Chester County Press 09-23-2020 Edition by Ad Pro Inc.

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Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas

Volume 154, No. 38

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

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INSIDE Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board votes to

bring elementary students back to classrooms A vote on whether to bring students in grades six through 12 back for hybrid instruction isn’t expected until next month By Monica Thompson Fragale Contributing Writer

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board voted Monday to bring elementary students back to the Mushroom industry leg- physical classrooms in end remembered...5B October as part of a hybrid return, and also voted to adopt the academic and athletic health and safety

plans. A vote on whether to bring students in grades six through 12 back for hybrid instruction isn’t expected until next month. At the meeting -- before which a group of parents and students held a rally in support of reopening -the board members voted unanimously to start hybrid instruction for children in

kindergarten through fifth grades on Oct. 12, assuming the incidence of COVID19 per 100,000 and the PCR percent positivity rate remain “comparable” to current levels. “From a K-5 perspective, we know that these students are at a much lower risk of spread,” said Superintendent John Sanville. “A phased reopening also allows us to

use our time and energy to open elementary school and do it well. “Once we open K-5 … it will give our community and our staff confidence we can do the same at the secondary level.” The COVID-19 numbers had improved since the school board’s Sept. 14 work session, at which time Salwa Sulieman, an infec-

tious disease doctor with A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, had warned that the numbers didn’t appear stable enough to warrant a return for hybrid instruction. Sanville said Monday that he and Steve Simonson had met again with Sulieman about the most recent numbers, and that “the numbers we all saw were better than Continued on Page 3A

Lawrence, CWA A spike in COVID-19 cases chair tell lawmakers doesn’t bode well for to save Chester in-person return to schools Water Authority

New contract for Lincoln U president...4A

Photo by Chris Barber

The Kennett High School reconstruction and replacement of the football field and the track are complete. The tennis courts have been replaced as well.

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer For parents of children in the Kennett Consolidated School District hoping for a return to in-person instruction, the news was not good at the Sept. 14 school board meeting that was live-streamed. Superintendent Dr. Opinion.......................7A Dusty Blakey said reports Obituaries............2B & 4B from the Chester County Department of Health indiClassifieds.................6B cated that the percentage of positivity of COVID-19 infection countywide had been trending around 2.5 for two weeks prior, but Local author publishes new book...1B

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then took a spike upward above 5 in the most recent week. This is higher than the three-week consecutive reduction level recommended for return to school for students. Blakey said following the issue of that metric that the department issued a new graphic advising actions schools should take related to a sliding scale of incidence. Specific tor the Kennett Consolidated School District, that incidence of infection shown is 40.77 per 100,000 population. “We are trending in the

high or very high level which puts us in the hybrid or virtual category. That gives us good pause to continue with the virtual model,” Blakey said. He added that he and other superintendents in the area would continue to meet with each other and the Department of Health on a weekly basis, and would also take the safety of the instructional team into account. Blakey also reported that the district is working with various institutions, including Willowdale Continued on Page 2A

At a committee hearing in the State Capitol last week, State Rep. John Lawrence, Chester Water Authority Board Chair Cynthia Letizell, and Penn Township Director of Operations Karen Versuk spoke with passion in favor of the continued independence of Chester Water Authority (CWA), and in support of House Bill 2597, which would block any sale of CWA without ratepayer approval. “I wrote and introduced HB 2597 to give people a voice,” said Lawrence. “HB 2597 would require any sale of a public water or sewer authority to be approved by the ratepayers of that utility. The people who are most affected in this situation deserve the opportunity to speak and be heard.” Formed in 1939, CWA provides quality drinking water at reasonable rates to over 200,000 people across Chester County, Delaware County, and the City of Chester. After rejecting an

unsolicited takeover offer from a for-profit operator in 2017, CWA has been embroiled in 16 separate lawsuits related to the matter. Recent actions by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development have heightened concerns that the state might attempt to force a sale of CWA to bail out the financially troubled city of Chester. “House Bill 2597 will give ratepayers the right to retain control over their water, Authority governance, and the Authority’s future” said CWA Board Chair Letizell. “Rep. Lawrence’s bill is needed because a state agency and the recently appointed Act 47 Receiver for Chester City are trying to force a sale of the Authority’s customers and assets to a for-profit water company and give the sales proceeds to the Chester City government.” Letizell went on to highlight Chester Water’s efforts to keep rates reasonable, Continued on Page 3A

Report: Economic impact of new library projected to redirect millions to Kennett By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Throughout the year, the Historic Kennett Square Economic Development Council invites stakeholders to its meetings who play – or are about to play – a major role in the economy of Kennett Square and its neighboring towns and municipalities. Usually, the welcome seat at the Council’s table comes

in the form of an individual or group who introduces a new initiative, program or interest designed to stimulate economic growth and provide opportunities for local business owners. At the Council’s Sept. 18 online meeting, however, that visiting stakeholder was an 11,000 square-foot building on State Street that by the end of 2022 will expand to more than 30,000 square feet.

During the meeting, the library was introduced as a potentially major economic driver for the Kennett Square community. As part of his update on the construction of the new Kennett Square Library – scheduled to begin construction in July 2021 and be completed in December 2022 – Board President Jeff Yetter told the Council that the new library will lead to a doubling of annual library

visitations from those who live within the eight municipalities the library serves, and from those who live outside the service area. That’s a lot of people, he said, who will not only help define the new Kennett Library and Resource Center when it opens, but spend money at local restaurants, retail stores and other businesses in the Kennett Square Borough and beyond.

‘Feet on the Street’ “I served for eight years on the Historic Kennett Square Board of Directors, and the one phrase I remember hearing over and over was ‘Feet on the Street,’ in order to answer the question, ‘How are we going to get more people to our businesses?’” Yetter said. “We anticipate the new library will go from 120,000 Continued on Page 6A

In a new book, a local mother shares her grief over the loss of daughter, in the hope of teaching others

Jessie, the girl in the photographs By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer “When Jessie was born, I lost my heart to her, as any mom does for their babies, and I fell in love. Jessie made me a better person because she challenged me. Jessie brought me great joy and she was color in my life, always so vibrant and strong.” Joann Pfeifer, Kennett Square The photographs, hundreds of them now culminated on a social media

page dedicated to her memory, tell the pictorial life of Jessica Leigh Pfeifer. The photographs want to become videos. They want to burst from their frames, because they depict a child and then a young woman actively courting the business of movement, vitality, activity and happiness. She climbs a mountain with her two younger brothers. She discusses strategy with her soccer coach during a game. She is in a karate pose. She poses for selfies with her BFFs from Unionville High

School. She is building a trap to catch leprechauns. She is engaged in the silliness of play with her many friends and in nearly every photograph, the camera has captured the person everyone called “Jess” in the middle of her conversation she had with the world. No one – not her parents, her siblings, her coaches, her teammates nor her friends – ever got the pleasure to hear that continuing conversation. During the early morning of April 19, 2012, three weeks before

she was about to graduate from The College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y., Jessie called home. Her mother Joann Pfeifer, missed her call and when she called Jessie back, Jessie said that she was going to die today, that she had taken a lot of pills. Immediately, her mother made frantic phone calls to her daughter, to campus Photo courtesy of police and security, and to Joann Pfeifer the emergency services cen- Jessica was a 2008 gradter in Syracuse. She gave uate of Unionville High Continued on Page 3A

School.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Chester County Press

Local News Kennett School board... Continued from Page 1A

Chapel, St. Patrick Church, Kennett Friends Meeting, The Garage, Tick Tock Early Learning Center and Creative Play to provide facilities and internet accessibility for students in need of supervision during the day for virtual lessons. He hopes to begin that program by Sept. 29, he said. He added that Kennett Education Foundation has offered financial help for issues related to the COVID-19 infections in the district. Assistant superintendent Dr. Michael Barber said the health department has recommended postponing sports until Jan. 1, 2021 but is leaving the decisions up to the schools’ govern-

ing bodies. Kennett will continue to permit voluntary practices for all sports, providing they each have a health and safety plan. When he was asked by a board member if there was a possibility of combining all the yearlong sports into the months from January through spring, Barber said that has been under consideration. Barber added that there was limited guidance provided at the August board meeting of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. “We are not sure of the number of schools that are going to have an alternate solution. We are still waiting to hear from the other schools,” he said. On the positive side, Blakey said the district was been able to continue issu-

ing grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches. George Wolhafe, the director of facilities and construction, reported that the projects to install a new football field and track are complete, as is the renovation of the tennis courts. He said the new track is very high quality, and water will run off it. The tennis courts have had wind shields installed as well, so the play will not be affected as much by the wind blowing the balls around. The Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center façade project is also nearing completion, he said. The cost for that construction is about $800,000. Wolhafe said the project was undertaken for three purposes: to ensure safety at the entrance, to enlarge the drop-off area and to meet the require-

Photo by Chris Barber

Kennett Consolidated School District Director of Facilities and Construction George Wolhafe stands amid building materials at the façade of Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center. He is predicting the end of October for the completion date.

ments of the Americans tractors for Mary D. Lang virtual learning. He said with Disabilities Act. façade were given extra completion will be at the He added that the con- time due to the move to end of October.

New Garden cancels haunted house tour By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer It was announced at the Sept. 21 New Garden Board of Supervisors meeting that the Halloween haunted house event, scheduled for Oct. 23-24 at St. Anthony in the Hills, has been canceled. The cancelation comes on the heels of the guidelines administered by the Centers for Disease Control that advise trick-or-treaters

to avoid high-risk activities this year, such as participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door; attending crowded costume parties indoors; visiting an indoor haunted house event; going on hayrides or tractor rides with people not in their household; and traveling to rural fall festivals not in their immediate community.

“Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses,” the CDC reported in its list of Halloween safety recommendations. “There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and

should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.” In an effort to remain safe, the CDC recommended several lower-risk Halloween activities, such as carving or decorating pumpkins with members of a household; decorating the house or apartment for the holiday; hosting a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house; holding a virtual Halloween costume contest; and holding a Halloweenthemed movie night with the family. The CDC also warned that a Halloween mask is not a replacement for a cloth mask, and that a costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose, and doesn’t leave gaps around the face. In addition, the agency advised that families use

hand sanitizer before arriving at pumpkin patches and apple orchards, and to remain socially distant from others during these visits. For parents who are looking for proper safety protocols this Oct. 31, they will be able visit the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department website (www.newgarden. org/sccrpd), in October. In other township business, the men of the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department will be participating in this year’s Blue Beards for Charity event, which will require them to grow beards and facial hair from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30. The event, done in partnership with other police departments in Chester County, will raise money for four organizations: Unite for Her, A Child’s Light, the Chester County Crime Victims Center and The Sambuco Children’s Education Fund, named in

honor of Chris Sambuco, a 15-year veteran of the Caln Township Police Department, who died in April 2018. In 2019, the event raised more than $40,000 for local charitable organizations. “What better way for us to remind others that police departments are their friends than to give back a little for such a great cause,” said Lt. Joseph Greenwalt of the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department. “This event is a reminder that we are here to make communities better places. We’re proud to add our name to this event, especially because it also honors one of our fellow officers.” To learn more about making a private donation, visit the New Garden Township’s website at www.newgarden. org. beginning in October. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News UnionvilleChadds Ford... Continued from Page 1A

the week before.” The Sept. 17 numbers showed several metrics, including the cases per 100,000, and the positivity rate, both dropping from the previous week, and the projected cases staying flat, according to a community update that Sanville sent earlier Monday. “Projections rather than rising over the coming weeks remained flat,” Sanville said at the meeting. “Those promising

Jessie... Continued from Page 1A

the center her daughter’s address – the middle floor of an old house on campus. Once the medics arrived, they banged on the door at the back of the house. A tenant from the first floor apartment opened the door giving them access to the stairs leading to the second floor. One of Jessie’s housemates answered the door and led them to Jessica’s room. They found her alone in her bed and unresponsive, and called Joann, who reached her ex-husband and together with their sons, they drove five hours in the middle of the night to the Crouse Medical Center. There, in the hospital waiting room, the family received the news that Jessica Leigh Pfeifer – their beautiful and vivacious daughter and sister -- did not survive her darkest night. She was 21 years old. “What If’ and ‘Why?’ “Jessica Leigh Pfeifer is my first born, the daughter I had always dreamed of, and a great joy and love in my life,” Joann recently wrote. “Jessie is also my greatest sorrow.” In the eight years that have passed since her daughter’s death, Joann has struggled to comprehend a moment that in all of its horrible reality still remains unimaginable. Her recollection of receiving that 2:30 a.m. phone message from Jessie, melded with the helplessness of knowing that her daughter was five-hour drive away from her home in Kennett Square, is a constant ritual and never-ending film reel that invariably turns itself inward, to her, the mother. In each nightmare she has – at the end of every ‘What If?’ and ‘Why?’ -- the revolving carousel of photographs from her daughter’s life do not match the tragedy. “Jessie loved life and she

statistics led us to the point where we talked about whether it’s prudent and proper and the right thing to do to open our schools in the K-5 model.” The health and safety plan that was approved unanimously on Monday calls for kindergarten students to go to school for a half-day every other day. It also calls for prefirst through fifth graders to attend every day for a half day, with remote asynchronous learning for the other half of the day. Both have options for students to remain fully remote. loved people,” Joann said recently. “I don’t know what happened to her over the last few months of her life. There was the stress of graduating from college, but I was never sure why she turned all of that anger on to, and destroyed herself. “I don’t know if she expected me to save her, but I failed to save her.” Just like she did for her two sons, Joann began to write a series of handwritten letters to her daughter soon after Jessie was born on June 19, 1990. Over the course of the past eight years, the letters were never far from Joann. Slowly, they began to take on a new purpose – one that should be shared with others. Published in May by Covenant Books and available on BarnesandNoble. com and Amazon, “She Called Herself Jess” is a 236-page love letter that documents the rich life her daughter led, and includes several photographs of Jessie. Told in the form of letters from mother to daughter, Pfeifer’s book is a log of soccer games, piano and dance recitals, gymnastics lessons and a 12-year education in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District that ended with Jessie’s graduation from Unionville High School in 2008. Taking suicide out of the dark corners “I have put my whole life out there with this book, as well as my family’s,” Pfeifer said. “My intent is to take the issue of suicide out of the dark corners and talk about it. By putting this book out there, if one sentence helps a parent talk to their child or helps a child understand that suicide is a permanent result to a temporary feeling, then it fulfills my intentions for it. “This book was meant to tell young people that they can get through their darkest night, and that their

The plan also spells out quarantine guidelines, cleanings and screenings, and lists when, where, and how masks are required. A copy of the “Health and Safety Plan Guide to Reopen Schools” can be found on the district’s website at ucfsd.org. Oct. 12 will be the day when K-5 students can return for hybrid instruction, and when the board could consider voting to allow the remaining grades to return at the end of the month for hybrid instruction, both of which assume the COVID-19 metrics

remain around where they were as of Sept. 17. “What we can promise … is that we will make our best efforts to get our schools open, that we will follow all COVID (guidance), and that we will support each other and get through this together,” said school board president Jeff Hellrung. Also at Monday’s meeting, the board approved an updated version of the fall athletics health and safety plan by a vote of 6-3. Rashi Akki, Elise Anderson, and Steven Sanderson voted no. A copy of that plan can

be found on the athletics page of the district website (ucfsd.org/athletics-home). District Athletics Supervisor Pat Crater and Athletics Coordinator Joe Vogler attended the meeting and answered questions about the updates to the plan. Changes include, among other things, requiring that food for students or staff be pre-packaged in boxes or bags for each attendee by our cafeteria services or the food provider; developing inter-squad expectations, which have been developed in collaboration with a stakeholder

group of student-athletes, coaches, parents, staff members, athletics trainers, and the supervisor of athletes; and adding the Ches-Mont League Standardized Screening Protocol as a requirement before competitions. “Our message to coaches and athletes means to be a good teammate,” Crater said, adding that being a good teammate means “staying home when you’re sick, and social distancing, and wearing masks. “Our athletes recognize the responsibility that we all have.”

Jessica made this collage that captured some of her lighter moments.

next day will be brighter, and that there are better paths forward.” Unfortunately, the tragedy that led Jessie Pfeifer to end her life eight years ago has reached the crisis stage at colleges and universities. According to the American College Health Association (ACHA), the suicide rate among young adults ages 15–24 has tripled since the 1950s, and is now the second-most common cause of death among college students. In a recent study published in Depression and Anxiety of more than 67,000 college students from more than 100 institutions, one in five students have had thoughts of suicide, with nine percent making an attempt and nearly 20 reporting self injury. In every suicide prevention handbook given to a parent, they are told to look for the “warning signs,” such as depression, disinterest in school, loss of friendships and excessive sleeping. For many parents whose children are away from home for the first time – especially those who are attending distant schools – phone calls, online chats and texts don’t always reveal the true story of how

their child is coping. For Joann, there were no warning signs coming from Syracuse. “Having Jessie five hours away from home was really hard, because I couldn’t just hop in the car and go to her,” Joann said. “To me, I saw her maturing and growing. I thought she was flying, and I had no reason to believe that she would crash and burn.” Over the past eight years, Joann has been comforted by her friends and the many community members who have generously reached out to her. She has channeled her grief not only in a new book, but also back into the community as a volunteer for Willow Tree Hospice in Kennett Square, Natural Lands, a land conservancy that saves and connects people to the outdoors, and the Kennett Library tutoring a student in English studies. And yet, the confusion and the anger and the not knowing that came with the death of her daughter have not left Joann Pfeifer. Nor have the photographs and the letters. They will never go away, and neither will the imaginary conversations she still has with her daughter and the ones

Chester Water Authority...

our citizens have had a lot of change, and little control. Providing them with control over their water by way of their sacred right to vote is critical.” Versuk added that in her capacity with Penn Township, she has experience with both municipal and for-profit utility providers, as Chester Water Authority provides water to many Penn Township residents, with a private company providing wastewater treatment. “Subjecting a municipal (water authority) to endless litigation in an effort to wear them down until they give in (to a sale) is not a precedent we should encourage,” added Lawrence. He noted

Continued from Page 1A

and pointed out that most of CWA’s ratebase is outside the City of Chester. “Why are the Authority’s customers, both City residents and the 79 percent of the customers who live outside the City, being asked to remedy the City’s needs by paying higher fees for their water for generations?” she asked the committee. “I am here today to respectfully voice support for HB 2597 proposed by Representative Lawrence,” Courtesy photo said Versuk, the direcState Rep. John Lawrence spoke with passion in favor of the continued independence of Chester Water tor of operations for Penn “This is an Authority at a committee hearing in the State Capitol Township. important bill in a year when last week.

All photos courtesy of Joann Pfeifer

Published in May, “She Called Herself Jess” is a series of letters Joann Pfeifer wrote to her daughter, Jessica Leigh Pfeifer.

she has with herself. “Sometimes, I wake up and say, ‘This isn’t true,’” she said. “Sometimes, I attempt to will it away and wish it away and cry it away and scream it away, and it never goes away. Part of this book is about saying, ‘Yes, my daughter did die by her own hand.’ It’s also about deciding to help other parents and their children to learn not to make the same mistake. “Jessie never got to finish her story. I think this book is a way to show everyone what a funny person she was, some of the things she did and said, and how much of a great citizen she would have been. This is my way to honor her.” To order the book “She Called Herself Jess,” visit www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ she-called-herself-jessjoann-pfeifer/1136727247. Proceeds from this book will be given to non-profit organizations that support animals, conservation efforts, children, national parks, suicide prevention

As a child, Jessie participated in many local activities and on several sports teams.

efforts and the Willow Tree Hospice in Kennett Square. To learn more about the book “She Called Herself Jess” and to read Joann’s writing, visit “She Called Herself Jess” on Facebook. If you suspect that your child may be having thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-2738255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

New Jersey state law has long provided for a ratepayer referendum prior to any sale of a municipal water system in that state.

rently under consideration by the House Consumer Affairs committee. The bill has seen bipartisan support from lawmakers across Chester Water Authority’s House Bill 2597 is cur- service area.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Chester County Press

Local News Board approves new contract for university president The Lincoln University Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new five-year employment contract for the university’s president Dr. Brenda A. Allen, reversing a decision that the board made several months ago when it was announced that a contract extension was not in the offing. “I am committed to united leadership and collaboration with Dr. Allen,” said Theresa R. Braswell, the board’s chairperson. “The board is eager to work with Dr. Allen to advance the legacy and support the mission of the nation’s

first degree-granting historically black college and university. The board is pleased with the direction of Lincoln University and credits the recent successes of the university to Dr. Allen’s leadership and the team she has assembled. In the past three years, with her vision, leadership, and tireless devotion, the Lincoln community has experienced renewed energy.” Since Allen became the 14th president in 2017, she has focused the university’s resources on student success by reinvesting in Lincoln’s roots as a world-

class liberal arts institution. “I am confident that the administration and board are more aligned in our vision for the future because of discussions during the past three months,” said Allen. “By working together with the board, we will lead this institution through this unprecedented time and emerge more resilient and ready for the next 167 years. We have developed a clear strategy to reimagine the legacy of Lincoln. Now let’s keep moving forward.” Allen led a concerted, multifaceted effort to build upon the university’s strong legacy of produc-

ing world leaders, its global engagement, and its commitment to social justice. She implemented a new, comprehensive strategic plan, Reimagining the Legacy: Learn. Liberate. Lead., and completed a comprehensive, university-wide restructuring to implement the strategic plan. Her leadership during a self-study that culminated in the 10-year reaccreditation of the university by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education. For two straight years, the university has been ranked as a top-20 HBCU by U.S. News & World Report.

Courtesy photo

Since Dr. Brenda A. Allen (right) became the 14th president in 2017, she has focused the university’s resources on student success by reinvesting in Lincoln’s roots as a world-class liberal arts institution.

Township to partner with borough on improvements to Kennett Greenway Kennett Township and the Kennett Square Borough will a file grant application which, if awarded, will help fund improvements to Birch Street and the construction of Magnolia Underpass By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors approved a motion at their Sept. 16 meeting that will lock the township in partnership with Kennett Square Borough in a joint grant application for a multimodal transportation fund (MTF) in the amount of $1.8 million. If the grant is awarded, the funding will go toward two key components of the Kennett Greenway Connectors Project: $1,262,616 for the recon-

struction of Birch Street -- estimated to cost $1.9 million -- and $616,904 for the construction of the Magnolia Underpass – which is estimated at $949,083. The decision to apply for the grant -- which is distributed the Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority -- was earlier approved by the Kennett Square Borough Council. These improvements would provide local residents with increased

access along the Kennett Greenway, a 14-mile network of continuous trails that encompasses five municipalities in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and includes more than 1,500 acres of open space and several parks and preserves. Completion of the projects would also serve to better connect residents to schools, shops, restaurants and historical and cultural assets, and would provide a safer route for students who walk to Kennett High School. The Kennett Greenway is a collaboration between

the township, the borough, the Kennett Trails & Sidewalks Committee, the Land Conservation Advisory Committee and several private non-profit organizations, including the Kennett Trails Alliance and The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County. Township Manager Eden Ratliff told the board that the Magnolia Underpass project has not only received approval from the Kennett Trails and Sidewalks Committee, the township has received permission from the East Penn Railroad to build an under-

pass beneath the railroad. Ratliff said that the fund is anticipated to be distributed in the second quarter of 2021. Supervisor Scudder Stevens said that although the East Penn Railroad is an important asset for the region, the railroad “slices right smack through the middle of everything that we’re trying to do,” he said. “How to get past it, around it, over it and through it has been a problem. “It’s been a log jam that this board has been wrestling with for some considerable period of

time. The fact that we have finally found a path to go forward, [one that is being] is being funded on a statewide and regional-wide approach, I find to be very, very compelling.” If the township receives the MTF, it will provide matching funds in the amount of $332,179 for the Magnolia Underpass construction, as well as allocate an additional $58,226 to meet additional costs for the project. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Chester County Press

Local News Kennett library... Continued from Page 1A

visitors a year to nearly one quarter of a million visitors. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to bring more people into Kennett Square, to restaurants, to shops and have a major impact on a day to day basis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In terms of return on investment, last year we returned over $5 to the community in services for every dollar that was invested [in the library],â&#x20AC;? Yetter said. Yetterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projections are supported by the data that has been collected in the Kennett Square Library Economic Impact Study. Completed in February, the studyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s combined analysis and projections give clear evidence that the new library will pump millions into the local economy during construction and after it opens. From 2021 to 2022, new library construction is expected to support 51 direct temporary jobs and generate $7.72 million in total labor income; $10.92 million in added value income; and $19.03 million in total output income throughout Chester County. For every dollar invested in the new Kennett Library and Resource Center during construction, $1.05 will be generated into Kennett Square, and $1.36 will be generated in the entire county. By 2023, the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first full year of operation, the new library staffing will require 5.5 new full- and part-time jobs that will generate an additional $221,777 in wages and benefits.

When direct, indirect and induced impacts are combined, new library jobs and employee compensation is expected to support 11 permanent jobs and generate $615,270 in labor income, $1.36 million in value added income, and $3.18 million in total income for Chester County. In Chester County overall, new non-local visitor spending, new jobs and rental revenue is expected to support 23 total full and part-time jobs and generate $1.15 million in labor income, $2.12 million in value added and 4.44 million in total output. By 2023, the projected increase in the number of â&#x20AC;&#x153;localâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;non-localâ&#x20AC;? visitors to the library is anticipated to contribute to $1.89 million in visitor spending. For every dollar spent by a â&#x20AC;&#x153;non-localâ&#x20AC;? visitor in Kennett Square, an additional 41 cents flows into the overall local economy. The new facility, which will be built at the corner of East State Street and South Willow Street, will include two 30-seat classrooms; childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and adult maker spaces; a multipurpose room; tutor, group and quiet rooms; a 110-seat auditorium with a stage; 19 parking spaces; and offer state-of-the art technology tools, access to information and bigger footprint for the more than 1,000 programs the library offers every year. Yetter said that current fundraising efforts to pay for the estimated $18 million new library have raised nearly $8.4 million in com-

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The new library, estimated at $18 million, is anticipated to begin construction in July 2021 and be completed in December 2022.

mitted contributions, with a capital campaign scheduled to begin in January 2021. The campaign has also received additional contributions from six of the eight municipalities the library serves, first posed as two non-mandatory options in 2019 that would allow the municipalities to contribute about $3 million over three years -- of the needed funding. The Library requested each municipality to contribute an amount equal to 3 years of .3 mils property taxes. This formula was chosen to fairly spread the request over the eight municipalities. The options were: Option 1. Institute a .3 mill real estate tax in the township for a period of three years, which would be added to the capital costs needed to fund the building of the library; or Option 2. Make an annual contribution out of their

general fund equal to the a .3 mill real estate tax in the township for a period of three years â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Libraries are universalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Yetter said that every municipality who has made a contribution has chosen Option #2, with a few choosing to contribute over the course of the next six years. Raising the needed funding for the new library is being done in close alignment with the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s construction schedule, which Yetter spelled out to the Council: the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schematic design has been completed; design development began in January; value engineering should be finished by October; construction drawings will be completed by next March; construction permits will be in place next April; and construction will begin next July. As both the construction

During and after its construction, the Kennett Library and Resource Center is projected to redirect a substantial amount of money back into the Kennett Square community.

and fundraising continue to progress simultaneously, Yetter said that the support from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The benefit we have here is that libraries are universal,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go to a library when you were young with your parents, you went to one in elementary school and in high school. When you had small kids and needed a break? You took them to the library, and then you became a grandparent and where do you take your grandkids now? You go back to the library. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are over 45,000 people in our service area, and every one of them has a connection to a library.â&#x20AC;? Thomas Swett, chairman of the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Capital Campaign, compared the future mission of the new Kennett Library with that of the Route 9 Library & Innovation Center in New Castle, Del., which has

become a vibrant, experiential, learning-focused facility tailored to the needs of the community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a community resource with all sorts of ancillary components to help citizens of a region have access to information, but who are trepidatious about how to obtain that information,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walking into the comfortable environment of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;library and resource centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is conducive to fulfilling that goal, and that is one of the components of what is going to happen in Kennett Square. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the reassurance business. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the business of supplying opportunity to a whole spectrum of people.â&#x20AC;? To learn more about the Kennett Library and Resource Center capital campaign, visit www.campaign4kenettlibrary.org. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

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Opinion

Editorial

Letters to the Editor

One way for Pennsylvania to boost revenues and help small businesses

An open letter to Sen. Toomey

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recently called on the State Legislature to legalize recreational marijuana and use the tax revenues to, among other things, help small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to Pennsylvania’s economy, and with additional federal aid measures now stagnating in the U.S. Congress, Wolf said that adult-use cannabis legalization could go a long way in helping the state’s economy recover in the future. Some states that have legalized adult-use cannabis have received hundreds of millions in additional revenue. This is not the first time that the governor has called for the legalization of marijuana. Pennsylvania is hardly at the forefront of the movement to legalize marijuana. Eleven states already allow adults to use marijuana recreationally, and approximately one in three Americans could have access to legal recreational marijuana if voters approve state ballot initiatives this November. The concept of legalizing marijuana is not shocking in 2020—nor should it be. Various polls show that a majority of Americans are in favor of marijuana legalization. Marijuana is a safer choice than alcohol, a point that is often made by people who are advocating for the legalization of weed. Marijuana has proven to have a very valid—and effective—medical use. Now is the time for Pennsylvania to follow the lead of the other states and legalize marijuana for adults. Pennsylvania, like other states, will be facing a financial crisis following the coronavirus pandemic. One way to help a state economy ravaged by the pandemic is by opening up a new revenue stream that has the potential to generate significant revenues for the state. The U.S. House of Representatives has discussed taking action on legalizing marijuana at the federal level. However, it’s highly unlikely that this legislation, even if it is approved by the U.S. House, will stand a chance of being approved by a Republicancontrolled U.S. Senate. For now, that leaves it up to the state. Pennsylvania takes in a significant amount of revenues from taxes on tobacco and alcohol sales. Legalizing marijuana could generate tens of millions of dollars in revenues for the state at a time when those revenues are needed. It’s time for Pennsylvania to tap into this new revenue stream.

Dear Sen. Toomey: I am writing to implore you to vote against any Supreme Court nominations until after inauguration day in January 2021. Currently, I am a high school sophomore who resides in Chester County and, to be blunt, I often strongly disagree with many of your views. However, in the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and as you reiterated in your statement about her passing, it is possible to disagree with someone without being disagreeable. I understand that the prospect of a strongly conservative court may be enticing for you and your Republican colleagues; however, a heavily unbalanced court not only threatens the core values

of our judicial system, but directly contradicts your previous statements on the matter. In 2016, you recognized the problematic nature of nominating a Supreme Court justice during the end of a president’s term, stating that the people should have “a more direct say” in the matter. What is the difference now, in 2020, other than the fact that we are currently under Republican leadership? I am well aware that going against your party may seem daunting, as some may view it as a lack of allegiance to the Republican Party. When Mitt Romney went against party lines during the 2020 impeachment proceedings, he was subjected to scrutiny from many on his side of the aisle. However, it

provided a new outlook on him for many, as this move was a demonstration of his strong moral compass. To quote John F. Kennedy in his 1956 book “Profiles in Courage,”: “We cannot permit the pressures of party responsibility to submerge on every issue the call of personal responsibility.” I, and many others in my community and beyond, believe that by allowing President Trump to nominate a new justice, we are potentially tarnishing the nonpartisan legacy of the high courts. Contradicting your statements made in 2016 and moving to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the inauguration would, frankly, be exemplary of everything that is wrong with the partisan politics of today.

Respecting Justice Ginsburg’s final wishes by not allowing a new justice to be nominated would show integrity, principle, and an admirable ethical code on your part. I believe that this nonpartisan effort would help you win more votes in your upcoming race for Senate reelection and beyond. In the wise words of former President Ronald Reagan, “There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” I hope that my words will at least inspire you to consider the implications of whatever you choose to do. Thank you for your consideration. Blake Ciresa

The faith we place in our elections By Lee H. Hamilton I’ve lost track of the times over the years I’ve heard a politician say, “This is the most important election of my lifetime.” In fact, I’ve said it myself. And I’m sure we all believed it at the time. But in my case, at least, I know I was wrong in the past. Because this year’s election is the most important of my lifetime. Elections are the crown jewel of a representative democracy. We do at least three things when we vote. First, and most obviously, we vote for our preferred candidates. Second, by doing so we vote to direct policy and to give the party we favor more control over the levers of power. Third, and possibly most important, by voting we place our stamp of approval on the system—we participate in it, reinforce it, and trust it to carry our voice. Then, whatever the result, we accept it. This is actually one of the remarkable things about the American political system—the degree to which Americans over the centuries have placed their faith in election results, win or lose. Occasionally there are charges of voter fraud, but overwhelmingly we accept

the results and express confidence in the fairness, transparency, and integrity of the election process. It’s been a vitally important part of our system that we’ve taken too much for granted. This allegiance to the idea that the process matters more than personal conviction has come even from politicians who had a right to object. The most obvious recent example is Al Gore in 2000, after votes left uncounted because of the Supreme Court cost him the election. Bitter supporters urged him not to accept the result and to challenge the legitimacy of the process. Instead, in his concession speech, Gore said, “Other disputes have dragged on for weeks before reaching resolution. And each time, both the victor and the vanquished have accepted the result peacefully and in the spirit of reconciliation…. [O]ur disappointment must be overcome by our love of country.” That was a bare 20 years ago and look how far we’ve strayed. This year, it’s fair to say, Americans’ trust in the election process is at best unsettled. Many are worried about foreign meddling. But that’s nothing compared to the undermin-

ing coming from the very top: A sitting president who refuses, so far at least, to say whether he will accept the results of the election, who floats the idea of postponing it, who questions the validity of the venerable absentee ballot, and who talks constantly about “corrupt” elections. In fact, Susan Glasser writes in The New Yorker, since 2012 Donald Trump has “questioned voting or suggested that an election would be rigged, unfair, or otherwise compromised” 712 times. This year alone he was closing in on 100 times when her article was published. No wonder a lot of Americans of both parties worry about the legitimacy of the results in November. Now, it’s not uncommon to hear charges of voter fraud, but study after study has found that actual voter fraud in the U.S. is rare. It’s possible in a city or town, but if you think about how our national elections are run—in 50 states, each with its own rules, and each locality controlling the electoral process—it’s hard to see how fraud could take place on any sizable scale. Which is not to say there aren’t problems. Chicanery from politicians bent on disenfranchising voters whose

politics they don’t like and decades of underfunding the actual machinery of elections give us plenty to be concerned about. But here’s the thing. We have over 200 years of success at transferring power peacefully, often between political leaders who disagreed vehemently with one another. That has been one of the keys to American success. I’m not alone in thinking of this year’s vote as the most important of my lifetime, and woe betide us if our confidence in the result— which will play a big part in our willingness to accept the result—is betrayed by politicians seeking to game the system or by elections officials who don’t live up to the trust Americans place in them to get it right. Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

New concept to lower prescription drug costs

Chester County Press Publisher - Randall S. Lieberman

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 Phone: 610-869-5553 FAX 610-869-9628 E-mail (editor): editor@chestercounty.com HOURS: Monday- Friday 8am - 4pm, no weekend hours

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State Sen. Tom Killion (R-Chester and Delaware) introduced legislation to substantially lower the cost of prescription medications for Pennsylvania residents, and his proposal is part of a new national effort on reducing drug prices state by state. Killion’s Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Act, introduced as Senate Bill 1315, would tie prescription drug prices in Pennsylvania to the much lower prices charged to Canadian consumers. This proposal is based on model legislation unveiled in August by the National Academy for State Health Policy, one of the country’s leading healthcare policy organizations. In introducing his bipartisan legislation, Killion noted the U.S. has the highest prescription drug prices

in the world and that nearly 20 percent of the country’s healthcare spending is directed toward prescription medications. “Pennsylvanians should never have to choose between their medication and paying their electric bill. They should never have to decide if they’ll refill a prescription or put food on their table,” said Killion. “Our drug prices are beyond excessive. My bill will change that.” Killion’s legislation would require the state to create a list of the 250 most costly prescription drugs every year. Pennsylvania’s Insurance Department would then establish a maximum rate paid by health insurance providers for each medication on the list based on Canadian pricing data.

“Pennsylvanians can’t import drugs from Canada, but we can import their prices,” Killion said of his proposal. The legislation would also require that premium reductions resulting from lower medication costs paid by insurers be passed along to consumers, and fines would be levied against insurers for violations. Trish Riley, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, provided an overview of their organization’s new model legislation incorporated in Killion’s bill. “This legislation sets up a simple, low cost mechanism to assure purchasers in the state achieve the same savings as Canada on costly drugs, purchased from the same pharmacies con-

sumers use today. Setting payment rates – not prices - is akin to how we pay for all other health services and is designed to assure any legal challenges can be overcome,” said Riley. “States can’t wait for long promised federal action. This law would bring immediate savings on the most costly drugs,” Riley added. Killion noted that his legislation comes on the heels of a 2019 law he supported that creates a state-based health insurance exchange expected to save Pennsylvanians $250 million annually. “We must continue working to make healthcare more accessible and affordable. My new prescription drug legislation will help us achieve this goal for our families,” Killion said.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Chester County Press

In the Spotlight

Section

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

After-The-Bell announces fall virtual programs After-The-Bell has unveiled an exciting and unique virtual program cycle that will include 16 live Zoom activities and more than 30 additional ondemand virtual activities for students and their families to participate in at their convenience. All activities will be available on the After-The-Bell website at https://www. afterthebell.org/. “As the Kennett Community and rest of the world continues to contend with the challenges caused by the pandemic, we are very pleased to offer area students an opportunity to join together with friends while engaging in robust and meaningful learning experiences,” said After-The-Bell Executive Director Dawn Doherty Kohl. “We understand the stress that many children and families are dealing with and that some students may feel isolated and rudderless at this time. Via our virtual program, and particularly our new live activities, we hope to instill a sense of normalcy and fun in their daily lives.” Now in its 22nd year, After-The-Bell has offered after-school activities covering such genres as science, nature, art, music, robotics, cooking, community service and sports to more than 6,000 middle school students in the Kennett area. When schools shut down this past spring, the leadership of After-The-Bell

moved quickly to create a virtual program that included a wide variety of videos and do-it-yourself activities for students to enjoy. When it became clear that schools would not be able to provide in-person classes this fall, After-The-Bell began work to enhance the virtual program by adding a series of live activities to be offered to students over Zoom. Live virtual activities will be offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from Sept. 22 through Oct. 29. These live Zoom activities include the following: Magic: The Gathering: Students will participate in this popular online card game in which wizards cast spells, summon creatures, and control magic objects to defeat their opponents.

Intro to 3-D Modeling and Manufacturing: Students will learn the basics of 3-D modeling using Tinker CAD. They will have the chance to design custom figurines and other 3-D models from their own imaginations and receive a printed version of their own 3-D masterpieces. Nearby Nature: Thanks to the Stroud Water Research Center, students will be able to explore and understand nature right in their own neighborhoods. They will learn how to find and identify frogs, toads, worms and other creatures living in nearby forests, streams, and fields. Program Your Own Digital World: Students learn coding techniques that will allow them to

create their own amazing digital worlds with such objects as race cars, robots and dancing animals. Dance, Dance, Dance: Students will learn modern dance steps from a Unionville High School senior and accomplished dancer. Brain Base: In partnership with The Garage Community & Youth Center, there will be one-on-one tutoring and academic assistance for students who may be struggling with virtual learning. Art Club with Kennett Design: Kennett Design will host a live class with an artist, teaching students the fine points of painting on canvas.

After-The-Bell’s unique virtual program will include 16 live Zoom activities and more than 30 additional on-demand virtual activities for students and their families to participate in at their convenience.

Live Zoom activities are available for all middle school students who reside in the Kennett Consolidated School District. To assist participating students, After-The-Bell staff and volunteers will be delivering necessary materials for these activities to the homes of the students.

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Youngsters can enjoy a variety of fun activities.

In addition to live activities, students will be able to log on to the After-TheBell website to engage in a wide variety of activities at their leisure. These on-demand virtual activities include Bill Nye the Science Guy, BalloonPowered Cars, Community Garden Craft, Explore the Science of Roller Coasters, Fun at the Kennett Library, Imagineering in a Box – Disney Style, Making Yummy Churros, and much more. The ondemand activities are available to any interested students, including students from other school districts. After-The-Bell has reached out to admin-

istrators from neighboring school districts to invite their families to participate. “During this unprecedented time, we are humbled and inspired by the outpouring of support we have received from our volunteers and community partners,” Doherty Kohl said. “Their efforts to facilitate activities and provide worthwhile experiences for adolescent students will make a real difference in the lives of these students as we all await the day—hopefully soon—when we can come back together to embrace our friends, our passions, and our love of learning in person.”

Local writer publishes new book Iris Gray Dowling, a Cochranville resident who has written everything from books about local history and nature to picture books and teaching articles, recently announced the publication of a new picture book titled, “Toads: Friends You Never Thought You Had.”

The book tells the story of the life cycle of toads from the eggs to the tadpoles to the adult toad. It explains how toads differ from frogs and explores how toads are a true friend of the gardener by getting rid of pests. The subject matter and pictures in the book are suitable for children who

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The cover of Dowling’s new book, “Toads: Friends You Never Thought You Had.”

are in kindergarten through elementary school. The illustrations were drawn by Dowling or photographed by the author or other family members and friends who live in the area. Dowling was born in Upper Oxford Township and went to a one-room school in the township. She

The subject matter and pictures in the book are suitable for children in kindergarten through elementary school.

graduated from Oxford High School and West Chester University, earning B.S. and M.Ed degrees. She taught school in Willistown and Sugartown and substituted in other elementary schools from West Chester to Stratford/ Valley Forge and Great Valley. She has also conducted homeschool evaluations for Pennsylvania Accreditation Agency for 30 years. Dowling has also worked on the Historical Commission of Upper Oxford Township and the Oxford Area Historical Association. She wrote a book for the Oxford Area Historical Association titled, “History of Churches in the Oxford Area.” For many years, she worked with West Chester area churches on special children’s programs, plays, and Vacation Bible School programs. She wrote several books about nature stories, object lessons,

Iris Gray Dowling is a local writer who has published books about local history, picture books, nature books, teaching articles, fictional stories, devotions, puppet skits, object lessons, short dramas, poems, program materials, and puzzles during her career.

children’s poems, programs, and puppet skits. Three of her stories were chosen to be translated into six different languages and sent to foreign countries. In 2020, Dowling also

published a book, “Praying MantisDisappearing Friend.” More information about the author and her books can be found at www.irisgraydowling.com.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Chester County Press

Obituaries LUIS FERNANDO FONSECA Luis Fernando Fonseca, 35, of Aberdeen, Md., passed away on Sept. 12. He is survived by his mother Lanea Fonseca and his father Concepcion Fonseca. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his siblings, Chon Fonseca (Jessica), Ana Fonseca and Julio Fonseca. He also left behind his ex-wife Nicole and their two children, Nicholas and Annabelle; girlfriend Danielle Hamburg and daughter Hadley. He is survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family and friends. Born in Coatesville, Pa., Luis was a graduate of Avon Grove High School in the class of 2003. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a reservist and was deployed in Iraq. Following his time in the service, Luis continued his education earning multiple technical IT certificates and progressive positions, lastly as lead engineer with Software Engineering Center, Communications - Electronics Command. In his free time, Luis was an avid bicyclist and he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and boating on the Bohemia River. He was a loving and devoted father to his three children. He was an active participant in the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation. Friends and family will be received on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. until noon at the New London Baptist Church, 226 Pennock Bridge Road, West Grove, PA 19390, where a services will begin at noon. Burial of his cremated remains will be private at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Luis’ family requests donations to the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation by going to www. BraveEli.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove. Please visit the online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

DANA FRANKLIN HALL Dana (Danny) Franklin Hall, a resident of Sarasota, Fla., passed away on Sept. 13 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He was 68. Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Greer Max and Gretchen Priscilla Hall. Dana is survived by his daughter, Alicia Brooks of Wilmington, Del.; his four granddaughters, Traneigh Triplett, Taelynn Brooks, Teyanna Brooks, and Tashauna Brooks; his three sisters, Judy Osborne of Dacula, GA, Sandy Brabson of Port Deposit, Md., and Jennifer Thomas of Davenport, Fla. He is also survived by two brothers, Steve Hall and Mike Hall, both from Rising Sun, Md. as well as many nieces and nephews. Dana grew up in Nottingham and graduated from Oxford Area High School in Oxford as part of the Class of 1971. A memorial service will be led by Pastor Charles Finney on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 35 Sylmar Road, Rising Sun, Md. 21911. The family is requesting that everyone please observe social distancing and, if possible, wear a mask during the services.

MARIO BASCIANI Mario “Chuff” Basciani, 91 of Avondale, passed away peacefully at his home while surrounded by his loving family on Sept. 13. Born on January 20, 1929 in Toughkenamon, he was the son of the late Emedio and Anna Basciani. Mario’s father began farming mushrooms in 1925, which is how he found his passion. Mario was a 1947 graduate of Kennett High School where he found the love of his life, Anna Masciantonio, with whom he shared over 70 years of marriage. He was the founding owner of Basciani Mushroom Farms. In his free time, he loved playing cards, but Mario’s life revolved around his family and his business. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Mario “Monnie” Basciani (and wife Kathleen), Joanne Regester (and husband George), Richard Basciani (and girlfriend Kim), Susanne Guizzetti (and husband Victor), and Michael Basciani (and wife Carla). He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 39 (soon to be 40) great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mario was preceded in death by his siblings Rose DiFabio, Flavian Basciani, Dora Basciani, and Emedio Basciani Jr. Services were held on Sept. 19 at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Catholic Church in Avondale. The Mass of Christian Burial and interment were private. Please visit Mario Basciani’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Alleluia When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17 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.

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P.O. Box 270 Oxford, PA 19363 Meets First and Third Thursday at 6:30p.m. Nottingham Inn, Nottingham, PA

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Continued on Page 4B

PAULETTE VIOLET TWYMAN Paulette Violet Twyman, a lifetime resident of Oxford, passed away on Sept. 13 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del. She was 71. Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Hubert and Pauline Wilson Twyman. She was a member of Apostolic Church in Oxford. Paulette enjoyed reading, walking, writing songs, singing, reading the Bible and knitting. She is survived by three children, Christal Nowlin of Coatesville, Valerie Abernaphy of Philadelphia and Tyrone Nowlin of Oxford; two brothers, Kenneth Twyman of New Jersey and Glenn Twyman of Little Britain; three sisters, Marguerite Warren of West Grove, Cynthia Ralph of Oxford and Jeannette Twyman of West Chester; and three grandchildren, Michael Miller of Coatesville, Tierra White of Philadelphia, and D’esha Abernaphy of Philadelphia; and two great grandchildren, Logan Miller and Maddison Miller. Funeral services were held on Sept. 18 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home in Oxford. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

RICHARD D. PREWITT, SR. Richard D. Prewitt, Sr., 81, a resident of Oxford, passed away on April 16 at home. He was the widower to Annabelle (Jones) Prewitt, with whom he shared 58 years of marriage before her passing in 2019. Born and raised in Oxford, he was the son of the late Ivory D. and Arvilla Lutman Prewitt. Dick was the former president of Prewitt’s Garage, Inc., where he worked with his brother Bob for decades, serving the Oxford community. He devoted all of those years to provide customers with high-quality automotive service and outstanding client satisfaction. He was an honorary member of the Union Fire Company No. 1 of Oxford. In his spare time, Dick enjoyed hunting, cutting and splitting wood, lawn equipment repair, building large operational airplane models and spending time with his best friend and love, Ann, at their retreat in Breezewood, Pa. He is survived by his son, Richard D. Prewitt, Jr. (and his wife Beth) of Centre Hall, Pa.; two grandchildren, Kimberly Ann Prewitt (and her fiancé Matthew Mosses) of New Cumberland, Pa. and Brian R Prewitt of Boston, MA; two brothers, Robert Prewitt (and his wife Flossi) of Oxford and Rodney Prewitt (and his wife Deb) of Kirkwood, Pa.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Norma Bartram, and a brother, Ronald Prewitt. A memorial service will be held 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Prewitt’s Garage on Route 10 (458 Limestone Road) in Oxford, where friends and family may visit from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Please be sure to wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church, 408 Bayard Rd., Kennett Square, PA 19348, Union Fire Company No. 1, 315 Market St., Oxford, PA 19363 or Penn Medicine Hospice, 400 E. Marshall St., West Chester, PA 19380. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Chester County Press

Calendar of Events Sept. 23 and Sept. 30 Virtual gallery talk with Victoria Wyeth Victoria Browning Wyeth presents a virtual gallery talk to share her uniquely personal perspectives on her grandparents, artist Andrew Wyeth and Betsy James Wyeth through a discussion of Wyeth’s paintings. This virtual gallery

talk will focus on paintings in the Andrew Wyeth Gallery, including portraits of Betsy—his life partner, business manager and muse—which are on view through Jan. 10, 2021 at the Brandywine River Museum of Art in honor of Betsy’s recent passing. The program will be held online via Zoom and participants may submit questions

in advance during the registration process. Registrants will receive a link to the the live Zoom discussion room in their confirmation email. The room will open 10 minutes prior to the start of the event. Tickets are $25 for nonmembers and $20 for Brandywine members and Farnsworth Art Museum members. Limited tickets

are available. This event typically sells out quickly. Proceeds from this program support the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art.

the Brandywine during the 5th annual Bike the Brandywine. The event offers four loops that allow participants to take in the beautiful Brandywine Creek Greenway and surSept. 26 rounding countryside. 5th annual Bike The There are four routes with Brandywine distances of 25, 45, 62, Explore the scen- and 80 miles, respectively. ery, glimpse the history, The routes are a unique and discover the lure of and thrilling experience for

both the recreational and more avid seasoned cyclist. The Brandywine Conservancy has dedicated itself to help preserve water quality and quantity in the region for over fifty years. Connect your wheels with water on this scenic and well-supported ride. Proceeds from the ride benefit the Conservancy’s clean water programs.

Obituaries Continued from Page 2B

MARIAN P. BUSH Marian P. Beatrice Bush, a resident of Oxford, passed away at home on Sept. 14. She was 95. She was the wife of the late Charles W. Bush, with whom she shared 65 years of marriage. Born in West Grove, she was the daughter of the late Robert Jamison and Alta Fiester Pierce. Marian was employed for 25 years with Hewlett-Packard in Avondale. She was a member of the Nottingham Presbyterian Church. Marian enjoyed reading, sewing, crocheting, gardening and word-find puzzles. Her greatest joy was her family She is survived by two daughters, Marguerite E. Keene (wife of Bill) of North East, Md. and Virginia Woollens (wife of the late Carl Woollens) of Oxford; one son, Charles R. Bush (and wife Patricia) of Oxford; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 20 greatgreat-grandchildren; one great-great-great-grandchild; one brother, Robert Pierce of Avondale; and one sister, Catherine Duncan of Landenberg. She was preceded in death by one son, John W. Bush. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Nottingham Presbyterian Church, 497 W. Christine Road, Nottingham, PA 19362. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc.of Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

LAURA R. MCKINNEY

LINDA SUE JOHNSON

Laura R. McKinney, a resident of Oxford, passed away on Sept. 15 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford. She was 97. She was the wife of the late Henry McKinney and her first husband, Roy Poe. Born in Mercersburg, Pa., she was the daughter of the late James and Blanche Stahl Shives. Before marriage, Laura worked in a shirt factory making shirts for the U.S. Army and later was employed as a secretary for Lositos Mushrooms for 14 years. Laura attended the Oxford Church of the Nazarene and was a former member of the Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene where she was a member of the Ladies Ministry. She was also a member of the West Grove Senior Center and Oxford Senior Center where she served on their Participants’ Council for five years. She loved to crochet and bake. She made all her children and grandchildren their wedding cakes. She is survived by two sons, Donald Poe and Roger Poe, both of Oxford, as well as three grandchildren, five greatgrandchildren; and a great-great granddaughter. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Oxford Church of the Nazarene, 116 E. Locust St., Oxford, PA 19363, where friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be at St. John’s United Methodist Church Cemetery in Elkton, Md. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oxford Area Senior Center, 12 E. Locust 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.

Linda Sue Johnson, a resident of Oxford, passed away on Sept. 16 at home. She was 73. She was the wife of Donald McCarther Johnson, with whom she shared 56 years of marriage. She was born to Ruby Blanche Mullis and Preston Lambert on Nov. 24, 1947 in West Jefferson, S.C. Linda will always be remembered for her compassionate and caring nature as she opened her heart and the doors of her home to friends and family alike. Linda was a loyal animal lover and often welcomed pets in her home throughout the years, especially her beloved dogs. She is survived by her husband and four children, Donald, Wayne, Linda and Mark. She was also loved and adored by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held on Sept. 21 at Union Cemetery in Kirkwood. 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.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Mushroom Industry Legend Passes at 91

Mario D. Basciani Sunday, September 13, 2020, one of the hardest working men in the history of American mushroom farming passed away surrounded by his loving family. This industry pioneer’s legendary work ethic, tenacity, and passion for mushrooms made him a role model to farmers throughout the country. Mario D. Basciani, affectionately known as “Chuff,” was a second-generation mushroom farmer, founder of Basciani Foods Inc., and patriarch of the Basciani Family. He is survived by his wife of over seventy years, Anna, his five children, eighteen grandchildren, and forty great-grandchildren. Mario was born January 20, 1929 in Toughkenamon, PA, to Italian immigrants Emedio and Anna Basciani. His father Emedio started harvesting mushrooms for the Pratt family in 1915, until he established his own farm in 1925. Mario began working on the family farm at a young age and fell in love with all aspects of the business, especially the challenging physical work that comes with cultivating mushrooms. He played football in the Tuffy’s Football League, and was quickly revered for his strength and toughness, a reputation he held throughout his life. He graduated from Kennett High School in 1947. Immediately after, Mario, his older brother, Flavian, and younger brother, Emedio Jr., entered the business full-time. On May 13, 1950, Mario married the love of his life, Anna Masciantonio. Long-time family friends, the two could trace their roots back to the same province of Abruzzo in Central Italy. They drove to California for their honeymoon; and within one year, they welcomed their first child. Over the next decade, Mario and Anna welcomed four more children into their family. In 1963, the two built a ranch house overlooking the main farm where they raised their five children, Mario (“Monnie”), Joanne, Richard, Susanne, and Michael. In 1967, Mario was involved in an auto accident which put him in a coma; it was a miracle that he survived. It is believed that Anna’s love and persistent prayers brought him out of the coma. In 1969, Mario founded a company of his own. The opportunity to build a business with his young, talented, and determined sons was too great to pass up. In 1970, Mario became a partner in The Mushroom Company, which is now the largest mushroom-processing company in North America. During the 1970s, Mario, Monnie, Richard and Michael continued to grow M.D. Basciani & Sons Inc. alongside Mario’s new son-in-law George. In addition to his personal success, he also sought to help other aspiring young farmers establish their own operations. He saw the potential in his nephews and helped steer them to success. This is where Mario became known for his generous heart and helping hand. By 1979, Mario and other neighboring farmers created Laurel Valley Farms to solidify a source for consistent, high-quality compost and raw materials. Today, Laurel Valley Farms is the largest commercial mushroom-composting facility in North America. In the 1980s, Mario’s boys expressed their desire to take the family business to another level. They wanted to go beyond growing; their goal was to begin packaging, selling, and distributing fresh products. Mario’s youngest son Michael travelled the country, found the customers, and oversaw the packing facility, while Monnie and Richard mastered the art of mushroom growing and continued to expand the farm. Around the same time, Mario was involved in a farm accident where he was struck by a dump-truck. Against all odds, Mario’s strength endured, and he made a full recovery. As the 1990s came around, Mario became more comfortable turning over the reins when his grandchildren showed interest in the business, and his daughter Joanne teamed up with Michael in the office. With the future of his family’s enterprise secure, Mario took a step back. In 1994, Basciani Foods Inc. was formed, and a state-of-the-art packing facility was constructed. During this time, Mario’s role was purely consulting; however, he was instrumental in the launch of Basciani Foods’s first satellite locations in Chicago, IL and Minneapolis, MN. The highlight of Mario’s career was when he merged his father-in-law’s farm and his father’s original farm, where he first learned how to grow mushrooms. A goal he set in his youth, purchasing and uniting those farms with those built by him and his sons was his most rewarding achievement. Towards the end of the century, Mario learned to enjoy the fruits of his labor. He often travelled to Atlantic City, NJ with Anna, and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the remaining twenty years of his life, Mario’s sons and grandsons enlarged the packing facility several times, even making it multi-level. They have never stopped expanding the production operations or advancing the agricultural process. He assisted in building two more satellite facilities, one in Orlando, FL and one in Independence, LA. He instilled in his boys the importance of adapting to change and capitalizing on new technologies and innovations. He successfully ingrained his firm beliefs in the following generations: “keep pushing, build more, grow more, do not stop!” Until his death, his sons and grandsons updated him every day with progress reports and news on all fronts. He was involved to the end. His most warming comfort before his passing was to witness several of his great-grandsons take positions in the family companies, making the Basciani Farming Family one of very few fifth-generation farms in America. Today, The Basciani Group of Companies is one of North America’s largest vertically integrated mushroom conglomerates, all because of one powerful and optimistic man whose legacy will motivate his descendants for generations to come. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Written by: Joseph F. Basciani CFO of The Basciani Companies and proud grandson of Mario D. Basciani

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Chester County Press

Local News Plantation Field Equestrian Events loses property lease, may come to an end Plantation Field Equestrian Events (PFEE) announced this week that the lease for the property on which the Plantation Field International Three-Day Event is held has now been cancelled. This is directly due to the attack on the name “Plantation” by Eventing Nation, an equestrian online news journal. Eventing Nation and their editors approached the equestrian media and the United States Eventing Association in June of 2020 to state that they felt the name “Plantation” was insensitive to people of color.

Denis Glaccum, the president of Plantation Field Equestrian Events, Inc., issued a statement that said, in part: “The editors of Eventing Nation have aggressively led the campaign against the name Plantation Field. Consequently the USEA and USEF have since notified Plantation Field Equestrian Events, that they would not use the word “Plantation” in any media or articles. Plantation Field Equestrian Events, Inc. is the legal name of the corporation and we will not accept censoring of

our First Amendment rights. “I want it clearly stated that as a member of the USEA since 1960 and as a longtime resident of Unionville, I find it incredibly sad that the staff at a publication who do not understand the history of the area are directly causing the end of one of the best and most consistent events in the country.” The statement continued, “On a personal level, PFEE and the Unionville community have long supported Work to Ride, an organization in Philadelphia created with dedication by Lezlie

Hiner, that gives disadvantaged, often minority, youth an opportunity to ride. This program has had impressive results with Kareem Rosser, who is an outstanding polo player, and who has taken lessons from PFEE Board member and Olympians Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton.” Glaccum explained the history of the property. In the 1930s, Plunket Stewart, who had purchased land in the early twentieth century, allowed the Boy Scouts to use a section of the property to plant hedges and trees. The

dictionary defines the word “Plantation” as “an area in which trees have been planted.” Colonial Pennsylvania considered properties less than 100 acres a farm and properties with more than 100 acres a plantation. There is no reference to race in this definition. The Unionville area is historically a Quaker community. The Quakers were one of the earliest abolitionist groups and fought against slavery. This area was also part of the underground railroad. Glaccum concluded

the statement by saying, “Having spent sixty years supporting the sport of Eventing in every capacity, I am extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the National level in dealing with this situation. This event welcomes riders from Elementary to the 4* level at multiple competitions at the local, National and International level each year. It is also local to numerous professional riders including several Olympians. The loss of Plantation Field will be a huge loss to the entire equestrian community.”

CONTAINING 24,090 square feet of land more or less.

PLAINTIFF: Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as Trustee for Mortgage Assets Management Series I Trust VS DEFENDANT: Dawn G. Scanlon, Executrix of the Estate of Mary G. Baylis a/k/a Mary Baylis, deceased

Legals 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, October 15th, 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, November 16th, 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. 20-10-344 Writ of Execution No. 2019-06079 DEBT $216,728.83 ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground situate in the township of London Grove, County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania being bounded

and described in accordance with a Plan of Section II Wickerton Farms, made by Manley N. White, Surveyor on 3/10/1967, corrected 4/3/1967 and recorded 7/5/1967 in Plan Book 26 page 28 as follows, to wit: BEGINNING at a point the intersection of the title line in the bed of State Road with the Northwesterly side line of Buttonwood Drive (50 feet wide) if extended; thence extending from said point of beginning along said Buttonwood Olive (50 feet wide) South 05 degrees East 200 feet to a point, a corner of other lands of grantors; thence extending along same South 78 degrees 53 minutes 40 seconds West 121.14 feet to a point, a corner of Lot #29 on Plan; thence extending along said Lot #29 North 05 degrees East crossing the Southerly side of State Road, 200 feet to a point on the title line in the bed of said State Road; thence extending along the said title line in the bed of said State Road, North 78 degrees 53 minutes 40 seconds East 121.14 feet to the first mentioned point and place beginning.

BEING Lot #30 on said Plan. FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY: Being known as 399 State Road, West Grove, PA 19390 UPI# 59-8-133.31; PIN 5980133100 BEING THE SAME PREMISES which Alfred W. Roy and Doris M. Roy, his wife, by Deed dated July 9, 1968 and recorded July 9, 1968 in Book G38 Page 302, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for the County of Chester, granted and conveyed unto Robert Thomas Baylis, and Mary G. Baylis, his wife, in fee. And the said Robert Thomas Baylis departed this life on May 14, 2006 thereby vesting title in Mary G. Baylis by operation of law. AND THE SAID Mary G. Baylis departed this life on or about December 30, 2018 thereby vesting title unto Dawn G. Scanlon, Executrix of the Estate of Mary G. Baylis a/k/a Mary Baylis.

SALE ADDRESS: 399 State Road, West Grove, PA 19390 PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: SHAPIRO & DeNARDO, LLC 610-278-6800 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. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 9p-23-3t

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News Third annual Poe Fest International takes place online on Oct. 3 and 4 Poe Baltimore will host the third annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival and Awards online on Oct. 3 and 4. Virtual tours, workshops and watch parties will be a part of the event, which is free and will be live-streamed on poefestinternational.org, Facebook @PoeBaltimore and on YouTube. The two-day online event will feature Edgar Allan Poe-themed performances, vendors, readings, music, and art workshops. Programs will be presented by The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum, The Poe Museum (Richmond, VA), The Poe Studies Association, The Enoch Pratt Library, The National Cryptologic Museum, The United States Military Academy at West Point, The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore, National

Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Theatre, and others. A complete schedule of festival events and ticket information will be regularly updated at https:// poefestinternational.com/ festival-program. The online International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A special event, the Edgar Allan Poe Film & Fashion Exhibit, will be a one-hour webinar that will take place at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. There is a $12 charge, plus fees, to participate in this event. Get a sneak peek at upcoming Poe-inspired movie adaptations, view historical exhibits of 1800s fashion, and discuss the mysterious circumstances of Poe’s 1849 death in Baltimore and how the very clothes

in which he was found are a clue to the mystery of his final days. Another special event is the Edgar Allan Poe House Live Virtual Tour, which will take place at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. There is a $12 charge, plus fees, to participate in this event as well. Tour inside Baltimore’s historic Poe House and enjoy readings by a special un-dead mystery guest. A live guide will share the history of Poe’s life in Baltimore, explore the poet’s 1849 mysterious death in the city, and discuss poems and short stories Poe wrote while residing at Poe House. Another featured program is the Virtual Death Weekend Poe Places Tour, which lasts approximately 90 minutes. These tours take place at noon, 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. each day.

There is a $20 charge, plus fees, to participate in this event. Explore the enduring mystery surrounding Poe’s tragic death, and view four important Poe places around Baltimore and scenes from a special re-enactment of Poe’s first funeral. On Oct. 3, Poe Baltimore will present The Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards, an honor recognizing Poe’s continuing legacy in the arts and literature around the world. Film director Eric Stange, director and producer of PBS’ American Masters documentary, “Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive,” will keynote the event. The prizes honor art, performance and writing that adapts or is inspired by Poe’s life and works. Proceeds from The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival and Awards

will benefit The Edgar Allan While the festival is free, Poe House & Museum and donations are encouraged: Poe Baltimore, a non-profit http://www.poeinbaltimore. organization. org/support.

Lambert, Gilbert, and Young announced as headliners for country music festival Citadel Country Spirit USA, Philadelphia’s country music festival, recently announced that Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, and Chris Young will be the headliners for the threeday country music festival when the event returns in August of 2021. The 2020 festival was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus. Gilbert will headline on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. Justin Moore, Rodney Atkins, RaeLynn and Niko Moon will perform that evening. Lambert headlines on Saturday, Aug. 28 when Brett Young, Carly Pearce, Jon Langston and

Muscadine Bloodline also perform. Young will be the headliner on Sunday, Aug. 29 when Josh Turner, Scotty McCreery and Lindsay Ell will also perform. Hosted by Chester County’s Brandywine Valley, the festival will be held at Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Grounds, located in the countryside of Philadelphia, just minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Downingtown and West Chester exit. Heralded as a “great American festival experience,” Citadel Country Spirit USA features 20 country music acts per-

forming live music on two stages – 14 nationally recognized artists on the GMC Sierra Stage and popular up-and-comers on the Citadel Rising Star Stage. Citadel Credit Union, a member-owned, notfor-profit financial institution serving the Greater Philadelphia area, will be the festival’s title sponsor for the third consecutive year. For over 80 years, Citadel has provided financial strength to families, businesses, and communities. Previously purchased three-day passes, singleday tickets and parking upgrades will be honored for the 2021 dates.

Courtesy photo

Chris Young, Miranda Lambert, and Brantley Gilbert will headline the three-day country music festival in August of 2021.

Tickets for the 2021 festival, starting from $89 plus fees, are on sale now. Purchase reserved, pit and general admission three-day

passes and single-day online at www.countryspiritusa. com. To charge by phone, call 1-800-514-3849. Again in 2021, a portion of all

ticket sales will be donated to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Hagley’s annual craft fair heads outdoors Since 1978, the Hagley Craft Fair has showcased regional artists. Although many fall events were cancelled due to Covid19 restrictions, the Hagley Craft Fair will go on this year in a new format on Saturday, Oct. 17 (rain date Oct. 18). This event has received State of Delaware approval based on their Covid-19 guidelines for events. The one-day, open-air market will be spread through the beautiful woodlands of Hagley’s upper property surrounding the Hagley Library and Soda House. The exclusively outdoor format provides ample space for social distancing and enjoying the spectrum of fall colors.

Visitors may browse the work of nearly 50 returning and new artists specializing in jewelry, textiles, wood, and pottery, in addition to a Specialty Food Market. Brady and Hope Shuert of Claymont, Del., will bring their small-batch, soft caramels in warm fall flavors, such as chai spice and apple, to the Specialty Food Market. “One day my husband, Brady, took some of my salted caramel cupcakes to share with his co-workers,” Hope recalled. “Although they were topped with a

delectable caramel-vanilla buttercream frosting, it was the caramel core of the vanilla cupcake that caught the attention of one of his co-workers. ‘Could she make the caramel cupcake without the cupcake?’ And so, Hope’s Caramels was born!” Dolores Fawkes of Allentown, Pa., will make her Delaware debut at the craft fair. “My jewelry is made of sterling silver and 18 karat gold bi-metal,” she said. “All pieces are hand-constructed using traditional silversmithing techniques.”

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She oxidizes the pieces to create color and sets them with semi-precious stones and freshwater pearls. Eric Zippe of Wilmington, Del. will be selling photography transferred to wood, fine art prints, and laser engraved wood with eclectic subject matter, ranging from classic cars to trees. This is his debut at the Hagley Craft Fair. Visitors can experience

the Hagley Craft Fair’s distinctive offerings from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct.17. Admission is $5 and free for Hagley members and children under six. Advance ticket reservation is required and guests age 12 and older are required to wear a face mask at all times, except for when eating or drinking. Vendors will have hand sanitizer available, and hand

washing stations will be located throughout the event grounds. Visitors to the Craft Fair should use Hagley’s Buck Road entrance off Route 100 using the GPS address 298 Buck Road, Wilmington, DE 19807. Information and updates on the Hagley Craft Fair can be found at [www. hagley.org/craft.]www. hagley.org/craft.

Classifieds

ROBERTS SERVICE AND TOWING We are looking for a TOW TRUCK DRIVER/ MECHANIC who is at least 25 years old and has a current DOT medical card. We are looking for someone who has good communication skills and a professional appearance who is skilled at customer service. The applicant must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test as well as random drug tests and should live within 15 minutes of the Chadds Ford area. This position can be either full or part time and entails being scheduled on-call during week nights and weekends. It also involves light mechanical work. We are a family run business and offer a friendly work atmosphere. Compensation will be based on experience and ability. CONTACT US at 610-388-6355 or by email at info@robertsserviceandtowing.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans are encouraged to apply

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

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