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Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 151, No. 44
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
60 Cents
Eight candidates compete for four Kennett Square Borough Council seats By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer At a meet-the-candidates forum at Victory Brewing in Kennett Square on Oct. 25, there were nine men and women there to share their vision for the borough—but only eight are now seeking support from voters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7. Matthew McGill, who earned a Republican nomination for a seat on council in the Primary Election, explained that he had decided not to campaign this time. He graciously encouraged borough residents to support the “United for KSQ” team of Republicans Dan Maffei, Gregory Deveney, and Lori Caldwell and Democrat Peter Waterkotte. That leaves the “United for KSQ” group of four candidates to compete with the team of four Democrats— incumbents Ethan Cramer and LaToya Myers and newcomers Brenda Mercomes
Brenda Mercomes
LaToya Myers
Lori Caldwell
Dan Maffei
Greg Deverey
Peter Waterkotte
Steve Ciprani
Ethan Cramer
and Steve Ciprani for the four seats that are up for grabs in the election next week. During the 90-minute forum, the candidates shared details about their
backgrounds and briefly explained their visions for Kennett Square to the residents in attendance. There was also a short questionand-answer session. If one theme emerged during the
event, it was that Kennett Square is on a very good path, and the goal of the next council should be to continue that course. As Maffei succinctly explained, “Kennett Square is the envy
of every other small town in Pennsylvania.” Myers talked about how she grew up in Kennett Square and she wasn’t allowed to walk alone to Continued on Page 4A
Looking for common End of an era at ground in the effort to Eldreth Pottery prevent gun violence Gun Sense Chester County recently held a forum in Oxford that focused on existing gun regulations and the exploration for common ground
Oxford makes playoffs for first time in 24 years...3B
A voter guide to top races...6A
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer Every year, more than 33,000 Americans are killed as a result of gun violence— and tens of thousands more people are injured. Gun Sense Chester County held a forum about preventing gun violence at the Oxford Presbyterian Church in Oxford on Oct. 24, focusing on existing gun regulations and the explo-
ration for common ground between gun rights advocates and people who want stricter gun regulations. The presentation began with a talk by Starr Cummin Bright, a gun violence victim. She explained to the audience how she was shot in a church in Chester County 26 years ago, and has suffered from a lot of nerve damage and pain ever since. The experience convinced her that tougher gun laws are
needed to protect the innocent from gun violence. “I don’t want anyone to go through what I have for the last 26 years,” she said. She is a member of the Gun Sense Chester County board because she wants to do anything she can to prevent others from becoming an innocent victim of gun violence. Bright drew a distinction between law-abiding Continued on Page 3A
Iacocca and Donze running for District Judge By John Chambless Staff Writer
Two candidates are vying to be District Judge in Kennett Square. Magisterial District Court London Grove Public 15-3-04 serves the residents Works facility opens...4B of the Borough of Kennett Square, and Birmingham, East Marlborough, Kennett, Newlin, Pennsbury and Al Iacocca Pocopson townships. It hears civil, criminal, traffic, volunteer, and it would be an honor to be given the Opinion.......................6A and juvenile matters. chance to make a greater Calendar of Events......2B Democrat Al Iacocca said, contribution by serving as Obituaries...................6B “Serving as this commu- its next Magisterial District Classifieds................12B nity’s next District Judge is Judge.” Iacocca lives in East a natural progression of my commitment to the success Marlborough Township © 2007 The Chester County Press of this community, and I with his wife, Mary, and would embrace the oppor- three children. He curtunity to further develop my rently runs a law practice role in the community. I in Willowdale, which he have enjoyed being a part plans to close if elected. of this community for many He’s a Pennsylvania native years as a civic leader and who spent his childhood
INDEX
Photo by John Chambless
Dave Eldreth founded the Oxford-based Eldreth Pottery 41 years ago, but he’s stepping down at the end of the year to pursue a new artistic direction. The longtime company will continue under a new name. See story on Page 1B.
London, Maisano square off for County Treasurer seat By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
in Allentown and his teen years in Lansdale, but has also lived in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Delaware and Germany. He graduated magna cum laude from the North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2001. He is admitted to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Bar, as well as the Federal District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania Bar,
If there is a proverbial elephant in the room in the race for Chester County Treasurer, it is not so much seen in its candidates, but in county history, and it’s a fact that Republican Jack London and Democrat Dr. Patricia Maisano know very well. The fact is this: Since Chester County began in 1799, the job of County Treasurer has belonged to a Republican. The wind of the Republican Party in Chester County may be on London’s back, but he is being challenged by a candidate who wants to increase the transparency of the County
Continued on Page 3A
Continued on Page 2A
Jane Donze
Dr. Patricia Maisano
Jack London