic, we have all learned the expression, “essential workers.” That could include doctors, nurses, nurses’ aides, cusOpinion.......................5A todians and retail persons Obituaries..................2B to name a few. All have put themselves in harm's way to Classifieds.................4B care or serve the population during this very frightening time. But there is another group
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Avon Grove officials hold Barbara Ross will turn 100 on Oct. 15 Oxford resident out hope that a fall sports to celebrate season can take place her centennial birthday By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Task force charts plans for business recovery...5B
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
that has been repeatedly forgotten year after year — undocumented people working for low wages in the agricultural industry. When customers started to see food shortages during the pandemic, and the rising cost of meats, working conditions for the workers in meat processing plants suddenly took center stage. It took the rising costs of steaks to shine a light on the essential worker in meat processing plants. Many are
brought to the U.S. from other countries under an H2A VISA to work temporary, seasonal jobs. They are brought here by a registered broker through a permit program which allows businesses to hire workers on a temporary basis, but it often turns into full-time work. An ag-business owner solicits workers through a broker. We’re not talking mom and pop farms, we are talking big farming industrial complexes, like the huge
Research, funding efforts underway to control Spotted Lanternfly infestation By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer To those who know about the science of making wine – from the oenophiles to the people who write about the subject for slick touristy magazines – Anthony Vietri of Va La Vineyards in Avondale has achieved the title of Master Winemaker. From his 6.7-acre vineyard of stony southern Pennsylvania soil, Vietri has for the past several years grown, harvested and created small batch wines that have consistently ranked Va La among the 100 best wineries in America. Last September, as he was beginning to cultivate yet another year of his awardwinning whites and reds, Vietri noticed that an unfamiliar insect had landed near him. That very small and attractive bug was a Spotted Lanternfly, and one year later, this evasive species has proliferated to dangerous populations and threatens to annihilate not only Vietri’s vineyard but all of the 14,000 acres
Courtesy photo
Native to Asia, the Spotted Lanternfly was first detected in Berks County in 2014, and continues to saturate the Mid-Atlantic region by feeding on grapevines, hops, hardwoods and fruit trees.
owned and operated by the 300 wineries throughout Pennsylvania – considered the sixth-largest producer of wine in the United States. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Vietri said while giving visitors a tour of the Va La tasting room. “They’re everywhere.” First detected in Berks County in 2014, the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), a planthopping insect that is native to Asia, has continued to saturate the Mid-Atlantic region by feeding on grapevines, hops, hardwoods and fruit trees. As of August 2019, SLF began to be found in other
parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, as well as detected in the Northeast states of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. During a Sept. 4 press conference Vietri hosted at the vineyard that introduced some key stakeholders in Pennsylvania’s attempt to control – and if possible, eradicate the SLF – he said that he joins with other wineries across the state in what he called a “battle” to save the state’s growing wine industry as well as the entire agriculture landscape. Continued on Page 2A
poultry company owned by Ron Cameron that is located in Sussex County in Delaware. Brokers solicit undocumented immigrants to come here to perform jobs that people in this country don’t want to do. Sister Jane Houtman, a Catholic nun from the order of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, and a registered nurse has worked with the undocumented worker for decades and is beyond saddened and outraged to see
little has changed for them. A Chester County resident, Houtman has assisted over 3,000 undocumented workers with securing their pathway to citizenship, and she has a long record of helping agricultural workers. Her path has been fraught with dangers and challenges. She was kidnapped in Chile, labeled an agitator on more than one occasion, and even spoke on behalf Continued on Page 4A
Storm's aftermath By Marcella Peyre-Ferry “The Conservation Contributing Writer District has advised me that the school district Damage from storms in is required to correct it,” early August is still being township engineer Dan felt on properties sur- Daley said. ”The buildup rounding the construction of silt and sediment on site of Avon Grove School the lot has directed water District’s new high school. where it’s never gone Bill Steele attended the before. I’m hoping for Sept. 2 Penn Township everyone’s sake the levels Board of Supervisors (of water) will go down meeting on behalf of once it’s completed.” Ralph Holcomb, whose Supervisor Victor Sunnyside Road Property Mantegna asked Steele saw extensive silt and to keep the township stormwater damage. Steele informed about how the reported that the septic sys- restoration is progresstem on the property was ing and the response he overwhelmed and had to receives from the school be pumped out twice with- district. in eight days. According to “I’ve talked to the conSteele, the school district struction manager (of paid for those pumpings, the high school project). but he worries that the sys- The school district undertem may not recover. stands and is taking it In the plan approval seriously,” Daley said. He for the high school site, also noted that they are a note specifically refers working on stormwater to adjoining septic sys- controls. “They’re making tems, guaranteeing that sure they’re prepared for if they should fail within storms so they don’t have eight years, the school another issue.” district is responsible for Mantegna noted that earfixing or replacing them. lier in the day he noticed Beyond that, the site work mud being tracked out of must comply with County the construction site onto Conservation District Baltimore Pike. Daley Continued on Page 3A regulations.
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Local News Fall sports... Continued from Page 1A
if doing so would be supported by the updated data on the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. A presentation that followed outlined how high school sports in Pennsylvania are governed. Marchese explained that while the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), the non-profit corporation that oversees interscholastic athletics in the state, voted on Aug. 21 to allow fall sports, there were already state and county guidelines recommending that they not start on time. Avon Grove is in District 1, and that
Spotted lanternfly... Continued from Page 1A
To help him and his fellow vineyard owners, Vietri invited several key stakeholders, whose respective work in the last few years has thrown a proverbial lasso around what has been done, what still needs to be done and what funding has been raised and is still projected to be raised in the fight to stave off a potentially devastating environmental and economic disaster. With the row-after-row vista of the Va La Vineyard grapevines behind her, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan spelled out the ugly reality
district had already decided that they were postponing or canceling the fall sports season. On Aug. 28, the Ches-Mont League also opted to postpone the fall sports season because of health and safety recommendations that were in place. There was a lot of discussion that the fall sports season could take place, in an abbreviated fashion, in the spring of 2021. While Avon Grove officials are holding out hope that the Ches-Mont League can work together and perhaps plan out a fall sports season, there are a number of issues that must be resolved. Marchese noted that there are significant liability con-
cerns for any school district that would go against the guidelines of the health department. While it was suggested that parents could sign a waiver to allow their children to play sports, that would not be the case for public schools. Andy Rau, the solicitor for Avon Grove, said that waivers do not offer a simple solution that some might think. Parents can waive their own rights, but they can’t waive the rights of students who are minors. The school district would be vulnerable to lawsuits because it did not follow recommendations from the state and county. Marchese also pointed out that if a school district attempted to start a sea-
son in the fall and then games had to be stopped again because of COVID19, those athletes might lose their eligibility if an attempt was made to stage a season for the fall sports at some point next spring. Another reason why Avon Grove can’t go it alone on a fall sports season is the need for competition. If the ChesMont League isn’t playing, Avon Grove doesn’t have a league to compete in, and no other leagues are going to welcome new schools in the current environment when everyone wants to keep travel to a minimum. “Our solution,” Marchese said, “would be to align the fall sports schedule with other schools in the league.”
of the pest’s presence on the county, one that shows no signs of disappearing. “Yesterday, I was in Coatesville and the outside of the balcony that I was sitting on at the health center tour was coated with Spotted Lantern Flies,” she said. “We do have allies in our community, because we do recognize how much of a pest this insect is.” Houlahan, who represents the state’s 6th district in the U.S. House, has helped spearhead a bipartisan effort this year in the hopes of ensuring the appropriation of more funding to research to combat the proliferation of the insect in Pennsylvania. In a March 13, 2020 let-
ter she and Republican Sen. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (15th District) sent to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Regulated Agencies, it asked the subcommittee for a total funding of $16 million in fiscal year 2021 – a $4 million increase from the $12 million allocated in fiscal year 2020. “As members from areas affected by SLF or at risk of infestation from this invasive species, we see this as an urgent but modest investment in our region’s economy and environment,” Houlahan and Thompson wrote.
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Although the proposed request for the funding increase – which passed in the House of Representatives -- now sits in the Senate waiting for approval, those at the front lines of the battle to control the pest have already received substantial seed money to get several projects off the ground. In 2018, U.S. Agricultural Secretary Sonny Perdue allocated $17.5 million in emergency funding to combat SLF, and in 2019, the USDA allocated $10 million to several states including Pennsylvania to support additional research. At the end of 2019, USDA funded an additional $7.3 million grant to Penn State, whose College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State Berks and Penn State Extension have been collaborating with The Center for Agricultural Sciences and Sustainable Development to study methods of keeping the population of SLF from doing additional damage to the state’s agricultural landscape. In her comments, State Rep. Christina Sappey (158th District), a member of the Agricultural Committee in the State House of Representatives, made reference to the passage of Act 35 in 2019, that created the Pennsylvania Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account, a funding source that allocated $3 million to Penn State Extension to conduct more research on the SLF. She said that the state legislature will continue to seek additional funding in the near future. “It’s been an education on everybody’s part as this insect moves west from Berks County across
The school board voted unanimously to petition the Chester County Health Department to align the start of fall sports with the start of in-person classes. The board also voted to extend the school health and safety plan that had already been approved. This will allow sports teams to continue to practice as much as possible, while following the recommended safety guidelines. The members of the Avon Grove School Board took turns during the meeting expressing their desire to allow students to participate in sports and all the other co-curricular activities as soon as it is safely possible to do so. Marchese said that
these activities are essential to the students’ high school experience. Another issue that came up during public comment was the fact that Avon Grove is not providing busing for students who are attending private schools in the area. At this point, with Avon Grove’s classes taking place virtually, the district is not required to provide busing for these students. A number of parents asked the school district to reconsider its decision. Wood said that transportation will likely be discussed at the board’s Sept. 10 work session. To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan was one of the guest speakers at a Sept. 4 conference held at Va La Vineyards in Avondale to discuss research and funding being done to help contain the spread of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Chester County,” she said. “As a child of the 1970s, I remember the gypsy moth infestation and what a threat that was, as it moved west across the country. We’re going to have to confront that here as well. “We have history on our side, and while we know we have been through a lot of different insects, we also know that this one is unique.” Sappey added. “Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s number one industry, and whether you live near or farm or whether you don’t, we all eat and we all drink, which is why we have taken this threat so seriously.” While securing the muchneeded funding to take the SLF head on has received good marks in the last few years, these efforts are being achieved against the backdrop of a staggering forecast. In a study conducted by Penn State for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the potential damage and lost revenue to the state’s economy due the SLF could amount to $324 million annually, and lead to the loss of thousands of agricultural jobs across the state. Heather Leach, the Spotted Lantern Fly Extension
Associate at Penn State Extension, said that among the many agricultural resources that have been impacted by the insect, certainly vineyards are the most heavily impacted to date, “in terms of the actual loss we are seeing, and the feeding damage we are seeing from this insect.” “I would go as far as to say that this bug is staggering, and we have never seen anything like this in eastern vineyards,” she added. “It’s putting growers in a really tight situation in terms of how to effectively manage this pest.” The chief problem, Leach said, is that the insect feeds on other crops, which puts stress on those plants that causes a reduction in photosynthesis, a reduction in yield and a greater sensitivity to cold conditions. “If we happen to have a cold winter in Pennsylvania, then we’re more likely to lose that crop or those vines,” she said. “If you lose a vine entirely, you have to replant and wait several years before you’re actually getting yield on that vine again, so these losses can be extremely staggering and alter the industry, as well.” Continued on Page 4A
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will rise on what will be her 100th birthday -- a monumental milestone for anyone who is able to reach that magic year, but an event that Ross is shaking off as just another day. “I really don’t think it’s such a big deal,” she said. “It’s just another number, isn’t it?” Born on Oct. 15, 1920 in California, Pa., Ross moved to Oxford in March 1943 as the new bride of Wilmer C. “Web” Hosler. There, the Hoslers raised their son, Will. Following her husband’s tragic death in the war, Ross eventually married Ewing Ross, and lived on the Ross farm where they raised Ewing’s son, Larry. In between, Ross embarked on a life of hard work, dedication, sacrifice and community.
Penn Township... Continued from Page 1A
indicated he would look into the issue. The township is still collecting damage reports from the same storms in case PEMA makes disaster relief funds available. At this point, the township does not know if there will be funds available to Chester County. At the top of the list for the supervisors is a washout undermining Pusey Mill Road that will cost an estimated $6,000 to repair. Penn Township continues to work on the new active recreation park,
At 55, she began selling Avon products door to door. On her first day on the job, she knocked on the door of the first house she visited, and was promptly yelled at and had the door slammed in her face. Undaunted, Ross walked back to her car, composed herself, and walked to the next house. “That led to a 35-year career selling Avon, becoming a member of the President’s Club, and also being able to feed her family and pay the mortgage,” said Donna Hosler Charlton, one of Ross’ three grandchildren. “Our family has become a line of entrepreneurs, and it all comes handed down to us from Gmom.” When she wasn’t busy enough selling Avon products, Ross also worked at the Oxford Diner on the weekends, and also baby sat for several families in and is applying for a new DCNR grant, and a grant through PECO. This year they have received a grant from the Docksteader Foundation to help fund the outdoor education portion of the park. Portions of that area will be cleared by goats from Green Grazer Goats. There will also be at least four Eagle Scout projects in that section of the new park. Penn Township will hold a drive in concert with the Traditions on September 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are required. The following night, Sept. 18, will be drive-in movie night featuring “The Wizard of Oz.”
Oxford resident Barbara Ross will celebrate her 100th birthday on Oct. 15.
Oxford. Over the years, several residents in the Oxford community have also seen Ross’ spirit of generosity. She recently donated funding to create the Oxford Memorial Playground, and for many years, has crocheted blankets for the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation, Inc.’s “Packages of Love” initiative. In the last ten years, she has made and donated more than 600 blankets to the foundation, which are then given to children living with Leukemia. “My grandmother has had some tough challenges over the years, but she managed to make things work and hold her family together,” said Charlton, whose father Will was diagnosed with spina bifida when he was born. “She knows how it feels to be a young, working mother trying to make ends meet. When she heard about that playground project, she loved the idea that parents would now be able to take all of their children to a playground and have them all play together – regardless of what their needs are.” “It’s wonderful to have
Photos courtesy of Donna Hosler Charlton
For the past decade, Ross has crocheted and donated more than 600 items for the Eli Matthews Foundation.
seen what she has been able to make for the folks who need blankets and other crocheted items over the years,” Larry added. Within the grand sweep of the last American century, the timeline of Ross’s life intersects generously with our nation’s history. She was born right after the last pandemic and became a teenager during the Great Depression. She was a new bride and mother at the beginning of World War II and by the war’s conclusion, she found herself widowed and having to raise and support two sons by herself. She has also lived through the failures and achievements of 18 U.S. presidents, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, the Iraqi War, several economic downturns and is now, on the eve of her 100th birthday, living through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The breadth of her life’s resiliency now manifests itself in the small goals she has set for herself. She would like to continue to enjoy the company of three grandchildren, and see her 11-year-old great grandson graduate from high school. “What else is there to do? You either give up or you keep going,” she said. “I’m not ready to give up yet. “I’m just glad to get out
of bed every morning, to see one day fall into the other, and to be able to enjoy each day,” she added. “Honestly, I never thought about becoming 100 until the kids started yapping about it. Pretty soon, I’m going to have to start thinking about being old.” To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
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Leach also said that because Chester County is also a Spotted Lantern Fly quarantined community, it forces the necessity to inspect every agricultural resource before it is shipped, and consequently, places an additional financial burden on labor costs. Despite the growing real-
Beef shortage... Continued from Page 1A
of immigrants in front of Congress, but none of that could prepare her for the heartbreak she would feel watching human beings be treated with less respect than animals and blamed for the unsanitary living conditions they are forced to endure. So, when the current administration’s Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex Azar, told a bipartisan group that he believed infected employees were bringing the virus into meat processing plants where an increase in COVID-19 cases killed at least 20 workers and forced nearly two-dozen plants to close, she knew that he was essentially blaming the victims instead of those individuals responsible for unsafe work and living conditions of their employees. People watching Azar as he said, ”those infections, were linked more to the “home and social” aspects of workers’ lives rather than the conditions inside the facilities” were alarmed, but none so much
ity that the SLF is not going away for the immediate future, Leach said the Penn State Extension and its many partners remain committed to boots-in-the-ground work. “I work with researchers, and we’re trying to understand more about the insect’s biology and its behavior,” she said. “We certainly have a very active goal to try to understand how to best control this bug, and to create a team of experienced individuals who know a lot about
mating disruption, chemical control or trapping, in order to pull in these experts and create a good defense against the Spotted Lantern Fly. “While we’ve made great strides, there is also that recognition that we have a lot more work to do.” For additional information on how Chester County residents can help contain the Spotted Lantern Fly population, visit the Penn State Entomology Extension website at
https://extension.psu.edu/ spotted-lanternfly-management-for-residents and https://extension.psu.edu/ spotted-lanternfly-management-resources. To learn more about what the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is doing about the Spotted Lanternfly, visit https://services.agriculture. pa.gov/SLFReport.
as Houtman, who knew all about the conditions they lived and worked in. And when President Trump ordered workers back to those plants, placing them in harm’s way, Houtman couldn’t help but remember her own journey. Houtman was a nurse to migrant workers in the 1980s. One of her most vivid memories was being blocked from entering an Eastern Shore Farm Camp on the Delmarva Peninsula and being labeled an agitator for bringing attention to the unsanitary housing conditions there. “The camp was certified to hold 450 people but held 1,000. Workers had to do their laundry in the sink and lay them on the ground to dry,” Houtman explained. “These were not nice lawns. There were animals everywhere on those grounds. There were no bathrooms in the house. Workers had to go out of their building to a bathroom. Neither toilets nor showers were sanitary or private. Women would take turns watching for other women taking showers. It was never safe.”
She added, “Wages were poor and stores (owned by crew leaders) would overcharge workers for food and other necessities. Workers were “encouraged” to shop at those stores.” Few farmworkers had transportation so they had to pay the crew leader for transportation to and from the camp and to any other places they had to travel. The owner of the camp provided housing, which was inadequate and in many instances workers were overcharged for that as well. When they received their wages, there was little left after everyone else took their cut. Houtman recalled one of the workers telling her, “Before I came here, I was told we had air conditioning. We did. I had a huge hole in the wall of my building.” Crew leaders brought people in from their own communities, promising more than they delivered. Groups were divided according to ethnicity—Mexican, Jamaican, Haitian, and African. The crew leader had a contract for a determined amount of
money. He would pay workers and take out taxes, but those taxes were never sent to the government, according to Houtman. He would also take a cut of what each worker was paid. If workers became sick they worked. And, Houtman added, “workers did get free medical care, but doctors treated them with much less dignity than they treated paying patients.” Houtman worked there for 10 years, 38 years ago, and said, “Sadly, it hasn’t changed that much. Undocumented workers are still being brought in from other countries through government programs. They are not protecting the workers. That is obvious when you see the conditions where they are working. The workers are being treated as less than human. They have the same right as any worker to be protected in the workplace. Whether it’s from the virus or any other unsafe conditions. It places them in a vulnerable situation. They accepted conditions that were oppressive because it is the only way they can make a liv-
Courtesy of Pa. Dept. of Agriculture
To contact Staff Writer As indicated in blue, Chester County is one of several Richard L. Gaw, email counties in Pennsylvania that is under quarantine for rgaw@chestercounty.com. the Spotted Lantern Fly. ing. And they are living in crowded conditions in housing that is owned by same people that hire them. I really didn’t think that treatment was possible in this country today.” Houtman is keenly aware of the ongoing treatment of the undocumented immigrants who she feels have been encouraged to come here for years to work for low wages, then are berated for coming here. “No one wants to leave their home, family or country to move to a strange place,” she said. “Those that do, do so to find a better life for their family. And their definition of a better life does not mean a life of wealth. It means a safe life, where children can receive a good education. They are coming from countries where there is no law and order. Places where going to school means first finding a school, and then finding a safe way to get there every day.” Houtman said, “It is unbelievable that babies and children are being taken from their parents’ arms and being caged like animals.
Those children aren’t treated as well as most peoples’ pets. Undocumented immigrants, were and are still being brought here to work as agricultural laborers.” And that agricultural designation includes working on golf courses, landscaping, and working in meat- and food-processing plants. Houtman also expressed concern for the safety of workers in the meat processing industry. Houtman also expressed concern for the safety of workers citing the language barrier. “Not all employers post safety signs in the language of their employees. When workers are brought in from a variety of countries, they can’t even talk to each other. And they certainly aren’t able to read signs telling workers about how to safely use equipment, or to practice safe distancing. It is appalling to see how this current administration is actually forcing workers to work in these meat processing plants, just so people don’t run out of meat, meat that most of those very workers can’t even afford to buy.”
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Opinion
Editorial
Letters to the Editor
Working together bears fruit in Oxford
When it comes to sports, schools shouldn’t go against recommendations of the Pa. governor and the state Health Department
The new issue of the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce’s Oxfordian will soon be arriving. Because we work with the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce on this publication, we know that one of the articles in the upcoming issue details how the Lighthouse Youth Center and Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center remained dedicated and determined to meet the needs of the Oxford community during the coronavirus pandemic. While the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center continued its efforts to distribute food to those in need, there were challenges to making food more accessible to local families. Because of the Neighborhood Services Center’s location along Third Street, there was no way to distribute food in the drive-up style that was favored during the height of the pandemic. However, the ample parking and building space at the Lighthouse Youth Center was vacant, and they chose to put it to good use. The Lighthouse Youth Center responded to the need in the community by coordinating a weekly food distribution, and they began collecting donations from the community. Neighborhood Services Center reallocated its resources, both food and staff, to the Lighthouse during the weekly food distribution. By partnering together, they were able to provide a 14-week food distribution program for the Oxford community. The partnership between the Lighthouse Youth Center and Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center provided access to free food and assistance at a critical time. They both deserve a thank you for thier efforts.
The Local Journalism Sustainability Act deserves support The U.S. Congress has responded to the coronavirus public health crisis with several emergency relief measures during the last five months. Additional relief measures are needed, and if Republicans and Democrats can work together and reach a compromise, more assistance could soon be on the way. In July, the Local Journalism Sustainability Act was introduced, and Congress has the opportunity to pass a relief measure that protects your access to trustworthy local news, while also helping small businesses in many different industries. It also rewards people for subscribing to a local newspaper like this one. The Local Journalism Sustainability Act would provide tax credits for subscribing to a local newspaper, payroll credit for paying journalists who provide local news and credit for advertising in local newspapers and local media. We would encourage anyone who believes in the value of local journalism to contact their elected legislators in the U.S. Congress and tell them that you support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, HR 7640.
Chester County Press Randall S. Lieberman Publisher Steve Hoffman..................................Managing Editor Richard L. Gaw..................................Associate Editor Brenda Butt.........................................Office Manager Tricia Hoadley...........................................Art Director Alan E. Turn...............................Advertising Director Teri Turns................................Advertising Executive Helen E. Warren......................Advertising Executive Amy Lieberman.............Marketing/Public Relations The Chester County Press (USPS 416-500) is published every Wednesday by: AD PRO, Inc. 144 South Jennersville Rd, West Grove, PA 19390 Mailing Address: PO Box 150, Kelton, PA 19346 Telephone: (610) 869-5553 • FAX (610) 869-9628 E-mail (editor): editor@chestercounty.com HOURS: Monday- Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., no weekend hours Annual Subscription Rate: $40.00 | Senior Citizen Rate - $30.00
NO REFUNDS AFTER RECEIPT OF SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT Current and previous week's issues are &1.00 each. Older issues are $1.50 each. Periodicals postage paid at Oxford, PA 19363. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chester County Press, P.O. Box 150, Kelton, PA 19346.
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Letter to the Editor: Is the Ches-Mont League—or for that matter any school in the state— going to go against the Governor, the state Health Department and the CHOP Policy Lab recommendations and allow kids to play sports? It’s truly a political football, but one that's quite simple to resolve if you take the politics out of it. I believe we can all agree we are in the midst of a pan-
demic, with 180,000 people dead and many more people sick. The PIAA is in over its head. It’s a great group, but they are in dangerous waters right now and I hope they have deep financial pockets as they lead the charge. As we all know, the insurance policy the PIAA has in place for catastrophic incidents does not cover viral pandemics. You have the Governor along with the Health Department making a solid recommendation
based on science that no youth and or high school sports should take place until January. We also know that a number of schools are going remote until mid-October or totally remote until Thanksgiving. How does a school district go against the Governor and the Health Department with no insurance coverage for COVID-19 incidents and at the same time play games when the kids are not even in school to begin with?
I believe we can all agree that there will be a COVID19 incident that will impact a team and if a child were to bring the virus home and the child and or family member dies as a result; are the Pennsylvania school districts ready to assume that financial liability? What is more important, kids in the classroom or Friday Night Lights? The only ones who will win are the attorneys. Bill Bagnell
In praise of elected officials who are supporting efforts to combat climate change Letter to the Editor: As we near Election Day, voting for those whose first priority is our health and environment is extremely important for our future. Unfortunately, most Pennsylvania state legislators are severely lacking in their duty to address one of the most threatening crises facing us: climate change. Pennsylvania is the fourth biggest carbon dioxide emitter in the United States, and the recent bills and regula-
tions being passed through the state legislature are threatening further environmental degradation. Even though many legislators throughout Pennsylvania are corrupted by the money and power of the fossil fuel industry, most of the officials representing Chester County are relentlessly battling for clean air and water, protection of open spaces, and mitigation of the climate crisis. State Senator Katie Muth as well as State Representatives
Dan Williams, Melissa Shusterman, Danielle Friel Otten, Carolyn Comitta, and Christina Sappey are all continually dedicated to standing against polluters who value profit over our future. They have spoken out and voted against bills giving millions of dollars to petrochemical industries, loosening guidelines for conventional oil and gas drilling, halting funding for environmental solutions, and prohibiting the Department of Environmental Protection
from controlling carbon dioxide emissions. We celebrate their incredible and critical accomplishments and encourage other legislators to follow suit. We need many more officials in positions of power to protect our environment and prevent climate change from devastating our futures. So, whether it is from your house or at the polls, vote because our future depends on it. Avani Kavathekar Malvern
Guest column
Showing love and respect on National Grandparents Day By Josephine B Pasquarello On Sept. 13, I will celebrate my Nonno and Nonnaâ’s Day. Every year I go to Holy Cross Cemetery to put a bouquet of red and yellow roses at their gravesite. This is my way of showing love and respect to my father’s parents. I have never had the pleasure of meeting my beloved “Nonno and Nonna.” They died before I was born. Family members have shared stories of how no one could break their bond, and of how their children’s welfare was always important to them. When I see them in pictures, I see so much of myself in their eyes and expressions. When life gets tough for me, I remember what they went through to give our family a better life. I push forward because I will not let their hard work be in vain. As I stand by their grave and cross myself to open the communication with God, I recite The Lord’s Prayer. My emotions are bubbling through my body. When I finish the prayer, I tell my grandparents how much I appreciate their courageous travel across the ocean at such young ages. They both had the same thought; they wanted to give their future generations a better life, hopeful that the streets were paved in gold. There would be fortunes in America to give them a good life. Raffaele Pasquariello, at the age of 11, along with his parents and his two younger brothers (Giovanni and Orazio) sailed across
the Atlantic Ocean. They arrived in 1888 and settled in South Philadelphia. The area they chose to live in was an area that was dominated by southern Italian immigrants. It was good to be with many other fellow countrymen from Marsico Nuovo, Italia. This felt more like Italia with the same language, customs and especially the types of food they enjoyed. On Sept. 13, 1899, Geltrude Carmela Di Lullo arrived in America. She came here with $4 in her dress pocket. She also came from a southern small village called Ateleta from the Abruzzo region. She was an Italian beauty with dark hair, piercing eyes and a beautiful shade of olive skin. Geltrude stood maybe five feet tall but her genuine personality made her appear to be a giant. Her mind and heart were strong and caring toward everyone. As Raffaele became a young man, he grew into a well-groomed, handsome gentleman. All the girls wanted to be his bride. But when he first saw Geltrude, she captured his mind and heart. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. For Geltrude it was love at first sight. Whenever he was near, she became giddy just standing next to him. Later in life, she would often say that her heart still went pitter-patter when she was near him. Within eight months, they were married and started a life together. Nonno was a produce “huckster.” After many children, he became a bartender on Dock Street to make more money for their growing family. He was a
great bartender because of his friendly way toward the patrons who frequented his bar. He would consider everyone his paisan. Nonna on the other hand was content to stay home and take care of their nine children. She would cook his favorite Italian meals for him. To get Nonna upset, he would tell her that his mother was the finest Italian cook. There is a story that is still shared in our family: One evening Nonno was teasing Nonna about his mother’s cooking, saying it was the tastiest. Nonna was so upset that she picked up the bowl of macaroni and poured it over his head. All of the children were shocked at first, but when Nonno started to laugh, Nonna began to chuckle and the children all joined in. Nonna didn’t take any of his nonsense about her cooking, and his teasing about it stopped that evening. Usually after supper, the children would finish any school homework they had while Nonno and Nonna would still be at the table drinking their coffee. They would talk about their day and about their children’s needs. The children, in later years, would talk about how they could hear their laughter through the house. They were still in love and lighthearted. Their home always was loving and fun for the family. After 21 years of being the love of Geltrude’s life, Raffaele passed away leaving her a widow. She rose to the challenge to make sure her children never went hungry. She was always self-assured and never frightened at life’s
obstacles. For the next three years, she and six of her children worked the fields of a farm in New Jersey from April until the first frost. These months were dreadful living in a small shack on the farm. The oldest three children stayed in Philadelphia because they had jobs in the clothing factories. Nonna was religious and every Sunday they all went to church as a family. The rest of the day was spent preparing for the next six days. This included washing the clothes by hand in a metal tub and cooking their favorite Italian dishes. Not a Sunday went by without their meatballs and gravy over their homemade spaghetti. On Monday, Feb. 23, 1925, Nonna slipped her hand into Nonno’s hand and they walked into eternity together. She missed him every day for those four years. They left a beautiful legacy to their children that was priceless: “No matter how hard life is, just keep moving forward. Don’t look back because if you do, you can only see yesterday.” Because their blood warms my veins and part of their spirit lies within my soul, I explore life’s journey with open eyes and an open heart. I know I have only one life to live and I will live it to its fullest. To me, my Nonno and Nonna are no ordinary people; they are what my ancestors were made of. They were true Italian explorers of life. Because of their bravery, they have over 300 descendants here in America.
6A
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
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Chester County Press
In the Spotlight
Section
B
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
The story of this service dog highlights the need to end puppy mills Lisa Bennett was fighting both a diagnosis of breast cancer and the need for a liver transplant. Nellie was a mutt abandoned on the side of the road. When united, both of their circumstances changed permanently for the better. On National Dog Day, both visited State Sen. Andy Dinniman, where Bennett shared their story of resilience and highlighted the need for an increased appreciation and understanding of the role animals play in our lives. “When they both came to me, I realized how special their story was,” said Dinniman, who has fought during his entire senate career for the expansion of animal protections. “Every day we learn more about the special bond between our pets and our emotional health. Lisa and Nellie’s story really shows how important these bonds are to so many. They’re truly life-saving.” Nellie was found abandoned on the side of the road in Georgia in a cage with many other puppies. Through a system of transportation from Georgia to Pennsylvania provided by volunteer
drivers, all the puppies found safe homes in Pennsylvania. Bennett adopted Nellie, who has since begun training as a service dog – and in a wonderful way, Bennett and Nellie saved each other. For Dinniman, this story of resilience and animal therapy served as a perfect example of the ever-growing therapeutic bond between animal and human – one which needs further legislative support in terms of the utilization of animals in providing therapy for humans. “In this pandemic, our pets have played a very special, and sometimes life-saving, role for us,” Dinniman said. “We are on the cusp of understanding this tremendous bond between people and their animals – they are not just service animals, but routes to greater therapy. “They are not just our pets – they provide us therapeutic routes to greater happiness” Dinniman detailed for Bennett information on research currently being conducted at University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School and other research facilities which aims to fully understand this human-animal bond,
Courtesy photo
On National Dog Day, State Sen. Andy Dinniman recognized Nellie as a stellar example of the importance of pets in our lives. Dinniman is pictured with Nellie and Lisa Bennett when he presented an award for Nellie.
and the process through which they help people deal with anxiety, trauma, and many other mental and emotional battles. Bennett met with Dinniman to share her story, and also showcase the importance of supporting further animal-protective legisla-
tion. Nellie, who almost died due to inhumane puppy mill practices, has since won the K9 Good Citizen certificate and helped Bennett in her battles, too. Bennett explained to Dinniman what Nellie meant to her – she told him that this dog has been
her friend and companion and the dog is now being trained to assist her in medical emergencies. “Lisa and Nellie’s story is another reason why we must continue to push legislature which permanently puts a stop to the inhumane treatment of animals in puppy mills,
which are still very prevalent in Pennsylvania,” Dinniman said. “For Lisa, Nellie, all pets out there waiting to be saved, and all the human beings in need of this therapeutic companionship and strength especially during this pandemic, we must do this.”
VA nurses help fulfill civilian health care needs created by COVID-19 Nurses at the Coatesville VA Medical Center do their part to help veteran patients fight the novel coronavirus by serving on the frontlines of care at the state-run Southeastern Veterans Center in Spring City. Their efforts are part of VA’s national initiative to exercise its Fourth Mission of aiding local communities and health care facilities when called upon in times of national emergency. Where VA has the capacity and the resources, it will provide beds at VA medical centers and staff for community hospitals and nursing homes. VA’s
decision in supporting community health care are made after determining the actions would not negatively impact the care for veterans. Coatesville VA Medical Center supported mission assignments with direct clinical care, testing, education and training at the Southeastern Veterans’ Center (SEVC) in Spring City. The initial team arrived on April 27 and included 40 nurses from different medical centers across the country, four of those were from Coatesville VAMC. Connie Fagan, a Registered Nurse in Primary Care at
Coatesville VAMC with 44 years of experience in nursing, served as the SEVC’s liaison to the Coatesville VA Medical Center interim director Jennifer Harkins. Harkins oversaw the overall mission. Fagan has been with the VA and at Coatesville for 37 years, but this would be her first deployment. “A mission like this requires expertise and collaboration,” said Harkins. "With Connie taking the lead as the onsite liaison between our VA nurses and the SEVC, I was very confident we would be able to provide the highest level of support.
Connie is an excellent, experienced nurse so I was very grateful when she, like so many others, stepped up when we asked for volunteers.” Fagan managed the daily logistics and resources required to assess the situation at the SEVC and combat the spread of COVID-19 at the state-run facility. They coordinated the first testing of 100 percent of the staff and patients, oversaw staffing assignments, followed up on patient issues, and tracked the personal protective equipment “burn rate” or how fast the PPE was used.
Courtesy photo
Connie Fagan, a registered nurse in primary care at Coatesville VAMC, deployed as the Southeastern Veterans’ Center’s liaison to CVAMC nurses.
Everything is About Partnership
Courtesy photo
On Aug. 6, Jennifer Harkins (left), the interim Coatesville VA Medical Center director, honored Connie Fagan (right), a registered nurse in primary care, as employee of the month for July for her hard work, strong ethics, and for being an advocate for patients and co-workers.
Fagan also worked closely with other agencies and attributed the eventual success to their support. The Centers for Disease Control, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and U.S. Public Health Service, all evaluated procedures during their visits and provided education on testing, isolation, infectious disease control and cleaning requirements. Fagan said, “They recommended changes to procedures in place at the time of their visits. We implemented them and by the time we left on July 11, COVID-19 was very much controlled.” The Pennsylvania National Guard was there to assist the floor staff
with nursing care and assisted with housekeeping by wiping things down and keeping spaces clean. “The soldiers were there every day and were genuine in their concern for our veterans. They comforted our veterans by spending time with them and just talking with them,” said Fagan. A Look Back Fagan was the longest-serving federal VA representative at the SEVC and looks back on the team’s accomplishments. “The COVID that had been extensive was very much controlled. We went from Red and Yellow status to all Green and there were only two positive, asymptomatic patients,” explained Fagan. “That was a huge improvement.”
2B
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
Chester County Press
Obituaries WILLIAM R. CHEEK, JR.
JAMES C. REA
IDA CLARA PRICE
William R. Cheek, Jr. passed peacefully while surrounded by family at Jennersville Hospital on Sept. 2. He was 70. He was born on April 29, 1950 in Wilmington, Del. to parents Ralph and Janet Cheek. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1968 and earned a bachelor of science degree in history at Lincoln University. He was employed as a sales representative for two major farm equipment companies and continued in the business at a local farm dealership in Oxford. He was married to Diane Williamson from 1971 to 1999 and together they raised three children. Bill is survived by his father W. Ralph Cheek, Sr., his two brothers Michael (Pam) Cheek and Scott (Ginny) Cheek and his three children, Jason (Kerri), Lauren (Edward) and John (Laura), as well as 8 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Janet S. Cheek. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Oxford where he served as a choir member, elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher. He delighted in his large family and was especially fond of his grandchildren. He was well known for his singing voice and original poetry. Many will remember that he always freely offered comfort to anyone experiencing a difficult time. One of his most memorable accomplishments was his stunning performances in the musical “Camelot” in 1968 and 1986. He portrayed King Arthur. A private service will be held in Oxford. His family regrets that the current guidelines preclude a larger gathering. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lighthouse Youth Center, 245 Commerce 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.
James C. Rea, a resident of of Elkton, Md., passed away at home while surrounded by his loving family on Aug. 29. He was 82. Jim, as he was affectionately known, was the husband of Rita F. Rea, with whom he shared 28 years of marriage. Born 1938 in Wilmington, Del., Jim was the son of the late Phillip Rea and the late Esther Surgeson Rea of Avondale. Jim graduated from Avon Grove High School and went on to work at Keeners Furniture as a salesman. He eventually worked as a salesman in flooring – an industry in which he became expertly knowledgeable. He was also a volunteer firefighter in Avondale and greatly enjoyed hunting in Potter County. Jim was an all-star athlete during high school. He was the starting pitcher for Avon Grove’s baseball team and excelled at soccer and basketball as well. Later in life, Jim became a baseball coach for his own sons with Avon Grove Little League and he also served as the equipment manager and treasurer for Avon Grove Little League. He led his baseball team all the way to the state championships in the 1970s. Jim’s love of sports also meant that he was always rooting for his favorite teams, the Phillies and the Eagles. There was nothing Jim was more passionate about than his wife and his family. He always had a smile on his face and his fun and charming demeanor was easy to love. All who had the pleasure of knowing Jim will deeply miss the warmth, compassion and love he brought to their lives. In addition to his wife, Rita, Jim is survived by his children, Gary (Patricia), Chuck (Diane), Cheryl (Ted), Kelley and Kristen (Paul); his step-children, Kimberly (Linda), Darrin (Sharon), Janeen (Ashley); 7 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren. Jim was predeceased by his stepfather, Bert, and his beloved son, Michael. Services were held on Sept. 5 at Foulk Funeral Home in West Grove, while the graveside services took place at New Garden Friends Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Rd. S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047 or online at www.lbda.org. To view Jim’s online tribute and share a message with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com. Arrangements were handled by Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove.
Ida Clara Price, 95, of Lincoln University, Pa., passed away on Aug. 29 at Twin Pines Health Care Center in West Grove. She was the wife of the late Howard D. Price. Born in Rugby, VA, she was the daughter of the late Manning and Ida Osborne. She enjoyed reading, puzzles, gardening, collecting antiques and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Ida especially enjoyed spending time with her family. She is survived by three children, Suzanne Baxter (Charles) of West Grove, Ralph Price (Barbara) of Oxford and Jean Denny (Dave) of Rising Sun, Md.; 4 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 2 sisters. She was preceded in death by a son, Donald Price; granddaughter, Tara Price; and six siblings. Services will be private. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Obituary submissions The Chester County Press publishes obituaries free of charge for funeral homes with active advertising accounts only. Others with a connection to southern Chester County are charged a modest fee. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received with a Monday 5pm 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.
Alleluia Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding. Job 36:5 The Chester County Press features a dedicated church/religious page that can help you advertise your house of worship and/or business. The page is updated weekly with new scripture. Only $10 Weekly for this space. We are offering a special discount of 25% off each and every help wanted/ classified advertisement to any business that advertises on the PRESS church page.
For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10
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HERR FOODS, INC. NOTTHINGHAM, PA
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
3B
Chester County Press
Local News Clay Creek Road to close for a bridge replacement project in Franklin Township Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, Sept. 14 on a project to replace the bridge carrying Clay Creek Road over the White Clay Creek in Franklin Township, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced this week. Due to the nature of construction, Clay Creek Road will be closed and detoured between Twin Bridge Lane and Auburn Road beginning on Sept. 14 through to the completion of the project scheduled for mid-November. During the bridge closure, Clay Creek Road motorists will be directed to use Auburn Road and Church Hill Road. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone. Built in 1950, the current bridge carries an average of 1,139 vehicles a day. Once completed, it will be replaced with a new box culvert structure. Work on this project will be in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the job site, and relevant training.
This structure is one of seven bridges under a $5 million project to repair poor condition bridges in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties. A bridge completed under this project includes the Springton Road over Indian Run in Wallace Township, Chester County. The other structures in this bridge improvement project include the following: West State Road over the west branch of Red Clay Creek in Kennett Township and Kennett Square Borough, Chester County; Creek Road over the Brandywine Creek in East Brandywine Township, Chester County; 2nd Avenue over Mingo Creek in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery Township; Baltimore Pike over Red Clay Creek in New Garden Township, Chester County; and Hulmeville Road over Chubb Run in Middletown Township and Penndel Borough, Bucks County. Loftus Construction, Inc. of Cinnaminson, N.J., is the general contractor on this bridge improvement project that is financed with 100 percent state funds. Work on the entire project is expected to be completed in late summer 2022. For a complete list of construction projects impacting state-owned highways in
Courtesy image
Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, Sept. 14 on a project to replace the bridge carrying Clay Creek Road over the White Clay Creek in Franklin Township.
Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, visit our District 6 Traffic Bulletin. Motorists can check conditions on more than
40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com or downloading the 511PA application for iPhone and Android devices. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides
traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.
com/511PAPhilly and like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ groups/phillypenndot and Instagram at w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m / pennsylvaniadot.
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4B
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
Chester County Press
Local News Kennett Township amends its resolution in support of African American community By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer At their Aug. 19 online meeting, the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors overwhelmingly agreed with a resolution to enter the township in commitment to support
the Black Lives movement by establishing four initiatives aimed at creating a government and police department that would ensure that its policies were inclusive, and that with the help of diversity training, do all it could to confront direct and indirect
racism. As stated in the resolution, the township acknowledged the Black Lives Matter movement; recognized that systems of oppression such as slavery, sharecropping, Jim Crow, redlining and mass incarceration continue to affect the
physical and mental health, safety, and education of African Americans; acknowledged that recent incidents such as the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery “remind us that police brutality and disregard for black people’s lives has caused the
loss of numerous lives for no reason other than racist biases; and that it strives to be a welcoming place where all people feel protected.” At their Sept. 2 online meeting, the board discussed – and later approved – an amended resolution that distances the
township from the Black Lives Matter movement and rather, aligns it more closely with the “systems of oppression” that the entire African-American community has faced for the past 400 years. Resolution 2020-14 now states:
SALE ADDRESS: 404 Glen Run Drive, Atglen, PA 19310-9440
Beginning at a stone on the south side of Market Street; formerly New London Road, a corner of land now or late of Martha Ann Russell deceased and running thence by said land North 2 degrees West 210 feet to a stake line of land of Thomas L. Davis; thence by land now or late of said Thomas L. Davis, South 66 degrees East 37 feet to a stake; thence by land now or late of Charles M. Steele, deceased, South 2 degrees East 210 feet to a comer in the South said of Market Street aforesaid and thence along said Street, North 88 degrees West 37 feet to the place of beginning.
Legals ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Everett P. Priestley, DECEASED. Late of New London Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to: Everett V. Priestley, ADMINISTRATOR, PO Box 82, Kemblesville, PA 19347. 8p-26-3t
Public Notice
Notice is given that the Board of Supervisors of New Garden Township will hold a public hearing at 6:30 P.M., on September 21, 2020, virtually using the Zoom meeting conference software, to consider the following application for conditional use: Application of Green Robin Homes for conditional use approval pursuant to §200-180.D of the New Garden Township Zoning Ordinance in order to disturb the natural resources on the property to a greater extent than permissible for purposes of accessing the lot on the property located at 144 Sharp Road, New Garden Township. The property consists of approximately 7.2 acres, is located within the R-4 Residential District, and is also known as tax parcel 60-4-57. Information on how to join the meeting will be available on Friday, September 18, 2020 on the Township website and will be posted at the Township Building, located at 299 Starr Road, Landenberg, PA 19350. The general public is welcome to join the meeting via computer, laptop, tablet, cell phone, or land line phone. Ramsey Reiner, Township Manager 9p-2-2t
Public Notice
Notice is given that the Board of Supervisors of New Garden Township will hold a public hearing at 7:00 P.M., on September 21, 2020, virtually using the Zoom meeting conference software, to consider the following application for conditional use: Application of LGB 1470 West Baltimore Pike LLC for conditional use approval pursuant to §20028.B(1) of the New Garden Township Zoning Ordinance and the applicant’s previous Conditional Use Decision and Order (C-2019-0207) in order to
authorize the construction of nine (9) single-family attached dwellings, in three (3) groups of three (3) dwellings, on the property located at 1470 West Baltimore Pike, Toughkenamon, PA. The property consists of approximately 1.37 acres, is located within the R-3 Toughkenamon Residential District, and is also known as tax parcels 60-1Q9, 60-1Q-15, 60-1Q-16 and 60-1Q-17. Information on how to join the meeting will be available on Friday, September 18, 2020 on the Township website and will be posted at the Township Building, located at 299 Starr Road, Landenberg, PA 19350. The general public is welcome to join the meeting via computer, laptop, tablet, cell phone, or land line phone. Ramsey Reiner, Township Manager 9p-2-2t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF CLIFTON WEBB PENNEWELL, DECEASED. Late of East Nottingham Township, 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 CHRISTINE M. DeMITIS, 1930 Lawrence Rd., C-31, Havertown, PA 19083 and PATRICIA A. KLEIN, 311 Ryan Rd., Florence, MA 01062, EXECUTRICES, Or to their Attorney: DANIEL J. SIEGEL, LAW OFFICES OF DANIEL J. SIEGEL, LLC, 66 W. Eagle Rd., Ste. 1,Havertown, PA 19083 9p-2-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Notice is hereby given of the administration of the Dorothy M Bush Trust dtd 3/30/11.Settlor l, late of Lower Oxford Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania died 3/14/20. All persons having claims against the decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to: Lisa Crews, Trustee, C/O Patricia A. Coacher, Esq., 166 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406 9p-2-3t
FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION
An application for registration of the fictitious name NoahAutoDetailing, 29
Erica Circle Honey Brook PA 19344 has been filed in the Department of State at Harrisburg, PA, File Date 7/03/2020 pursuant to the Fictitious Names Act, Act 1982-295. The name and address of the person who is a party to the registration is Emilio J Lizasuain, 29 Erica Circle Honey Brook PA 19344 9p-9-1t
NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION
Pursuant to the requirements of section 1975 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, notice is hereby given that Keystone House Hub, Inc. is currently in the process of voluntarily dissolving. Luongo Law Center, P.C., 15 Paoli Plaza, Suite H, Paoli, PA 19301 9p-9-1t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF George S. Daly, Late of Blue Bell, 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: Diane P. Daly, Executrix, c/o Louis Petriello, Esq., Petriello & Royal, LLC, 526 Township Line Rd., Suite 200, Blue Bell, PA 19422, Bl Petriello & Royal, LLC, 526 Township Line Rd, Suite 200, Blue Bell, PA 19422 9p-9-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Lawrie R. Drennen, late of Oxford Borough, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Lawrie R. Drennen having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Lawrie R. Drennen, Jr., Co- Executor, Chris Drennen, Co-Executor, c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, 208 E. Locust Street, P.O. Box 381 Oxford, PA 19363 9p-9-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Daniel Alan Pugh late of Oxford, Chester County, Deceased. Letters of Administration on the estate
of the above named Daniel Alan Pugh having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Cynthia D. Pugh, Administrator, c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, 208 E. Locust Street , P.O. Box 381 Oxford, PA 19363, Phone: 610-932-3838. 9p-9-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, September 17th, 2020 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 19th, 2020. 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. 20-9-336 Writ of Execution No. 2014-09985 DEBT $235,213.08 Property situate in the ATGLEN BOROUGH, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania BLR# 7-5-1.3 IMPROVEMENTS thereon: Residential Dwelling PL AINTIFF: Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, d/b/a Christiana Trust, Not Individually But as Trustee for Pretium Mortgage Acquistion Trust VS DEFENDANT: Ron Whitney a/k/a Ron Whitney, Jr., in His Capacity as Executor and Devisee of The Estate of Walter L. Handly Philadelphia Region of the S.C.C.A.
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP 215-563-7000 N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. 8p-26-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, September 17th, 2020 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 19th, 2020. 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. 20-9-333 Writ of Execution No. 2017-07528 DEBT $133,097.04 ALL THAT CERTAIN, MESSAGE, LOT OR PIECE OF LAND SITUATE ON, IN THE BOROUGH OF OXFORD, COUNTY OF CHESTER, STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED, AS FOLLOWS, TO WIT: All that certain lot or piece of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon erected situate on the North side of Market Street in the Borough of Oxford County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania known as and numbered as 635 Market Street, bounded and described as follows:
Containing 7, 710 square feet of land, be the same more or less. BEING UPI NUMBER 6-5-155 PARCEL NO.: 6-5-155 BEING KNOWN AS: 635 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363 BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO ALEJANDRO FRANCO AND SARA J. FRANCO WHO ACQUIRED TITLE BY VIRTUE OF A DEED FROM DANIEL R. KOHLER AND KAREN M. KOHLER, DATED AUGUST 17, 2004, RECORDED AUGUST 27, 2004, AT DOCUMENT ID 6265, PAGE 1123, OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF DEEDS, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. Exhibit “A” PLAINTIFF: LSF11 Master Participation Trust VS DEFENDANT: Alejandro Franco; Sara J Franco, AKA Sara J Strommer SALE ADDRESS: 635 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363 Plaintiff Attorney: Manley Deas Kochalski LLC. 614-220-5611 N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. 8p-26-3t
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
5B
Chester County Press
Local News “WHEREAS, Kennett Township acknowledges that Black lives matter; and WHEREAS, Kennett Township acknowledges systems of oppression, such as slavery, sharecropping, Jim Crow, redlining, and mass incarceration continue to affect the physical and mental health, safety and education of African Americans; and WHEREAS, Kennett Township acknowledges that recent incidents such as the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery remind us that police brutality and disregard for Black people’s lives has caused the loss of numerous lives for no reason other than racist biases; and WHEREAS, Kennett Township strives to be a welcoming place where all people feel protected, included, secure and safe; and WHEREAS, the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors stand in solidarity with the Black community, and strive to hold our township departments and ourselves to the only standard that will begin to protect all of us: one of equality and justice that embraces all people, not just those with the most privilege. Under the revised resolution, and as part of its commitment,
the township will undertake five action items: • Conduct a review of all existing policies to ensure they are antiracist and that all policies to be developed are also antiracist and not developed to serve only those with privilege. • Conduct annual diversity training with a focus on confronting direct and indirect racism. • Explore and implement tools and resources within the Kennett Township Police Department to enhance emergency service delivery in times of crisis for all persons. • When policies fail, Kennett Township will wholeheartedly engage in a root cause failure analysis in order to ameliorate the conditions that caused the defect; and continue to make the policies increasingly effective and just. • Develop a diverse group of advisors to township leadership that will provide guidance on issues related to racial injustice as well as the experience of minorities locally. “The goal of the board and the township was to very clearly emphasize the message they are trying to send about the importance of having anti-racist polices,
and recognizing the disturbing history of our country,” said township manager Eden Ratliff. “While there are many organizations that are doing comprehensive work to bring [the issue] to the forefront, our goal was to pass a resolution that says ‘This is what we recognize, and more importantly, this is what we are going to be doing about it.’” ‘A government of neighbors’ Supervisor Whitney Hoffman said that the revised resolution is more inclusive than its original counterpart. “It’s important that people feel like they have a real connection with their government,” she said. “At this level -- it’s really a government of neighbors – it is important that people feel included, welcomed and encouraged not only to come to meetings, but to participate in any township functions, and to feel that government services are being delivered equally the same among everybody, and if there are any issues, that they feel welcome to come and address those.” Referring to the inclusion of the names George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery in the revised
resolution, a township resident asked the board, “How do we know that the lives lost were [racially motivated], given that the cases are still opened and unresolved? What is the basis for such a definitive statement?” “We don’t necessarily say that those two [deaths] per se were 100 percent [racially motivated], but one would have a hard time saying that they weren’t,” Leff said. “They are a reminder that there were maybe other [deaths of African Americans] that were racially biased, but certainly those two [murders] had an aspect to them that was racial in tenor and in items of what we saw. “All I can do is see what we all can see, and with technology these days, it’s obvious to see what happened in terms of what was going through the mind of the people who caused those men’s lives to be removed from this planet,” Leff added. “That’s a hard thing for me to understand, but at least as an observer, it certainly looked like a white man killing a black man.” The resident continued to press the supervisors to further explain why the township has chosen to focus its revised resolution on the broader
African American community than the Black Lives Matter organization, which he said “has an ideology of Marxism.” “How are you explaining that to the public?” he asked. “You think or you hope that the public understands the difference.” “I don’t think the Black Lives Matter organization says anything about Marxism,” supervisor Scudder Stevens said. “This [resolution] doesn’t refer to the organization. It refers to the fact that Black lives matter.” The resident went on to quote from two of the chief founders of the Black Lives Matter organization, who in an interview admitted that they espoused Marxist principles. He stressed that it was important for the township to “make it clear” in its revised resolution that is not in alignment with Marxism. “We have taken out the [capitalized] ‘Black Lives Matter’ because some people might get confused about it,” Leff said. “I think this [revised] resolution aligns with what the Black Lives Matter global network’s needs were when it was formed four years ago. “They started out as a chapter-based, member-led organization, whose mission
was to give local power to the people when violence was inflicted on African American communities by states and vigilantes. Remarkably, four years later, things are still about where they are. There is nothing about Marxism on their website. “All I can do is speak to what we can do in Kennett Township, and I stand behind everything in this resolution – the way it is.” “We are not becoming Marxists overnight or anything else,” Hoffman said. “It’s really simple, and any implication as to the other is farcical.” “I am hopeful that this resolution will speak to the broad component of our community and say that this township wants to know if there is a problem, so that we can address it,” Stevens said, “because we are concerned about the on-goingness of 400 years of systemic racism, that affects everything from land values and school values to playing in the school yard and finding a job.” The resolution becomes effective immediately. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@ chestercounty.com.
Chester County COVID-19 Business Task Force charts plans for next phase of economic recovery Members of Chester County’s COVID-19 Business Task Force, selected as the Economic Cabinet, met recently with county industry leaders to begin addressing the county’s efforts for economic recovery necessitated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force’s plan for economic recovery, led by Chester County Planning Commission executive director Brian O’Leary and the Chester County Economic Development Council, is divided into two phases. Phase 1 of the economic recovery plan focuses on short-term strategies for the 21 industry sectors identified on the Restore Chester County website. Industry leaders from each of those 21 sectors will identify shortterm, actionable steps needed to stabilize businesses and the economy in Chester County. Phase 2 will be a larger, broader long-term recovery plan, addressing overall recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and how the county can further strengthen its economic viability in the future. Chester County Commissioners’ chair Marian
Moskowitz said, “Our COVID-19 Business Task Force took action early-on in this pandemic to prepare our businesses and our residents for the re-opening phase, which came into effect in June. As we continue to support our business community, it is time to focus on the next step – repairing what has been lost by businesses, helping them to continue to weather the storm so that we can move forward to grow.” The county has appointed two consultancies to support the next phase of economic recovery. 4ward Planning will provide a local perspective to economic development plans, and TIP Strategies, which helped to create and drive Chester County’s economic development strategy VISTA 2025, will offer a national perspective on economic development issues. County Commissioner Josh Maxwell commented, “We know that so many businesses are teetering on the edge right now because of this pandemic, so this next step is focused on helping them all to stabilize. We are working through Phase 1 quickly, with the right partners, consultants and leaders to identify and
begin taking action on those steps needed to stabilize.” Plans for the Phase 1 recovery include a survey of businesses and organizations addressing current issues and concerns, as well as longerterm issues including impacts of on-going national trends on businesses and plans for the future. Results of the survey, combined with roundtable talks with the 21 industry sector leaders will help to generate the list of short term actions needed to stabilize Chester County’s economy. Members of the Economic Cabinet who are working with O'Leary and the Economic Development Council include County administrators, the Chester County Department of Community Development, the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry and the Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau. County Commissioner Michelle Kichline added, “Chester County’s strength in planning gives us a tremendous advantage in moving forward economically. We pledge to continue to support our businesses and help
Evans joins Tompkins VIST Bank Tompkins VIST Bank announced that Tima Evans has joined the bank as a business development officer. In that role, Evans will develop solutions to help businesses in Berks and Schuylkill counties achieve their financial goals and will support the area’s business and philanthropic organizations. Evans, a resident of Wernersville, Pa. brings 17 years of financial services experience to the company. She previously was with Fulton Bank. She received a bachelor of arts degree in economics and a bachelor of sciences degree in business management from East Stroudsburg University. In
addition, she attended the Pennsylvania Bankers School of Commercial Lending. Active in the community, Evans is a member of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s Women2Women group and supports the March of Dimes, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Be the Match and Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In addition, she has taught financial literacy to students in grades K-12 throughout Berks County and instructed Neighborhood Housing Services clients in credit and budgeting. “We’re pleased to have someone with Tima’s professional expertise and
Courtesy photo
Tima Evans has joined Tompkins VIST Bank as a business development officer.
community involvement at Tompkins VIST Bank and know she’ll be an asset to our customers,” said Paula Barron, senior vice president of Community Banking.
them to navigate through this pandemic, and this economic recovery plan will do that. The stepped approach – steady the course now, then move forward and grow – will help us to reshape our robust economy, in a postCOVID-19 world.”
6B
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
Chester County Press
Local News Forgotten Lore Theatre tackles in-person performance with its Poe and plague-inspired ‘Illimitable Dominion’ Forgotten Lore Theatre premieres part three of its Evermore performance cycle, “Illimitable Dominion” as one of 15 companies taking the “In Real Life” (IRL) route in this year’s FringeArts Festival. Staged at the historic West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., the show runs from Sept. 18 to Oct. 4 with two performances per night. The company’s decision to invite audiences to witness the show firsthand was made in unanimous consensus between all those involved in the production. Stringent performance guidelines established by the City of Philadelphia to ensure the safety of performers and audience alike are being followed. Therefore, instead of the traditional immersive format used in the company’s previous productions, “Illimitable Dominion” alters the immersive quali-
ties into a socially distanced, 360-degree perspective from which multiple narratives unfold. Company director Robert A. Reutter described the approach as, “socially-distanced, immersive theatre.” Although the COVID restrictions challenged the original vision of the show, the result is more exciting than Reutter had anticipated. “We’ve reconceptualized the show into a living graphic novel, which has given us limitless possibilities that we are thrilled for our audience to experience.” The company is aware of the controversies surrounding IRL performances and the hesitations of possible audience members. Part of Forgotten Lore’s safety measures include restricting audiences to twelve per performance, providing masks and hand sanitizer, keeping audience 20 feet away from
the performers (and at least six feet from one another) at all times. “We wouldn’t be performing if we didn’t believe that we could do so safely for our audiences and ourselves,” said Tyler Palma, a standing company member and illustrator of the show’s companion graphic novel. Adding to the company’s confidence with pursuing an in-person production, is the sense of responsibility to and community among company members. “We all feel like most people do with regard to the coronavirus: we all have families and loved ones we go home to, and we wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t feel safe," said Brynne Maddrey, who portrays the show’s version of Miss Havisham from the Charles Dickens classic, “Great Expectations.” Maddrey said, “Being a small company there is a
level of trust between us; none of us outside of the rehearsal and performance process would do anything that would put the cast at risk of getting and spreading the virus.” IRL performances offer a chance for the community to come together and support the continuation of the arts. Forgotten Lore Theatre is grateful to the 2020 FringeArts Festival for providing the opportunity for IRL in these uncertain times. Taking its title from the final line of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”, the play’s motifs of plague and isolation are a timely commentary on the current cultural landscape. “Illimitable Dominion” speculates the spread of Poe’s lethal although fictive disease into the world of Charles Dickens’s literary canon. The show introduces audiences to a personifica-
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Forgotten Lore Theatre premieres part 3 of its Evermore performance cycle, “Illimitable Dominion” as one of fifteen companies taking the “In Real Life” (IRL) route in this year’s FringeArts Festival.
tion of the Red Death who “infects” several memorable Dickensian characters in an effort to expand her domain. The show itself derives its inspiration from the 1842 meeting between Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens at the United States Hotel in Philadelphia. Forgotten Lore Theatre’s
“Illimitable Dominion,” staged as part of the 2020 FringeArts Festival, runs the weekends of Sept.18 and Oct. 2 at West Laurel Hill Cemetery with performances at 8:00 and 9:30. p.m. For more details on the show and literary background, consult their website at forgottenloretheatre.org.
Coatesville to host outdoor pop-up & shop market on Sept. 12 Nearly two dozen graduates of Coatesville’s Business Skills for Success for the Entrepreneur webinar program will showcase their emerging businesses in an open-air, pop-up market on Sept. 12 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Third Avenue and Lincoln Highway in Coatesville. The first of its kind in the City of Coatesville, the outdoor market is the culmination of a nine-week virtual educational series launched in June by the City
of Coatesville in partnership with the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and leading local business experts. Entrepreneurs of any age were invited to participate to gain the skills and access resources to take their emerging or existing small business to the next level. “Coatesville’s Pop Up & Shop” is free and open to the public and will feature custom clothing and jewelry, handmade gifts, delicious cuisine, haircare, organic
beauty products and more. Social distancing will be observed, and all attendees are required to wear masks inside the tent area. Twelve-year-old Reece Turner, President and CEO of Reecies Soaps, will be among those showcasing her products. Turner was the winner of a Shark Tank-like competition during the Business Skills for Success for the Entrepreneur program where she pitched her product virtually to a panel of judges and won $250. Turner originally
came up with the idea to create her all-natural skin care products after suffering from eczema and seeking soothing relief. Among the topics covered during Coatesville’s Business Skills for Success for the Entrepreneur program were business planning, marketing and sales, zoning codes and opportunity tax zones, social media, web analytics and bookkeeping. “We congratulate the participants for their hard work and steadfastness as the program
moved to a virtual setting this year,” said James Logan, City Manager of the City of Coatesville. “Coatesville has many local entrepreneurs and small businesses that just need support to get them to the next level, and we are happy to be involved with the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center on this program.” Courtesy photo
Twelve-year-old Reece Turner, President and CEO of Reecies Soaps, will be showcasing her products at an open-air pop-up market in Coatesville on Sept. 12.