Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 152, No. 37
60 Cents
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
INSIDE Oxford Borough welcomes
A day of Iacono as new police chief remembrance He brings 32 years of experience in law enforcement to the new job
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer Sam Iacono officially became the new police chief of Oxford Borough on Monday night as he Unionville falls to Avon was sworn into office durGrove...8A ing a special ceremony that was held at the Oxford Presbyterian Church’s community room to accommodate the large crowd that gathered for the event. Dozens of law enforcement officials from throughout the county joined a large crowd of Oxford residents, business owners and elected officials to celebrate Iacono’s selection as the new police chief of the 16-officer police Oxford improves to department that serves a community of approximate3-0...9A ly 5,200 residents. “We, as a town, are so pleased that you are joining this great police department,” said Oxford Borough Mayor Lorraine Bell. Before he was hired as Oxford’s new police chief,
Bike the slated...6A
Brandywine
INDEX Opinion........................7A Obituaries...................2B Calendar of Events......4B
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© 2007 The Chester County Press
Photo by John Chambless Photo by Steven Hoffman
Mayor Lorraine Bell officially swears in Sam Iacono as the new police chief of Oxford Borough during a ceremony on Sept. 10.
Iacono served as a police lieutenant with the West Chester Borough Police Department. There was a large contingent of police officers from Iacono’s former department at the swearing-in ceremony, and Iacono referred to his colleagues from West Chester as his second family. “To have the support of all
these Chester County police officers, to have the support of the former police department and the new police department—it’s amazing,” Iacono said. “It really means a lot.” Iacono is already somewhat familiar with Oxford Borough because he lives with his wife and children in Continued on Page 3A
Second Connective Art & Music Festival set for Aug. 3, 2019 in Oxford By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
ber of visitors who attended the first Connective Art & Music Festival held last month in Oxford, it is estimated that the population of the town grew by about 6,000 on Aug. 4.
That’s a number that firmly gives evidence that the festival was not just an Although there have event. Rather, it was nothbeen no formal calculaing short of a happening – a tions crunched in order to streetfest gala of music, art, determine the exact numfood, and fun that helped put Oxford on the local and regional map as an emerging hub of community, culture and commerce. It was a landmark of moments and forever photographs: Gallery Row on Locust Street. The artwork from the youngsters at the Lighthouse Youth Center, proudly displayed at the Oxford Arts Alliance. The colors of painted faces and the sound of homemade musical instruments, up and down Third Street. The electric pulse of local bands and the finale, a rousing set performed by headliner EVE6. Yet, for the most movers and shakers of Oxford who helped to make the festival successful, there is very little resting on laurels Photo courtesy of Moonloop Photography among them, and the reaThe second Connective Art & Music Festival is son is quite simple: They’re scheduled for Aug. 3, 2019, in Oxford.
Continued on Page 2A
Reenactors look over the landscape near Birmingham Hill, which has changed very little since Sept. 11, 1777.
The Brandywine Conservancy marks its acquisition of Birmingham Hill property By John Chambless Staff Writer The sharp crack of musket fire echoed across Birmingham Hill on the morning of Sept. 11, just as it did 241 years ago, when soldiers of the Continental Army fought savagely during the longest single-day battle of the Revolutionary War. This time, the two reenactors from the First Delaware Regiment were marking a happy occasion – the
Brandywine Conservancy’s acquisition of 13 acres atop Birmingham Hill, the last piece in a 25-year quest to preserve the land where soldiers fought and died during the Revolution. With the exception of some stately homes and barns on adjoining parcels, the view from Birmingham Hill, just north of Chadds Ford, hasn’t changed. But the fact that so much has been preserved is thanks to a small army Continued on Page 4A
Serving up some tasty treats
The 33rd Annual Mushroom Festival faced a rain cancellation last Sunday, but Saturday was still a very busy day for downtown Kennett Square. See photos on Page 1B.
Discussion about fire and EMS dominates council meeting in Kennett Square By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer How fire and EMS services are provided—and paid for—by Kennett Square Borough and five surrounding townships were major topics of discussion at the Sept. 4 council meeting in Kennett Square. Even before council member Ethan Cramer outlined some of the findings of the work that has been undertaken by the Kennett Regional Fire and EMS Commission, a large contingent of Kennett Fire Company members made it clear that they have serious
concerns about the possibility of a drastic change to how EMS services are provided to the approximately 30,000 residents who live in Kennett Square Borough, Kennett Township, East Marlborough Township, Newlin Township, Pennsbury Township, and Pocopson Township. In 2017, those six municipalities agreed to form a commission to look at how fire and EMS services are provided and paid for in the region, with the simultaneous goals of optimizing services for residents while also identifying the most efficient way to pay for
those services. Three fire companies—the Kennett Fire Company, the Longwood Fire Company, and the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company—provide fire protection to the area, while two ambulance divisions—Kennett and Longwood—handle the EMS services. The six municipalities share the responsibility to fund the three fire companies and two ambulance divisions, and the Kennett Regional Fire and EMS Commission was charged with creating a multi-municipal approach to analyze the area’s needs
and to develop a strategy on how to meet those needs. Cramer serves on the Kennett Regional Fire and EMS Commission for Kennett Square Borough. He outlined some of the issues that the commission has been working toward finding solutions for, and he also explained to council that formulating a plan for EMS services became a priority because fire company officials indicated that the uncertainty about the ambulance divisions creates numerous problems. “EMS is the big question,” Cramer said, explaining
that the Commission held more than a dozen meetings throughout this year to discuss activities and decisions related to EMS services in the region. Having two ambulance divisions serve the region instead of one creates some unavoidable duplication— there are administrative duties that are duplicated, for example, and the two ambulance divisions also frequently show up for the same emergency calls, which can create significant inefficiencies in operation. In some respects, the Continued on Page 3A