Chester County Press 11-30-2022 Edition

Regional police investigating accidental death in New Garden

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

The Southern Chester County Regional Police Department (SCCRPD) is currently investigating an accidental death that occurred outside of a home near the intersection of Kaolin Road (Route 7) and Gap Newport Pike (Route 41) in New Garden Township

on Wednesday, Nov. 23.

The investigation began moments after a resident of Ewart Road contacted 9-1-1 to report that a fire had begun in a wooded area behind her home. At 3:41 p.m., members of the SCCRPD were dispatched to a residence located in the 9100 block of Gap Newport Pike.

Upon arrival, patrol officers observed a landscape

fire that had burned out of control and was spreading to the tree line to the rear of the residence, and discovered a deceased male lying on the ground near the tree line.

The Avondale Fire Department arrived to extinguish the fire which appeared to have been ignited as a controlled burn by the resident that spread to areas in the rear

Oxford Borough Council member resigns

By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer

A vacancy will soon open on Oxford Borough Council with council member Mary Laura Buchner-Hulse notifying council of her resignation. Council will move forward on the resignation at the next council meeting scheduled for Dec. 5.

Oxford Borough’s solicitor Stacey Fuller announced that there has been a breakthrough in the discussions regarding Frost Development, the agerestricted community planned for the Moran Farm. A hearing on the conditional use, related to this development, will be held and the actual plan will be coming in front of council with a recommendation from the Planning Commission.

The Frost Development has been on the books for many years, but according

to Fuller, “it is now moving forward.”

Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen told council that two Requests for Proposals (RFP), one for the active transportation plan and one to develop a five-year strategic plan for finances, have been received and the process for both will start in January. An RFP for an auditor will also be going out for a new firm.

Garcia-Allen emphasized that Kent Morey from SSM is working on a draft for the MS4 Plan. That process will be moving forward in the next year.

She also confirmed that the Streetscapes 4 grant is wrapping up and the final pay application will be coming before council in December.

Oxford Area Historical Association representatives Leda Widdoes, Flossie Prewitt and Linda Hersh

of the residence.

Further investigation revealed the 72-year-old victim was attempting to put the fire out with a rake and buckets of water when he fell to the ground. Detectives were called to the scene to assist with the investigation and interviewed two neighbors who were on scene when the police arrived. According to the neighbors, they

observed the heavy smoke and fire at the rear of the residence and heard a man yelling for help. Both neighbors walked to the residence and attempted to put the fire out until police arrived, but did not notice the resident lying on the ground while doing so.

This department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death and the fire.

SCCRPD is being assisted by the Chester County Coroner’s Office and the township’s fire marshall. If anyone possesses information about the incident, please contact Detective Rich Townsend at 610-2682907, ext. 108 or by email at rtownsend@sccrpd.org., or Lt. Joseph Greenwalt at 610-268-2907, ext. 103 or by email at jgreenwalt@ sccrpd.org.

FROM OUR LENS

In the court of basketball

Roe to enter race for Chester County Commissioner

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Eric Roe, who served one term as a State Representative for Pennsylvania’s 158th Legislative District from 2017 to 2018, announced his candidacy for the threeperson Chester County Commissioners, in a release posted last week.

In a race that will be determined next November,

Roe begins his campaign for commissioner on the heels of a political career that saw the Republican elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November 2016 after defeating Democrat and current Avondale mayor Susan Rzucidlo with 53.2 percent of the vote.

During his tenure in Harrisburg, Roe, 35, voted for $60 million in grants to

make Pennsylvania schools safer; co-sponsored antiviolence legislation that toughened firearms laws; voted to give more than $11 billion to public schools in the state; helped reform the state’s employee pension system; and appeared at more than one dozen town halls whose topics included property/school taxes, school violence and the elimination of gerrymandering in

Pennsylvania. Together with Democrat Steve Samuelson, Roe sponsored House Bill 722 to establish an independent citizens commission to redistrict Congressional as well as State House and Senate districts.

In November 2018, Roe lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Christina Sappey by eight percentage points, and in a rematch with

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Thousands enjoy Kennett’s Holiday Light Parade

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer

So eager were local holiday celebrants to attend the Kennett Square Holiday Light Parade on Friday that they set up unbroken lines of their lawn chairs along the sidewalk a full hour before starting time. Many even crowded to watch the goings-on beyond the formal parade route onto South Broad Street down to the staging area.

By the time the dancers from Longwood Performing Arts took to the street and kicked off the evening festivities at 6:15 p.m., the throng of

spectators had grown so large they were five-deep on State Street. Not since the Mushroom Festival has the borough seen crowds of this size.

For at least 10 years, Kennett Square has welcomed the arrival of Santa Claus and the start of the Christmas season with a parade or some other special event, but this year it was particularly popular.

The mood was festive uptown from one end of State Street to the other. Rain that had fallen early in the day yielded to moderated temperatures and partly cloudy skies for

Courtesy photo Former State Rep. Eric Roe has announced his candidacy for the Chester County Commissioners.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Mikayla Kelly of the Kennett Girls Varsity basketball team drives the lane during a Nov. 29 scrimmage against visiting Collegium Charter. The Chester County Press will provide coverage of selected men’s and women’s CHES-MONT League basketball games throughout the upcoming season.

Photo by Chris Barber

The Blitz truck rolls up the street with what appeared to be thousands of Christmas lights.

Theresa Bass, a uniquely successful grassroots leader in Kennett Square, dies at 66

Theresa Renee Bass, a devoted family woman and significant grassroots leader in Kennett Square, died unexpectedly in her sleep at her home in the Historic East Linden Neighborhood on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.

Born October 15, 1956 in Ashe County, North Carolina, Theresa came to Kennett Square in 1959, eventually moving with her six siblings to a historic home in the heart of the Kennett Square Borough in 1971. Her mother, Ophelia

Bass, was the rock of the family, and Theresa was devoted to her, caring for her at home through a long illness.

As a young child, Theresa helped support her hardworking mother by caring for her younger siblings, and she never wavered in her dedication to her brothers and sisters, Harold Creon Bass and Avery Allan Bass, who predeceased her, and Grayling Bass, Drusilla Butler, Michael Bass, and Lesia Bass, all of New

Castle County, Del. She and her siblings, along with her life-long friend Barbara Williams, led legendary social lives as part of a tight-knit, small-town community. Theresa was a 1976 graduate of Kennett High School.

Theresa, who was called Sissy by family, purchased a home near her mother and worked long hours as a machinist while raising her own children, Jermaine A. Bass, LaToya M. Myers, and Tara N. Irons. After an

on-the-job accident, Theresa devoted herself entirely to community leadership and to helping to raise her grandchildren, who were her light and her hope: Payton Ophelia Corp, Taliyah Renee (Ren) Irons, and Ariella Nicole Irons.

Theresa was also trustee of Bethel AME Church in Kennett Square, and participated actively in many community groups, from Playback Theater to Bridging the Community. Other interests included

drawing and painting, local history, gardening, word searches, and fast cars. She had encyclopedic knowledge of the region’s AfricanAmerican families and the relationships between them, and found many ways to lend a personal helping hand whenever she could.

Brought neighbors and allies together

As a community organizer, Theresa’s innovative spirit and commitment to action were remarkably effective. Determined to stay when homes began to fall into disrepair and levels of street violence rose, Theresa brought neighbors and allies together to focus energy on the needs of children, and she was tireless in her efforts to provide meals, academic help, social activities, coats, holiday gifts, and constant personal support to children and youth. She pioneered a humane approach to discouraging adverse street life in partnership with three successive police chiefs, relying on direct communication and encouraging personal relationships to win the peace.

The founder and leader of the Joseph & Sarah Carter Community Development Corporation, Theresa and the social movement she inspired profoundly improved the Historic East Linden Neighborhood, the

Borough of Kennett Square, and the region. Her particular commitments to supporting immigrant families, making connections across social boundaries, and investing in humanity were transformative; these were rooted in her deep faith, and Theresa’s tireless service was shaped directly by a deeply prayerful devotion to the Lord. She had many friends across the region. She was powerfully influential in local government; and she was a vital, positive force in the lives of generations of children and young people.

In addition to her siblings, children, and grandchildren, Theresa is survived by her siblings’ spouses and their children: Harold’s son Jaheem; Grayling’s spouse Donna and their son Curtis; Drusilla’s husband Barry Butler and their son Aaron; and Michael’s wife Lisa and their children Sharí, Ashley, and Malcolm. She is also survived by her uncle, George McMillan. Her father, Isaac Cox Bass, predeceased her.

A service of remembrance will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett Square on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Burial will be at Union Hill Cemetery.

A recorded conversation with Theresa Bass about her life and activism is available in the StoryCorps archive at https://archive. storycorps.org/interviews/ theresa-bass-and-ethancramer/

Theresa Bass

Local News

Parade...

Continued from Page 1A

the evening. The local restaurants and taverns obliged spectators’ thirst by keeping their doors wide open.

By 5:45 p.m. the video and lights crew set to work on their trailer with sentimental and classic music from crooners like Bing Crosby, Perry Como and Andy Williams. They frequently interspersed the songs with “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano.

Family members including the very youngest infants bundled in blankets to the oldest grandparents and great-grandparents flooded the streets dancing, singing along and embracing old friends.

Even the ever-present street vendors who show up for all the public events appeared to have a banner night with sales of flashing light sticks and other holiday do-dads.

Right on time at the top of the hour, Mayor and Master of Ceremonies Matt Fetick stood atop the entertainment trailer and greeted the spectators.

The parade arrived on schedule led by the Kennett High School Marching Band, followed close behind by an army of vehicles draped in Christmas lights. Some of the cars and trucks displayed a string or two, while others like Blittersdorf Towing outdid themselves with what appeared to be thousands of lights.

Lumbering onto the scene about halfway through was the well-known

Kennett Square glowing mushroom, reminding the spectators that there was more to come in the holiday season including a return of the Mushroom Drop on New Year’s Eve.

Toward the end of the parade, along came an army of fire trucks and

a couple of horse-drawn carriages. They were followed at the conclusion by the long-awaited and traditional arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, aka Fran and Andrea Durynski. They were driven up the Broad Street hill (a revised route from past

years) and into town by Lou Mandich in his 1918 Buick convertible.

They were greeted by cheers and excitement from the children. They lit the town tree at the corner of Union Street and then proceeded to receive children and their expressed

wants at Work2gether next to La Verona.

Many people appeared to be in no hurry to leave the scene afterward, as they gathered around the newly lit Christmas tree to schmooze with friends well into the evening.

The Light Parade is not

the end of the borough’s holiday celebrating.

Craft sales will be at the Creamery on Birch Street the weekends of Dec. 3 and 10. Tinsel on the Town, a holiday shopping event planned by the merchants, will be held on the evening of Friday, Dec. 9.

A dancer entertains the crowd to “Felice Navidad.”

Members of Longwood Performing Arts open the evening with a dance in the street.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus roll into town in Lou Mandich’s antique 1918 Buick.

A couple of miniature horses lead a carriage near the parade’s conclusion.

Photos by Chris Barber.

Spectators stick around after the parade to schmooze at the town Christmas tree.

Resignation...

Continued from Page 1A

came before council to request permission to install a Christmas tree in the Memorial Park. They were granted approval pending the receipt of an insurance certificate.

The formation of a Finance Committee was discussed. The meetings will be advertised per the solicitor’s recommendation.

Police Chief Sam Iaconno made his report to council, confirming that the police department had met with the Oxford School Police and received approval to get county radios which will go on the county channel. This will allow the Oxford Police Department and the Oxford School Police to communicate with each other and the county as needed. The county plans to soon be able to connect with all school districts.

Iacono said, “We will work out the policies. This has been a long-time coming.”

The Oxford Police Accreditation process is now 50 percent completed. Iacono expects the next 25 percent to go smoothly, but said the last 25 percent would be more difficult.

The Oxford Police Department also used the high school for a mandated class in use-of-force training. All officers are now certified.

Iacono told council that the new structure within the Oxford Police Department is working much better.

“Our officers are encouraged to do checks, or contacts, by going out and talking to people. We have more eyes on our troops and more oversight. The new structure is definitely paying off,” he said.

Mayor Phil Harris told council he attended a legislative breakfast at Wycote Golf Club where a lot of attention

Local News

was focused on a planned mobile mental health unit which will be assisting the police with mental health issues throughout the county.

The Mayor reminded everyone of Small Business Saturday. He also reminded everyone that the Oxford Police Department would be hosting their annual toy drive, and they would also be involved with Wreaths Across America.

He encouraged everyone to support the many non-profits in the Oxford area.

Junior council member Annabelle Bresler reported that the National English Honor Society would be holding a blood drive. She also said that a number of the schools would be holding food drives during the holiday season.

Council also approved the following:

• A hearing and motion to adopt the ordinance amending Chapter 27 of the

Roe... Continued from Page 1A

Sappey to regain his seat in the House in 2020, Roe lost the election by a narrow 485 votes.

“I love this county, and I want to see its residents flourish,” Roe said in a statement. “Chester County is a great place to live, work, raise a family,

Borough Code regarding outdoor cafes and the outdoor display of merchandise.

• A hearing and motion to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 5, Code Enforcement, of the Borough Code, Part 2, Property Maintenance Code, to adopt the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code; and Amending Chapter 5, Part 3, Resident Standards, to Comport with the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code.

House Republicans elect leaders for upcoming session

The House Republican Caucus last week elected a slate of leaders committed to addressing the evolving needs of the Commonwealth through fiscal responsibility, limited government, and policies that drive strong communities and opportunities for individual success. The new Republican leadership team will be at the front of a united caucus ready to fight for every Pennsylvanian.

The following mem-

bers comprise the House Republican Leadership team for the 2023-24

Legislative Session:

• Leader: Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster)

• Whip: Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington)

• Appropriations Chair: Rep. Seth Grove (R-York)

• Caucus Chairman: Rep. George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland)

• Caucus Secretary: Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia)

• Caucus Administrator: Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland)

• House Republican Policy Committee Chair: Rep. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington)

“Our leaders, much like our caucus, are an optimistic group of forward thinkers from diverse backgrounds our region,” Cutler said.

“Our shared experiences and commitment to find solutions is unwavering and this group is poised and ready to find a pathway to opportuni-

ty for all Pennsylvanians. Republican ideal grow opportunities for families. Our policies reduce the burden on taxpayers and increase access for all Pennsylvanians to make their lives better today than they were yesterday.

“This leadership team, just like our caucus, is ready to take on what lies ahead. And I look forward to being with this caucus every step of the way.”

and retire, but it takes hard work to keep it that way. Our quality of life must be fought for and protected, and that’s just what I will do in county government.

“My goal is to preserve the character of our community. I want to pass on to future generations a Chester County with an abundance of preserved open spaces, so that the overdevelopment

• A motion to authorize advertising the budget notice and schedule adoption of the 2023 budget for Dec. 19.

• A motion to authorize the advertising of an ordinance accepting dedication of the additional public right-ofway by Amos. G. Blank, Rebecca R. Blank, and Daniel L. Blank.

• A motion to authorize advertising of the ordinance amending Chapter 27, Zoning, to add regulations related to age-restricted residential communities and the related ordinance amending Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development, and Chapter 27, Zoning, Regarding Street Widths, Sidewalks, Trails, Impact Studies, Lighting, Parking Requirements, Landscaping, Accessory Uses and Common Open Space.

• A motion to approve beginning the process with PennDOT to participate in the Big Elk Creek MS4 consortium.

• A motion to adopt resolution 1343 - 2022 implementing Act 57 of 2022 to provide certain property tax penalty waivers.

• A motion to Adopt Resolution 1344 - 2022 amending the fee schedule

and urban sprawl we see in neighboring counties does not take over Chester County, too.”

Roe will officially announce his candidacy on Dec. 3 at the steps of the Historic Courthouse in West Chester, beginning at 9:00 a.m., rain or shine.

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

for the Borough of Oxford instituting a fee for failure to secure the required permit before beginning construction.

• A motion to grant a waiver from Section 21-705(3) regarding minimum driveway flared radius for Sycamore Crossing, Phases 6 & 7, final subdivision plan.

• A motion to grant final plan approval to the Sycamore Crossing, Phases 6 & 7 Final Subdivision Plan, prepared by Towne Square Engineering, dated Aug. 3, 2020, last revised Aug. 30, 2022 for the development of sixty (60) single-family residential lots, subject to the conditions set forth in the Planning Commission’s recommendation of Nov. 14, 2022.

• A motion to ratify approval of a letter in support of the application submitted by the Housing Partnership of Chester County (HPCC) to the PHFA Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) to help fund HPCC’s Conservatorship program.

The next Oxford Borough Council meeting will be held on Dec.5 at 7 p.m. in the Borough Hall.

Giving thanks

Thanksgiving 2022 is now behind us. Even the leftovers are gone now. But we’re still trying to keep a firm grip on the attitude of gratitude for a little while longer. So here are just a few of the things we’re feeling thankful for:

The new Kennett Library & Resource Center: On Nov. 16, more than one dozen stakeholders received a preview tour of the new library. We can’t wait until the new library—described by Chester County Press writer Richard L. Gaw as “a 31,485-square-foot gateway to education, technology and community”—debuts in the spring of 2023.

Kennett Square has long needed a new library with additional space for the wide range of programs and offerings that it provides to the community.

The first floor of the library will feature a circulation desk, an audio and video recording area that can be converted into a podcast studio, and a room for quiet study that will feature a fireplace, classic furniture and an historical overview of Kennett Square. There will be rows of shelving for books. A group study room and classroom, a rotating art gallery that will feature the work of local artists and students, and a 110-seat, five-row auditorium for performances, lectures and other public presentations will also be on the first floor.

The venue will also include a 16’ x 12’ foot screen that will be used for film festivals and Friday night screenings.

On the second floor, there will be a lot of space allocated to creative and educational opportunities for children. It will include reading areas and books for children; group study, reading and creative spaces for young adults; an adult maker space, several multi-purpose and conference rooms. The Melton Terrace will be an outdoor seating area overlooking State Street that is named in memory of Dennis Melton, the Library’s architect of record.

The second floor will also feature tutor rooms that will serve the library’s expanding Adult Literacy and English as a Second Language programs.

Southern Chester County is blessed to have three wonderful public libraries, and we’re really thankful that the new Kennett Library & Resource Center will be an asset for residents for decades to come.

Funding for important projects: If the library is a longtime dream finally realized in Kennett Square, another dream is becoming a reality in a different borough in southern Chester County. Elected officials and community leaders have long wanted to bring a movie theater and performing arts space to downtown Oxford. Earlier this year, State Senator Carolyn Comitta and State Rep. John Lawrence announced that $2 million in state funding was awarded to Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. for the reconstruction of the historic Oxford Theater on Third Street in the heart of the borough.

This state funding is vital to the efforts to make the theater project a reality. Originally constructed in 1922, the Oxford Theater was one of three movie theaters in Oxford over the years. After closing in 1956, the facility was partially converted into retail space.

Officials believe that a movie theater and performing arts venue will be catalyst for more economic revitalization in Oxford. Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. is leading efforts to completely renovate the old theater building into a 12,000-square-foot multipurpose facility. Plans include a state-of-the art auditorium for films and live performances. Classrooms and studio spaces will be available for rehearsals, classes, and community use.

Meanwhile, just this month, Kennett Square Borough learned that it had been approved for $2 million in funding to advance plans for the municipal and community services complex. The borough purchased several buildings at 600 S. Broad Street with the intention to transform the underutilized space into a comprehensive municipal and community services complex, which will include administrative offices, the police station, and additional space for community-service providers.

State Rep. Christina Sappey and State Sen. John Kane helped secure the state funding for the project.

The state funding will help these two southern Chester County boroughs continue their successful revitalization efforts, and we’re thankful that southern Chester County is getting its fair share of federal, state, and county funding for projects that wouldn’t be possible without it.

Cops!: We’re thankful for the men and women who serve and protect every day. Kennett Square officials did an excellent job with the ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of that dark day in 1972 when police officers William Davis and Richard Posey were shot down outside the police station. The ceremony served as a reminder of the dangers that police officers face when they go to work each day. We should all be thankful for the men and women who help to keep us safe and respond during our moments of need.

Commentary

For the sake of the Chesapeake Bay, ‘non-navigable’ waters need protection

By Jon Mueller, for the Bay Journal News Service

The Supreme Court has once again waded into the debate over the reach of the Clean Water Act. How the courts rule could determine the fate of thousands of acres of wetlands and tens of thousands of miles of small streams critical to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

The high court heard oral arguments in Sackett v. EPA on Oct. 3. The long-running case involves an Idaho couple whom the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sanctioned for filling in wetlands on their property without a permit. At issue broadly is how the agency determines which waters are protected by the federal Clean Water Act — and which aren’t.

This is important because the federal government can only safeguard waters covered by the landmark law, which aims to protect and restore water quality across the country. But the 50-year-old statute does not explicitly say which “waters of the United States” it empowered the government to regulate.

The Sacketts and their supporters insist that the EPA may only oversee “navigable” waterbodies connected by surface water. This view ignores the scientific fact that all waters in a drainage basin are connected, even if only underground (a point the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other environmental groups made in a joint amicus brief they filed in the case).

The narrower interpretation by the Sacketts would also leave vulnerable to destruction several categories of “non-navigable” waters that are nonetheless critical to restoring and protecting the Bay ecosystem. Among them are pocosins and isolated freshwater wetlands unique to the watershed: Delmarva bays (also called Delmarva potholes).

Delmarva bays are shallow, oval-shaped depressions scattered over the Delmarva Peninsula, most of them clustered on the Delaware-Maryland border. The 5,000 or so known Delmarva bays,

covering 34,560 acres, contain forested wetlands, according to a 2014 report in the journal Wetlands Pocosins, which in the Bay watershed are found only in Virginia, are isolated bogs with sandy, peat soils.

Wetlands, in general, are critical to restoring the Bay because they trap pollutants running off farmland, parking lots and city streets before they can reach the estimated 111,000 miles of local streams, creeks and rivers that empty into the Bay.

Wetlands also provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife that support the region’s multibilliondollar seafood industry and thriving outdoor recreation and tourism sectors.

By absorbing storm surges and floodwaters like sponges, wetlands protect coastal communities from climate change effects like sea-level rise and “sunny day” flooding that threaten lives, businesses and property.

Another category of nonnavigable waters at risk — and important to Bay restoration — is streams that only run at certain times of the year (known as “intermittent” streams) or after it rains or snows (“ephemeral” streams).

While you can’t navigate a boat on them, the science is clear that they are connected to downstream rivers. This hydrological connection means they can affect water quality downstream, just like streams connected above ground that run year-round.

Virginia and Pennsylvania have the most miles of

intermittent and ephemeral streams. A staggering 59 percent of linear stream miles in Virginia (55,589 miles out of 94,914 miles) are intermittent or ephemeral streams, according to the EPA. In Pennsylvania, 41 percent of linear stream miles (30,148 miles out of 74,247 miles) only run seasonally or after rain or snow, according to a 2013 EPA report.

If the Supreme Court decides that the Clean Water Act doesn’t protect Delmarva bays, pocosins or intermittent and ephemeral streams, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia have state regulations that could offer some protection. But loopholes, waivers and limited enforcement by state officials would leave many of these wetlands and waterways at risk.

The danger is greatest in Delaware, which follows the federal definition of covered waters. Delaware estimates that approximately 30,000 acres of its isolated wetlands, including 1,500 acres of Delmarva bays, are unregulated and therefore could be destroyed. Nor does the First State regulate activities in ephemeral streams, according to its Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Although the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Sackett case on Oct. 3, it is not expected to issue a ruling for several months,

perhaps as late as next June.

In the meantime, the Biden administration is drafting another rule to define wetlands and other waterbodies protected by the Clean Water Act. The move has drawn strong criticism from the Sacketts’ supporters in Congress, who want the Supreme Court to weigh in first. In addition to its amicus brief to the high court, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and a host of water-quality groups earlier this year submitted comments on the rule to the EPA, urging the agency to protect isolated wetlands, including Delmarva bays, pocosins and seasonal streams.

It’s unclear if the new rule or the court’s decision will finally settle this question or start a new round of time-consuming litigation that only prolongs the uncertainty for both regulators and the regulated community. What is clear are the significant stakes for the Bay, its tributaries and the more than 18 million people who live, work and play in its watershed. Without federal protections for all waterbodies critical to the cleanup, our ability to save the Bay is also at risk.

Jon Mueller is vice president for litigation at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Bay Journal.

County Press

Chester County Press

Bay Journal photo by Dave Harp

An aerial photo of one of the largest Delmarva bays, in Dorchester County, Md., a unique feature to the peninsula that stands to lose federal protection because it lacks a surface connection to a “navigable” waterway.

In the Spotlight

LIVING HISTORY

by

New Castle Tavern Tour: A walk through history

By Gene Pisasale Contributing Writer

Taverns were just as pop ular centuries ago as bars are today, and New Castle, Del., just a short drive from Chester County, was one town that had many of them. Sought out as places to dine and drink, they were impor tant spots where businessmen and politicians discussed commodity prices as well as developments in government.

The New Castle Historical Society recently conducted a “Tavern Tour” which took guests all around the town, to establishments which thrived back in the 18th and 19th centuries, structures which still stand today.

Society President Mike Connolly shows his enthu siasm for local history as he brings guests around town, telling them “behind the scenes” stories of local taverns. To start off, he mentions something a bit shocking: the average colo nist consumed about four gallons of liquor every year, along with large quanti ties of beer, wine and hard cider. How could they even function drinking so much? Answer: it was their way of life and since water was often non-potable, drinking fermented or brewed alco holic beverages was a safe alternative. If you do some quick math, you come to realize that they drank more than one quart of hard liquor every week, not counting other alcohol.

At one time, New Castle was home to several popular taverns, and during its early years when it was called New Amstel, one of those places was The Statsherburg, which translates into "city tavern," which is believed to have stood between Land Street (Now Second) and Minquas Street (now East Third). Historians believe that The Statsherburg was the first tavern operating in the area, dating back to the mid-17th century.

Not far away was the Spread Eagle Tavern on East Second Street, a brick build ing with a large stone porch and an iron railing. Connolly mentions that taverns often rented rooms to civic groups and for events like dances or balls. The Spread Eagle is known to have rented space on its second floor to a local religious group, a practice which gave rise to a humor ous poem:

Read House. Apparently the hotel was essentially a bar, as described at the time by local resident Joseph Rogers, who said the place “…was not a hotel. It was more of a drinking saloon…” If you walked through the adjacent alley you could hear men talking boister ously inside the tavern. Their voices were so loud that according to Connolly, when the Reverend Joshua N. Danforth of the nearby Presbyterian Church walked through the area one day, he was very disturbed by the drunken behavior and complained to Callahan to “tone things down.” After their discussion, the noise. level did indeed decline.

One well known tav ern no longer stands, but was an important stopping point for travelers between Philadelphia and Baltimore.

The Rising Sun Tavern stood at 118 Harmony Street and is known to have been operating before the start of the American Revolution, even though the sign out front states 1796 as its beginning. Over the years the site had several owners and different names, at one point being called The Sign of the Ship Philadelphia.

Think “drive-up” service is a 20th century idea? Not exactly. The southeastern side of the building has a small window which was likely an early drive-through, as people could be served outside without entering the tavern. The Rising Sun and nearly all other taverns had a drawing on their sign (for example, of a sun or ship), so people could easily iden tify them. As many people in the 18th century were not fully literate, seeing the image helped get them to where they wanted to be.

Some places nominally were hotels, but functioned more like taverns. William Callahan moved to the area in 1819 and operated Callahan’s Hotel, across the alley from the George

The Stage Tavern operated in a building on the north side of Packet Alley along the Strand; it is believed to have been there since at least 1769. According to Connolly, in 1797 James McCullough rented the tavern; his marketing savvi ness helped bring business.

Advertising that the site was a convenient stop for people coming to town by boat and by stagecoach, McCullough offered light carriages to take them to the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Chestertown coach lines which stopped nearby. He also held large patriotic gatherings celebrat ing American independence.

On July 4, 1797 he served guests with a specially cooked “large turtle” which he had procured for their dining enjoyment.

The building often asso ciated with colonial-era food and drink in Olde New Castle wasn’t even a tavern for most of its life.

Although the structure was built in 1674 and used by cooper Abraham Jessop to produce barrels until 1724, Jessop’s Tavern is a relative newcomer to the area. Over

became

selves to portraying realistic scenes of early Delaware his tory by renaming it Jessop’s Tavern in honor of the early owner. The interior is beauti fully decorated, giving guests the “feel” of an 18th cen tury tavern. While not a part of early New Castle tavern lore, the 348-year-old build ing which houses Jessop’s Tavern today compensates by providing diners a wonder ful setting to enjoy excellent food and drink, including more than 200 Belgian and craft beers.

So, if you want a “walk through history” along the Delaware River waterfront, visit New Castle. As you stroll past the old Court House on cobblestoned streets, you can almost hear the voices of people raising a toast to the young nation in a town that was very much a part of creating it.

Gene Pisasale is an histo rian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. His ten books focus on the history of the Chester County/midAtlantic region. His latest work is Forgotten Founding Fathers: Pennsylvania and Delaware in the American Revolution. His books are available on his website at www.GenePisasale.com and on www.Amazon.com. Gene can be reached via e-mail at Gene@GenePisasale.com.

the years, the rustic look ing building at 118 Delaware Street functioned as residen tial housing and numerous businesses. In the 1950s, it

the Captain’s Log Restaurant and in 1974, the Green Frog Tavern. In 1996, the Day family purchased the building and dedicated them

Side view of the Stage Tavern, also known as Bouldens Store building, in middle of photograph.

Gene Pisasale

“Spirits above and spirits below— The spirits above are the spirits Divine, Those below are the spirits of wine.”

Sketch of Callahan's Hotel.

The former Spread Eagle Tavern in New Castle, Delaware.

Photos courtesy of Mike Connolly, New Castle Historical Society.

The Jessops Tavern interior.

Jessops Tavern, New Castle, Delaware.

Rising Sun Tavern Sign.

LINDA SUE JACKSON

Linda Sue Jackson, 52, of Kennett Square, passed away while at home on Nov. 14, 2022.

Born in Delaware, she was the daughter of Donald and the late Linda Sue Lambert Johnson.

Linda was employed as a nurse’s assistant where she helped clients in their homes. Her clients always looked forward to seeing her.

She enjoyed gardening, coffee and being warm and cozy.

She is survived by her father, three children, Candace Whisman of Baltimore, Md., Alyssa Jackson of Parkesburg and Zachary Hodge of Newark, Del., one grandson, Jeremy, and three brothers, Wayne Johnson, Donald Johnson and Mark Johnson.

Linda was preceded in death by her son, Douglas Steele, Jr.

Funeral services were held on Nov. 28 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.

Interment will be private.

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 5 p.m. deadline. They are also posted on www. chestercounty.com. Photos should be sent as .jpeg attachments to the obituary text. To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press or for a rate quote, email the information to editor@chestercounty. com.

CONSTANCE MAY STREET

Constance (Connie) May Condell Street Irrgang, 85, of Oxford, passed away on Nov. 20, 2022 at her home with her daughter and son-in-law Charlotte and Stephen Elinsky beside her.

Born on March 14, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Rankin and Pearl Condell.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, William James Street, her second husband, Harry J. Irrgang, her brother George Condell, her oldest son William James Street II, and her oldest daughter April Lee Street Williams Stahl.

She is survived by her daughter, Charlotte May Street Elinsky, her two sons, William (Bill) James Street III, and Matthew Lee Street and her two sisters, Reba Smith-Velez and Grace Louise Bryant Condell, and four grandchildren, Jenni Lee Williams, Will Michael Spina, Sierra Leone Street, and Matthew Lee Street, Jr.

Connie was so many things to so many people but first and foremost she was a born-again Christian who loved the Lord Jesus. He is her God and Savior and she is with Him now and for eternity.

She was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a kind, helpful, trustworthy, reliable and forever friend, and next-door neighbor. She was Connie, mom, gram, Bam, Connie-Mom, and Mrs. Sweet. She was a hard-working, always-smiling preschool aide, Bethany field trip bus driver, Lighthouse Youth Center volunteer and fire police volunteer for the Union Fire Company No. 1, Oxford. She was also a Girl Scout leader, election poll worker, Republican committee woman, and a telephone operator.

A celebration of life service will be held at noon on Saturday, March 11, 2023 in the gym at Bethany Christian School. In spirit, Connie will be attending her last “March Birthday Party.” If you were born in March, know someone who was born in March or wish you were born in March, you can attend. Likewise, if you knew Connie, know someone who knew Connie, or wish you knew Connie Street Irrgang, please come out to celebrate.

The family extends special thanks to Connie’s caregiver, Tammy, from Comfort Keepers, and nurse, Emma, and aide, Donna, from Willow Tree Hospice for the love and care they gave to Connie.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bethany Christian School, 1137 Shadyside Road, Oxford, Pa. 19363 and/or the Lighthouse Youth Center, 245 Commerce St, Oxford, Pa. 19363.

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

Local News

Johnson appointed director of Chester County’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services

After serving for ten years as the second in command of the Department of Drug & Alcohol Services, the Chester County Commissioners named Jamie Johnson the new director upon the retirement of Vince Brown.

“Jamie is passionate about helping those who struggle with substance abuse disorders, and her decades-long career with D&A demonstrates that passion,” said Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz. “The impact of substance use disorder affects far too many in our communities, so having resources readily available to those in need is of critical importance in Chester County. Jamie’s leadership will continue and build upon Drug & Alcohol’s mission to support people on their paths to healthier lives.”

Commissioner Josh Maxwell said, “Jamie is a natural successor to Vince

Brown because the two worked hand-in-hand to make county services more broadly available. Earlier this year, she worked with the District Attorney’s Office to bring the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative to Chester County. LETI allows anyone with a substance use disorder to contact law enforcement for help. She advocates for recovery programs that assist various populations with substance use disorder – including the uninsured and underinsured. People need to know that treatment services are available to anyone and everyone.”

As the department’s new director, Johnson will be responsible for seeing that programs and case management meet state and federal regulations, overseeing spending and ensuring that the department continues to serve the needs of Chester County

residents. D&A supports numerous events each year, including the Chester County Color 5K, which raises funds for the COPE (Community Outreach Prevention and Education) program, Recovery Month, International Overdose Awareness Day, Alcohol Awareness Month, and Naloxone training, among other things.

“Jamie’s mantra is ‘recovery is possible,’ especially given the robust recovery community in Chester County,” said Commissioner Michelle Kichline. “She is the right person at the right time for this job because she believes there is hope for anyone who suffers from substance use disorder. We are fortunate to have her on the county’s team.”

District Attorney Deb Ryan said, “Jamie was pivotal in working with my office to get LETI up and running. The Chester

Obituaries

DONNA MARIE OLIVER

Donna Marie Oliver passed away comfortably and peacefully at her home while surrounded by her family and loved ones on Nov. 21, 2022 after battling breast cancer over the last year. She was a 65-year-old resident of New London.

Donna was born in Jennersville, the daughter of Dolores (Bailey) and Richard Santiago. She was a graduate of Avon Grove High School, class of 1975. Donna lived a full and wonderful life with her beautiful daughters, loving family, wonderful friends, and her beloved cats.

Donna was well known for her loving, deeply caring and sassy predisposition. Sharing a laugh with Donna was something irreplaceable for all who loved her. She was a very hard worker who took pride in her jobs and had a long, fulfilling career at Astra Zeneca (2000 to 2016). Her passions were traveling, gardening, spending time with her grandchildren and many other hobbies throughout her life. But, if you knew Donna, she was one of The Dave Matthews Band’s biggest fans and went to many of their concerts over the years.

Donna was predeceased by her parents, Dolores and Richard, sister Robin, longtime sweetheart Michael Hangartner and nephew Jamie.

She will be dearly missed by her two daughters she greatly adored, Danielle DiNorscia (Joe) and Alyssa Oliver (Merritt), loving former husband John B. Oliver Jr., sister Carmen Stoltzfuz (Roy), brother Julius (Florence), sister Linda (Paul), brother Ricky (Karen), along with nieces and nephews, Shanan, Adam, Lindsey, Amber, Ricky and Julius Jr. She will also be greatly missed by her two grandchildren, Brynn and Joey, who were the lights of her life along with numerous other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit and pay their respects at Foulk Funeral Home, 200 Rose Hill Road in West Grove on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Her memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Internment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 676910, Dallas, Tex. 75267-6910.

To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www. kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

the best in her new position and look forward to our continued work together.”

Johnson has resided in the Borough of West Chester for over 35 years and is an animal advocate. If you or a loved one

is struggling with a substance use disorder, help is available. Call the Drug & Alcohol Information and Referral helpline at 1-866-286-3767 or Get Help Now, a 24/7 hotline, at 1-800-662-4357.

LAURA LEE ROTEN WILSON

Laura Lee Roten Wilson, a lifetime resident of the Oxford area, passed away on Nov. 23, 2022 at the Christiana Care Union Hospital in Elkton, Md. She was 41.

Born in Media, Pa., she was the daughter of Donna Krauss Roten of Oxford and the late Robert L. Roten.

She graduated from West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Md. and attended St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C.

Laura enjoyed gardening and plants.

She is survived by her mother; sister, Robin Roten Vanover of Quarryville; two children, Ivana Wilson of Lancaster and Alexis Wilson of Quarryville; and maternal grandmother, Patsy Krauss of Oxford.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Ralph and Annis Roten and maternal grandfather, Donald Krauss.

A graveside service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.

Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

BONNIE M. GWALTNEY

Bonnie M. Gwaltney, 71, of Nottingham, passed away at home on Nov. 24, 2022.

Born in West Grove, she was the daughter of the late William Bryant and Rose Moore Gwaltney.

Bonnie was employed with the Oxford Area School District in the cafeteria and retired after 28 years of service.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Oxford.

Bonnie enjoyed gardening and cooking.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan M. Jock of Nottingham; two grandchildren, Bryant and Sara; one brother, William Bryant Gwaltney, Jr. of Oxford; and five sisters, Delores Cornette of Oxford, Elma Cornette of Parkesburg, Mary Brown of Oxford and Brenda Jean Gwaltney of Nottingham.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Patricia Goshea and Juanita Palmer and one brother, Charles Gwaltney. Services are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the funeral home to offset funeral costs.

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

The 23-year County employee had served as Deputy Director since 2012

Courtesy photo

Jamie Johnson is the newly appointed director of Chester County’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services.

County LETI program is the most successful in the state – with seven to ten referrals each month – thanks to how law enforcement and Drug & Alcohol Services have embraced it. I wish Jamie

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF ALEENE K. CIORROCCO, DECEASED. Late of Oxford Borough, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to PETER J. CIORROCCO, EXECUTOR, c/o Kristen R. Matthews, Esq., 257 W. Uwchlan Ave., Ste. 1, Downingtown, PA 19335, Or to his Attorney: KRISTEN R. MATTHEWS, KRISTEN MATTHEWS LAW, 257 W. Uwchlan Ave., Ste. 1, Downingtown, PA 19335

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ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF Kara Gwen McCarthy, late of East Nottingham Township, Chester County, Deceased. Letters of Administration on the estate of the above-named Kara Gwen McCarthy 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: Candace L. Prewitt, Administrator, C/O Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, 208 E. Locust St., P.O. Box 381, Oxford, PA 19363, Phone: 610-932-3838

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ESTATE NOTICE

KATHREINE G. McINNTIRE, a/k/a KATHERINE GRACE McINTIRE, a/k/a KATHERINE DECHANT, Late of West Bradford Township, Chester County, PA, deceased, all payments for obligations to the estate or demands for payment of obligations from the estate should be immediately made to: Laura J. Skaggs, Administratix c/o MPL LAW FIRM, LLP, 96 South George Street, Suite 520, York, PA 17401, John D. Miller, Jr.,

Attorney. 11p-16-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Peter Justice Collins, Late of Honey Brook Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Stephen Collins, 13 Glen Oak Drive, Landenberg, PA, Executor.

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NOTICE OF SERVICE OF

PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, ASHE COUNTY In the General Court of Justice, District Court Division [In The Matter Of S.R.M.D.] To: Brandy Nicole Martin, Edwin James Devore and Unknown Biological Father. Take Notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the aboveentitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Termination of Parental Rights. Further, please be advised that if you fail to respond to this notice by publication in the time frame indicated hereinbelow, that you may lose your parental rights regarding the minor child S.R.M.D. Finally, take note, in proceedings regarding termination of parental rights, that you are afforded to right to legal representation provided by the State. You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than January 7, 2023 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This the 16th day of November 2022. Tamara C. DiVenere, Attorney for Petitioners 202 East Main Street; West Jefferson, NC 28694 11p-23-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF ARLENE C. DONEY, DECEASED. Late

of Oxford Borough, Chester County, PA. LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to MICHAEL F. GILLIN, EXECUTOR, 318 Heather Hills Dr., Landenberg, PA 19350, Or to his Attorney: STEPHEN V. BOTTIGLIERI, TOSCANI, STATHES & ZOELLER, LLC, 899 Cassatt Rd., Ste. 320, Berwyn, PA 19312

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Ori E. Steinberg, Deceased. Late of Uwchlan Twp., PA. Letters of Administration on the above estate have been granted to the undersigned. All persons having claims against or indebted to the estate should make claims known or forward payment to Veronique LaBeille, Administratrix, c/o Marjorie Scharpf, Esq., The Tannenbaum Law Group, 600 West Germantown Pike, Suite 400, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Joseph F. Mulligan, Deceased. Late of East Bradford Twp., PA. Letters Testamentary on the above estate have been granted to the undersigned. All persons having claims against or indebted to the estate should make claims known or forward payment to Terrence Mulligan, Executor, c/o Hope Bosniak, Esq., Dessen Moses & Rossitto, 600 Easton Rd., Willow Grove, PA 19090.

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Rose M. Saverioni aka Rose Marie Saverioni, Late of the Borough of Kennett Square, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or de-

mands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Richard Arnold Saverioni, Janet Marie Saverioni O’Neill and Deborah Ann Saverioni Walls, Executors, Or Attorney: David B. Myers, 148 W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Victoria C. Peirson, Late of Penn Township, 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 Christopher J. Schult, Executor, Or Attorney: David B. Myers, 148 W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Martin, Mary Ann dec’d. Late of Late of Londonderry Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Suzanne E. Martin, Executrix, c/o Good & Harris, LLP, 132 West Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557 11p-23-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF JOHN P. DIBIASE, DECEASED. Late of Kennett Square Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to RAY W. FOY, EXECUTOR, 428 Hatteras Road, Coatesville, PA 19320 or Attorney Elle Van Dahlgren, 20 Montchanin Road, Ste. 1000, Greenville, DE 19807. 11-30-3t

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN THAT THE PROPOSED 2023 General and Water Budgets for the Borough of Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania are available for inspection at the Borough Building, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, Pennsylvania, during normal business hours and on the Borough’s website at www.oxfordboro.org.

FURTHERMORE, NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN that the Council of the Borough of Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, at a public meeting scheduled for December 19, 2022 commencing at 7:00 p.m. to be held at the Borough Building, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, Pennsylvania, will consider and may adopt the 2023 General and Water Budgets for Borough of Oxford.

NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that the Oxford Borough will hold the following public meetings in December 2022 and January 2023:

The Oxford Borough Planning Commission will hold its regular December public meeting on Monday, December 12, 2022 starting at 6:30 p.m. to be held at Borough Hall, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, Pennsylvania. This will replace the previously scheduled meeting on Tuesday December 27, 2022, which is canceled.

The Oxford Borough Police and Public Safety Committee meeting at Borough Hall, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, PA 19363 Wednesday December 7,, 2022 at 4:00 pm

The Oxford Borough Water Resource Protection Fee Committee meeting at Borough Hall, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, PA 19363 Monday January 9, 2023 at 6:00 pm.

The Oxford Borough Council will hold its regular meetings in January at Borough Hall, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, PA 19363 on January 9 and 23, 2023 starting at 7 pm.

If you are a person with a disability wishing to attend the aforementioned meeting and require auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to observe or participate in the proceeding, please contact the Borough secretary at 610-9322500 to discuss how your needs may best be accommodated.

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By Chris Barber Contributing Writer

Ed Holcroft, a former teacher, coach and athlete, has been added to the Kennett Consolidated School District’s exclusive society known as “Legends.”

A plaque at the high school’s Legacy Fields on Birch Street in Kennett Square bearing his name will be added to those of athlete Robert Morse, school board member Shirley Annand and community activist Leon Spencer. The recently initiated Legends tradition includes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the district.

School district communications specialist Nikki Laws made the announcement of Holcroft’s honor at the Nov. 14 board meeting, and the news was enthu-

Holcroft joins exclusive company as a KCSD 'Legend'

siastically received by the members.

Holcroft, who died in 2020, was best known for his success and dedication to soccer.

A graduate of West Chester State College and later a master’s degree holder from Temple University, Holcroft joined the faculty at Kennett in 1959 and remained there for 37 years. He taught physical education and coached many championship soccer teams for the school. He also served as assistant athletic director and was recognized regionally for his dedication and successes.

In that connection, Holcroft was honored as a member of the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame.

Holcroft also held the position of Kennett Community

Recreation Director for 15 years until he retired that position and began the Kennett Soccer Camp as well, where he spent several years bringing soccer to children of the southern Chester County region.

New school constructions

School district CFO Mark Tracy reported that diagrams of the planned replacement Greenwood and New Garden elementary schools are available for public viewing on the school district’s website. They can be found in the agenda list of the most recent board meeting under “Mr. Tracy PlanCon A report.”

PlanCon has been a program through the Pennsylvania Department of Education that reimburses school districts engaged in building proj-

ects. It requires submission of many lengthy forms revealing information and finances about anticipated construction and student population.

According to the PlanCon website, it has in past years reimbursed school districts $4,700 per elementary student of projected capacity per school. The projected enrollment capacity for each of the new schools in Kennett is 750, or a total of 1,500 for the two buildings.

Tracy’s filled out applications are online, and the board approved them. Whether the applications will yield funding is in question.

The state has put a hold on the program and is not accepting applications or issuing the reimbursements currently, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.

The estimated construc-

tion cost of the coming projects has been announced at about $100 million.

Tracy said that if the program were operating, the PlanCon reimbursements would have amounted to between four percent and six percent of the total cost of the buildings.

Student praised for project

In other news, the board acknowledged Kennett High School senior Mark Wilson, who was one of 120 students selected to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s Youth Ambassador Program. He traveled to Ecuador for two weeks, where he honed his own leadership skills and fostered mutual understanding.

He has now organized a support group in town called “Juntos,” which means “together” in Spanish. Laws

announced that Wilson has said his goal is to create a safe space for language learning.

Wilson is an aspiring foreign service officer, and he speaks some of five languages, including Spanish, French, Portuguese and Mandarin, in addition to his native English.

Williams appointed to prosecute Krasner Impeachment

State Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester) has been appointed by Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to serve as a manager for the impeachment trial of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

“It is an honor to be chosen by the speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to present

the evidence and prosecute the articles of impeachment against the Philadelphia district attorney,” Williams said.

“I will use my background as a federal and military prosecutor to carry out the Pennsylvania Constitution’s mandate that will soon go before the Pennsylvania Senate.”

Williams attended law school while in the Marines

and became the chief prosecutor for the largest base in the Marine Corps and head prosecutor for the Marine Corps Reserve. He also served as deputy legal counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with an emphasis on ethics and detainee issues in federal court. He later served as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice

in the District of Colorado (Denver) and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) and a prosecutor for the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Williams received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Duke University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law, and a Master of Laws in Jurisprudence Virtue Ethics

and Criminal Law from the Columbia University School of Law.

The House last week passed House Resolution 240 to impeach Krasner for misbehavior in office. The process now advances to the Pennsylvania Senate for the impeachment trial and for a final decision regarding removal from office.

The House speaker is

required to appoint a committee of three members, two from the majority party and one from the minority party, to exhibit the articles of impeachment to the Senate and manage the trial on behalf of the House. Cutler also named representatives Tim Bonner (R-Mercer/ Butler) and Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia) to serve as managers.

Former teacher and coach Ed Holcroft has been named a ‘Legend’ in Kennett for his decades spent coaching and educating students.

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