Chester County Press 12-05-2018 Edition

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

Volume 152, No. 49

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

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Kevin needs a chance to The Big Man’s get his life back Arrival Avondale 12-year-old Kevin Lightner is in need of a surgical procedure to help control his seizures.

The family is making its third appeal to the insurance company, and his life may hang in the balance

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer The Lightner family is hoping for a miracle this Christmas season.

Kevin Lightner, a 12-yearold sixth grader, suffers from a life-threatening seizure disorder. His parents, Lisa and Dan, have been taking him to New York City to be treated by a neurological team at Mount Sinai Hospital for over a year.

The neurological team has recommended a surgical procedure to insert a Responsive Neurosimulation (RNS) device to help control the seizures, but Aetna, the family’s insurance company, has rejected the surgical procedure twice already.

The Lightners are awaiting a decision on their third round of appeals to the insurance company for a surgical procedure that

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Courtesy photo

Kevin is pictured after surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

holds the promise of helping their son immensely. For the third round of appeals, an independent, same-specialty doctor will review the appeal. A decision on the

Avondale Borough family’s appeal could come later this month or early in 2019.

Kevin’s life could hang in the balance.

“I’m not being dramatic

Santa Claus receives a police escort from members of the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department, as he enters the New Garden Township Building on Dec. 2, as part of the township’s annual holiday festivities. The event drew an estimated audience of more than 500. For a complete story and additional photographs, see Page 4C.

when I say that we’re trying to save our kid’s life,” Lisa Lightner explained during an interview last week. The family is also taking the drastic step of starting a fun-

draising campaign just in case the insurance company rejects the third appeal.

According to Lisa, Kevin started suffering from the Continued on Page 2A

Our children’s stewards: Crime Victims’ Center taking its message to thousands in county

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer In the film, the pimplyfaced teenager speaks slowly, hesitantly.

He shares the story of his time as a younger boy, when he was sexually abused by his babysitter.

Moments later, the balding man in the film talks about his childhood, when the middle school’s athletic director

sexually abused him, repeatedly. In the black-and-white photographs the balding man displays, the athletic director is smiling. He looks selfassured. Kind. Never the type who could possibly commit such atrocities.

In the film, the swimming champion who later became an Olympian reveals the man who sexually assaulted her repeatedly when she was a young girl. It was her father’s

The film, “Stewards of good friend.

Children,” was shown Then there is the beauon Nov. 28 at the Avon ty pageant queen, who Grove Intermediate speaks matter-of-factly School before one about the thousands of dozen parents and nights when her father teachers, in conjuncwould enter her room tion with the school when she was a young district’s Parent Speaker girl, and about the sound Series. Throughout the of feet she heard outside the door of her bedchoosing to walk away. two-hour video and room one night – those of Each of them shown in the accompanying conversation her mother – and the squeak film are not only storytellers, between those in attendance of those feet on the floor, but survivors.

Continued on Page 3A

County Commissioners East Marlborough supervisors OK adopt Landscapes3

2019 budget and wrestle with development issues

By John Chambless Staff Writer

Upcoming holiday events in the region...1C

INDEX Opinion.......................7A Obituaries...................2B Classifieds.................2C Calendar of Events.....7C

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

At a Nov. 29 hearing in West Chester, County Commissioners Terence Farrell, Michelle Kichline and Kathi Cozzone adopted the county’s Landscapes3 comprehensive plan, which establishes a preservation and growth vision for the county and its municipalities for the next decade, and beyond.

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

© 2007 The Chester County Press

Mark the date. Nov. 29, 2018.

Mark the time. 8:18 p.m.

Mark the place.

The Uptown! Knauer Perfroming Arts Center in West Chester.

Mark the significance of

the moment: The passage of a comprehensive plan that will steer a ten-year blueprint for Chester County that will guide decision making, municipal planning and implementation, and create a framework of balance between growth and preservation.

Before 100 con-

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cerned residents and leaders, the Chester County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 41-18 – the long-awaited Landscapes3, a visionary plan of action that prepares and protects the county for what life is expected to look like in Continued on Page 4A

During a Dec. 3 meeting that stretched to the four-hour mark, the announcement of a balanced 2019 budget for East Marlborough Township was almost a sidelight. The Board of Supervisors approved the figures late in the meeting, with a balanced general fund budget of $2.9 million requring no tax increase for the coming year. The sewer fund, fuel fund and park budget were also balanced for 2019, and received unanimous approval.

But development issues took the spotlight for most of the evening. The planned Toll Brothers community of 42 single-family homes on land formerly occupied by the Willow Green Nursery on Route 82 was the focus of a long debate as the developer

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sought final plan approval from the board. The homes will be constructed on the west side of Route 82, with open recreational space on the other side of the road, linked by a lighted pedestrian crosswalk. The building that houses the nursery business will be retained by the property owners, the Pratt family.

A sidewalk will be built by Toll Brothers on the east side of Route 82 that will link the development north to the Route 926 intersection.

The crosswalk, while still in the design phase, will have a concrete island in the center where pedestrians can wait while crossing Route 82 if necessary. Painted stripes will define the island, and there will be flashing beacons on either side of the road that will be operated by pedestrians who wish to

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2A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

Chester County Press

Local News Kevin...

Continued from Page 1A

seizures in 2015. He is autistic and has already faced developmental challenges throughout his childhood, but the seizures profoundly affected his day to day quality of life once he started having them three years ago. The seizures are most likely related to a chromosome condition that he was born with.

“He went from having no seizures at all to having between 25 and 50 each day,” Lisa explained.

The seizures can occur at any time so they have really disrupted Kevin’s life.

One illustration: On a recent trip to the grocery store with his mother, he suffered a seizure that was so severe that he fell to the floor. He was wearing a helmet―a requirement now because the seizures are so regular―and he was in a special Caroline’s cart. But he still fell out of the cart and hit the floor, bruising his hip in the process.

There have been numerous times when he has sustained bumps and bruises, and a few times he suffered cuts that required stitches.

“Scenarios like this are all too common for Kevin, and I want him to have his life back,” Lisa said. “He can’t do anything unassisted, not even walk around his own home.”

Lisa explained that Kevin is a strong, resilient kid, but he needs help to address the medical condition properly. The RNS device is the best option for the Lightner family, but the device is typically used for those who

Courtesy photos

Kevin at Sesame Place, one of his favorite places to visit.

are 18 years old and older.

According to Lisa, there have been instances where insurance companies have approved the RNS device for an off-label use because of its effectiveness in reducing seizures. What the RNS system does for a patient’s brain is somewhat similar to what a pacemaker can do for a heart. It can monitor brain waves, and can respond to activity that looks like a seizure or is different than the usual brain activity. The device would also allow the medical team to monitor the activity and make adjustments to Kevin’s treatment.

The Lightner family hopes that the device will

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help allow their son to return to how he was before the seizures started. Lisa explained that he was a typical boy who loved his dogs and liked to eat pizza. He enjoyed running races and visiting amusement parks.

He had good mobility and energy back then.

“We want him to do all those things again,” she said.

Shortly after Kevin suffered the recent seizure in the grocery store, Lisa decided to take a step that she and her husband did not want to take. They started a GoFundMe page to raise money that they would need for Kevin’s surgery should it be rejected by the insurance company again. The Lightners pride themselves on being hard working and self-reliant. But the family doesn’t want to waste precious time if the third appeal to the insurance company is denied.

“We knew a fundraising effort wasn’t going to happen overnight,” Lisa explained. “We knew that it would take time.”

The goal of the fundraising campaign is to raise the $150,000 that it would cost for the surgical procedure.

One important reason that the Lightners don’t want to delay the surgical procedure for any longer than is absolutely necessary is the fact that Kevin carries an extremely high risk of SUDEP, which is sudden unexplained death from an epileptic seizure.

“Kevin is at a high risk of SUDEP,” Lisa explained, “and the device is the only

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Before the seizures started, Kevin really enjoyed running and playing, but now he has to take extraordinary precautions because he is prone to having a seizure at any time. Now, he must always be accompanied by an adult. He must wear a helmet, and is often seated to avoid the risk of having a seizure and falling down.

The RNS device is small, but could make a big difference to Kevin Lightner’s life.

thing that is proven to reduce that risk.”

In addition to the risk of SUDEP, Kevin’s life is impacted significantly by his ailment. He attends school at the Devereux CARES School in Downingtown, but the constant threat of a seizure makes it challenging for him to keep up with normal activities. He must also have an adult with him wherever he goes.

“That’s no way for a 12-year-old to live,” Lisa explained. “The medication that he’s on makes him nauseated and tired, and he sleeps about 12 hours a day. He’s really not up and active unless we’re right there with him.”

According to Lisa, the RNS device offers the family hope of reduced seizures―and a better life for their son.

“His quality of life is so poor right now,” Lisa explained. “Kevin will likely never be seizure-free, or medication-free, but both will likely be greatly

Kevin has advocated for disability rights. He is pictured here with Congressman Lloyd Smucker.

reduced with the implanted RNS device.”

A recent study of longterm treatment with the RNS system based on 256 patients across 33 epilepsy centers found that treatment with the RNS device resulted in significant seizure reduction and improved quality of life for patients. In some cases, the patients were able to be seizure-free for periods of longer than a year, while a large percentage of patients saw a 50-percent seizure reduction.

Kevin’s nine-year-old brother Brian is rooting for his older sibling.

The Lightners included a short note of support that Brian had written on the GoFundMe page. It reads:

“I want my brother to have this surgery because I want his seizures to stop so that he can be more involved in family.”

Lisa emphasized that the family is hopeful that they will get approval on the third round of appeals to Aetna. Should they prevail, any contributions collected through the GoFundMe campaign will no longer be necessary, and the money will be refunded.

Information about the family’s fundraising campaign can be found on the GoFundMe website by searching “give-kevin-his-life-back.”

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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Chester County Press

Local News CVC...

Continued from Page 1A

and the moderator, the facts of what has become an epidemic – and yet what remains largely a closeted truth – took on the presence of a giant and unmovable boulder that lay still at the base of a mountain: • About one in 10 children experiences child sexual abuse before he or she reaches his or her 18th birthday.

• Child sexual abuse is likely the most prevalent health program children face.

• Sexually abused children are more likely to experience trauma, anxiety and depression, delinquency, self-harm, homelessness, criminal behavior, incarceration and suicide than those who are not abused.

• In over 90 percent of these incidents, children are abused by someone they know.

Close to home, the number of child abuse reports has risen dramatically in Chester County over the last five years. In 2014, 414 reports of child sexual abuse were recorded; in 2015, 1,306; in 2016, 1,681; and in 2017, that number rose to 1,924.

In short, Chester County has reached a crisis stage, and the Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children” program is to recruit advocates in an effort to eradicate child sexual abuse, one workshop at a time.

Launched this past March by a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network at Penn State University, the “Stewards of Children” program is the first comprehensive initiative of its kind anywhere in the country, and is an outgrowth of the county’s commitment to preventing child sexual abuse.

The program is being offered

by The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County’s (CVC) Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative, in partnership with the Chester County District Attorney’s

stress the importance of establishing internet safety. In programs targeted to the K-12 and college students, the CVC staff also teaches healthy relationship programs that focus on bystander intervention and the link between sexual assault and alcohol abuse It’s about stressing the importance of establishing core values and messages, Gast said.

“We speak to young people about internet safety and creating healthy habits that reflect their offline life, and building their values to be reflected in their online life,” she said. “It’s all part of prevention. There are concrete things we address within the program – speaking with possible predators online, for example – but within the bigger realm, our goal is to empower children to live a safe life, both on and off line.”

For those who attend the “Stewards of Children” workshops, it’s the statistics detailing the number of child sexual abuse cases that first grab attention.

“Many of them don’t know that this is the reality,” Ryan said. “Many people have been in denial for a long time about child sexual abuse, and that’s to the detriment of the children. Vulnerable kids are being impacted because adults are not taking the responsibility to protect them as they should.”

Ryan said that the stories of abuse told by those in the film serve as a “wake-up” call for those who attend the program.

“Hearing the stories of the survivors in those videos is the most compelling parts of the workshop,” she said.

“Most people are in denial about child sexual abuse, because it’s an uncomfortable topic that makes people feel uneasy. Our mission is to bring this into the community so that we no longer live with our heads in the sand, and to make people aware so that they can protect children instead of turning a blind eye to it.”

The broad reach of the “Stewards of Children” pro-

gram extends far beyond parents, teachers and school administrators. It also travels to police departments, public safety training units, rehabilitation centers, domestic relations departments and to those who have recorded criminal activity.

It’s even reached prisons, where Ryan said revelations of child sexual abuse are common.

“What I have found most interesting about the program is that people in prison, treatment courts and rehab have been disproportionately sexually abused as children, and many are disclosing this for the first time in these workshops, with me,” she said. “Many of them are in their 40s, 50s and 60s, have been in and out of prison for many years, and have had an underlying trauma that had never been dealt with before.

“It’s led to crimes to fuel their self-medication, that have led to crimes in order to fuel their addictions that leads to prison, and when they get released, they don’t get the help they need, and the recidivism continues to spiral.”

While Ryan, Gast and the staff at CVC have all been witness to such breakthroughs, there is also the other side of the story of child sexual abuse – the ugly truth that’s never told. When Ryan was a child abuse prosecutor in the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, it was not uncommon for her to hear a child tell her that he or she was told to keep quiet.

“They would tell me, ‘If I came forward, it would be my fault that we were back on the street,’” Ryan said.

“They would tell me, ‘Dad is paying the bills to keep us in the house. He’s put a roof over our head and we can eat, and even though he has molested me, I was told that I needed to be quiet about it.’

“The consequences of disclosing can be catastrophic for families. Typically, the mother has come forward to me, to tell me that the family has chosen not to do anything about it. In essence, they are choosing to stay with the offender for their

safe keeping, even though their child is being molested.

It’s a hard thing to hear, but it’s not uncommon. There is guilt, shame and embarrassment. They don’t want to talk about it, and they certainly don’t want anyone else to know about it.”

Ryan and Gast believe that the CVC’s community outreach initiative, highlighted by the “Stewards of Children” program, is a way to confront, embrace and slowly tear down that wall of secrecy.

“We’re here with this program for the next three years, so why not have something that’s so sorely needed?”

Ryan asked. “I don’t know why something like this has not been done before, but we’re here now.”

There is a moment during each “Stewards of Children” workshop Ryan teaches when she feels the mission of this initiative crystallizes.

“A good chunk of those who attend these workshops are very positive with their feedback,” she said. “Here, we’re doing something to prevent it from happening in the first place. It’s a different perspective. We’re connecting in communities where this message is resonating, and it’s a powerful message.

“The result of these programs shows that there is good in humanity, and that people care and want to change the way things have been. I am empowered to keep this mission going, because I think we are making a difference.”

“Advocacy work is hard, but I feel called to to do this work, because if we’re not doing this work, who is

This home, on a large property at 639 Mill Rd., will be demolished after an agreement was reached with the prospective buyers.

to preserve four properties in conjunction with the Chester County Agricultural Board.

The farms – at 720 Byrd Rd., 659 Byrd Rd., 550 Schoolhouse Rd., and 334 W. Street Rd. – range from 10 to 35 acres each, and will be restricted from development. The owners will be encouraged to keep them in agricultural use.

At the beginning of the meeting, during public comment, several neighbors of a home at 101 Poplar Tree Road expressed concern about rumors that the home would be demolished.

Board of Supervisors chairman Richard Hannum said the board had no requests for demolition of the home, which had been blocked from demolition previously in 2016.

Another neighbor asked about a barn structure that has begun construction on the

property, and asked whether its height violated any ordinances. The garage, which will be about 2.5 stories tall, is larger than other buildings on the street, and will look out of place, the neighbor told the board. Charles Streitwieser of the Planning Commission said that the garage placement does not violate setback rules, and seems to fall within the allowable height restrictions.

Several residents of West Locust Lane asked for an update on speeding issues along the heavily-traveled road, and board member John Sarro said that progress is being made. Supervisors have met with the residents, and Sarro said money is in the 2019 budget to purchase a second flashing speed advisory sign for the township that will be placed on West Locust Lane. It should be purchased and in place within

Office, the Chester County Children’s Advocacy Center, the county’s Department of Children, Youth & Family, and all county schools.

Facilitated by the CVC, “Stewards of Children” has already been presented to more than 2,000 adults in the county, with an ultimate goal of reaching more than 20,000 adults. The two-hour film and discussion series will be seen in schools, libraries and meeting halls in Chester County for the next three years.

Deborah Ryan, Esq., CVC’s county coordinator, calls child sexual abuse a “health crisis” that she feels has not been properly addressed, “so we are dealing with this now as a community because we have no other option,” she said. “As we bring the message out and it resonates – and the more we see the good people who care – the more that we have to work together to broaden the scope of our message, which is to protect our children.”

While still in its infancy, there are sure signs that the program is already making an impact.

“People walk away from this program empowered, so now they say, ‘I understand that child sexual abuse is a huge risk, and now I have the ability to step in, and intervene,’” said Kathleen Gast, a prevention education and volunteer coordinator for CVC, who monitored the program at Avon Grove.

“Stewards of Children” is only one initiative included in a packed roster of CVC programming. In a given week, Gast and her team of educators will travel to different regions of the county, presenting as many as five programs a day, and between 15-20 programs a week.

Through the use of puppetry, CVC’s “Soft Touches” program is taught to second graders throughout the county and introduces them to the rules of trust, and how to sense when trouble is about to occur. The CVC also moderates anti-bullying workshops, and holds workshops for students from third grade through college, that

Development issues...

Continued from Page 1A

cross the road. If for some reason the buttons are not pushed, thermal imaging sensors will operate the lights automatically.

A Toll Brothers representative said a traffic study suggests reducing speed on Route 82 to 25 miles per hour near the development, and there was a long debate about how far to extend that speed limit on Route 82, which has been a focus of concern due to routine speeding.

Cuyler Walker of the township Planning Commission detailed landscape buffering that has been ordered to screen the public areas of the new community from surrounding homes. Trees will be planted along property lines, and a raised berm has been suggested to delineate one home’s property line from the open space, which will be used for recreation.

The supervisors ultimately approved the final Toll Brothers plan, with a list of conditions that must be met before construction can begin.

A request to allow demolition of a stone farmhouse at 639 Mill Road came as a surprise to some of the supervisors, particularly Julia Lacy, who announced that she was seeing the proposal for the first time at the meet-

ing. The home sits on more than 200 acres and has been for sale for a decade. Listed at one point for $5.7 million, the property has had interest from a developer seeking to build multiple homes, but no other offers that would have preserved the features of the site, which include a well-preserved schoolhouse, lime kilns, quarries and the renmants of a dam that have been listed as historic resources in the township.

The home, which has a central portion dating to the 1720s, has deteriorated over the past decade of vacancy, and the realtor for the prospective buyers told the board that due to outdated systems, weather damage, low ceilings, and a layout in which “no two rooms are on the same level,” the home has been deemed unsalvageable. The buyers told the board they want to demolish the original home and build

a new one for their family, while retaining the other historic assets of the property.

The township Historic Commission had previously agreed to the demolition, but the supervisors wrestled with destroying “a classone historic resource” in the township, as board member Robert McKinstry said.

Since the home was not on any historic register, it was determined that the board could not block its demolition. Township solicitor Frone Crawford asked that a document formally spell out that the buyers can demolish the home, but only if the other historic resources are maintained, and the buyers, who have a Dec. 11 closing date on the property, agreed.

The board voted to allow the demolition, with McKinstry abstaining.

The board unanimously approved committing $250,000 of open space funds

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Kathleen Gast of The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County presented “Stewards of Children,” an interactive presentation to help adults detect child sexual abuse, at the Avon Grove Intermediate School on Nov. 28.

going to do this work?” Gast said. “There are so many more empowering moments that I have experienced in teaching these workshops than desperate ones. I am seeing people more comfortable talking about this subject and acknowledging the reality of this topic, and that in itself is positive.

“I just want to continue to push the boulder.”

To learn more about the CVC commitment to eradicating child sexual abuse in Chester County, or to schedule a workshop, contact Deborah Ryan, Esq., at debr@cvcofcc.org, call 610692-1926, ext. 220, or visit www.cvcofcc.org. To learn more about the “Stewards of Children” program, visit Darkness to Light’s website at www.D2L.org.

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

Five Steps to Protecting Our Children Learn the facts. One in ten children is sexually abused, and over 90 percent of them know their abuser.

Minimize opportunity. Eliminate or reduce isolated, one-on-one situations to decrease risk for abuse.

Talk about it. Have open conversations about our bodies, sex and boundaries.

Recognize the signs. Know the signs of abuse to protect children from further harm.

Reach responsibly. Understand how to respond to risky behaviors and suspicions or reports of sexual abuse.

Source: Darkness to Light

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

Chester County Press

Local News Landscapes3...

Continued from Page 1A

Chester County by 2045.

It was adopted by County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell.

Molded from six goal areas – Preserve, Protect, Appreciate, Live, Prosper and Connect -- the principles of the plan commit to protecting the county’s open spaces, natural areas and historic landscapes; maintain the smart growth of its urban and suburban centers; commit to diverse and affordable housing; expand public transit and increase pedestrian and bicycle networks; promote collaboration between business and community entities; and respond to changing market scenarios through the use of modern technology.

“Lndscapes3 will renew our commitment to balancing growth and preservation while embracing the unique characteristics of our county, including healthy natural areas, robust farms, cherished historic sites and vibrant communities,” Kichline said. “The plan also calls for diverse housing, thriving businesses, quality education and accessible transportation.”

Development of Landscapes3 was guided by the Planning Commission’s nine-member volunteer advisory board and by a 27-member steering committee.

Implementation of the plan is expected to begin in 2019.

“This has been a long and worthwhile process

in which we have heard from various stakeholders about what they value in Chester County,” said Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director Brian O’Leary.

“The Planning Commission is looking forward to implementing initiatives next year, while continuing to collaborate with our partners. We have a tremendous work program that touches on all the goal areas of Landscapes3.”

Some of the major components of the plan include completing an economic value of protected open space study; updating an inventory of natural resource alliances; creating a National Register interactive map; generating an affordable housing zoning tool; updating an existing urban community design guide; and creating an inventory of the county’s trail network.

In his opening summary presentation, O’Leary said that a key impetus to get a working plan in place stems in part from a need to determine the best way to manage the projected 146,000 new residents who are anticipated to move to the county between now and 2045. Translated, that’s 55,000 more homes, 88,000 more jobs and 64,000 more seniors – a 30 percent growth, O’Leary said.

The demographic landscape is predicted to change during that time as well, as seniors live longer and the racial and ethnic makeup of the county continues to become more diverse.

The plan takes its working playbook from the

original Landscapes plan that was adopted over 20 years ago, and its successor, Landscapes2.

Getting to the signatures of Commissioners Farrell, Cozzone and Kichline on the resolution didn’t happen overnight; it was a three-year collaborative process of gathering ideas and opinions from municipal officials, residents and business owners. During that time, the plan’s architects gave 71 presentations throughout the county, six public meetings, attended 10 steering meetings, and gathered the opinions of 5,978 survey responders.

During the hearing, several county residents raised certain issues related to the plan. One resident asked the Commissioners how the plan will embrace the use of solar resources.

“We can certainly help municipalities with ordinances that will help them allow their residents to do that in a way that fits in with the character and culture of their particular community,” Cozzone said.

“While there’s nothing specifically in the plan, it’s something we can look at, and perhaps compile some resources that we can make available to the folks who wish to figure how to do that.”

One resident expressed a concern that the county is not wholly committed to honoring its history. She told the Commissioners that too often, she will see a historic home or structure right beside a commercial development or modern store. She also complained about sign pollution

throughout the county.

“Is there anything in the plan that says that you can leave something in its natural state?” she said. “It’s making everything looks like suburbia?”

Kichline said that the plan can’t dictate a township’s zoning laws, but it can advise municipalities to take historic structures into consideration when writing their laws.

“I do know there is some extensive commentary in Landscapes3 about the importance of historic preservation,” she said.

“We do continue to have on our planning commission a staff member, Karen Marshall, who is dedicated to those types of issues. It is important to us.”

Given that creating opportunities for affordable housing is such a key priority of Landscapes3, one resident asked the Commissioners how they define affordable housing.

“Is it determined by size, cost or the community it is in?” he asked.

“From a bricks and mortar perspective, it’s been a major topic in the county for some time,” said Cozzone, who referred to some affordable housing developments planned in the county.

“What they look like, and who will live there, will depend in large part on how they are structured,” she said. “That’s why the public-private partnership is so important. Some might be for small, starter families. Some might be for empty nesters, and some might be for those in between.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director Brian O’Leary led off the hearing with a summary presentation about Landscapes3.

Establishing those housing options, Cozzone said, depends on encouraging municipalities to set their zoning laws with affordable housing in mind, so as not to freeze out middle-income individuals and their families.

“There are folks who will need vouchers, and we need to continue ensure that we will continue to have those options available, but we also need to make sure we have properties available for teachers and police officers, and folks in the middle-management kinds of jobs in our communities,” Cozzone said. “There isn’t a cookie-cutter solution, but I think that’s what is going to make it successful – the ability to be flexible and make a deter-

mination as to what’s the best way to move forward for each community.”

An annual progress report will keep track of Landscapes3’s progress, and monitor how the plan is protecting open space; encourage the county’s municipalities to enact natural resource regulations; maintain its commitment to historic tourism; make sure that housing projects match the plan’s vision of housing; focus on how taxes are assessed in urban centers; and continue to develop transportation options.

To read Landscapes3 online, visit www.chescoplanning.org/Landscapes3.

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

Studio Art Classes Explore your creativity through painting, drawing, ceramics, metalsmithing, and jewelry making classes. Evening and daytime classes available for adults, teens, and youth. All levels welcome.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

5A

SERVPRO to award two local first responders with trip to Texas for bowl game

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer In an effort to honor the service and sacrifice of America’s first responders, an annual college football bowl game played at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas has been renamed the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. SERVPRO of Kennett Square and Oxford, one of the approximately 1,750 franchises that the company has in the U.S. and Canada, will be picking a pair of local first responders to win a trip down to Texas for the game, which will feature Boston College taking on Boise State. The game will be played on Wednesday,

Dec. 26.

The first responders who will be eligible to win the trip will be nominated by the fire chiefs and police chiefs of fire departments and law enforcement agencies in the service area of SERVPRO Kennett Square and Oxford.

The service area includes southern Chester County and communities along the Route 30 corridor.

“We’re very happy to be able to honor first responders,” said Cliff Masscotte, a marketing manager for SERVPRO Kennett Square and Oxford. He noted that first responders provide a great service to their community and their country.

Masscotte estimated that there are 16 fire companies and about a dozen or more law enforcement agencies in the service area of SERVPRO Kennett Square and Oxford.

Each one can nominate one person to win the trip. Many fire companies also have ambulance divisions, and those first responders are eligible for the nomination as well.

“It’s really up to the fire chiefs or police chiefs ‒each department‒to decide who gets nominated,” Masscotte explained. He added that the first responders could be nominated based on any criteria that the individual police department or fire department decides

‒perhaps the nominees underwent extensive training to improve their work, or worked hard to overcome a personal challenge, or served the department for a long period of time. The first responders all serve with bravery and selflessness, so there is no shortage of worthy candidates.

The two lucky first responders will receive tickets to the big game, air travel to Texas, and a hotel for a two-night stay.

All the nominations were due by Friday, Nov. 30. The drawing is set to take place around Dec. 10.

Masscotte said that this is the first year that SERVPRO has been the title sponsor

for the game, which was previously known as the Heart of Dallas Bowl. He explained that a different group of first responders‒ firefighters, police officers, EMTs, the military, and doctors and nurses‒will be honored throughout the game, with different groups recognized during each quarter. Other groups like search and rescue members, dispatchers, federal agents, border patrol agents, and correctional agents ‒anyone who arrives on the scene and provides assistance during an emergency‒will be recognized during the game.

Additionally, SERVPRO will also have 50 people run out on the field to unfurl the

American Flag. Masscotte and Brian Arencibia, a marketing representative, will be among those who get to do that. The game will be nationally televised

by ESPN. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

SERVPRO was founded in 1967, and is an industry leader in providing fire and water cleanup and restoration services, mold mitigation and remediation.

More information about the First Responder Bowl, including the teams who will play in the game, can be found at www. firstresponderbowl.com.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

Sheriff Welsh will not seek re-election After nearly two decades, the first female sheriff elected in Chester County has announced that she will retire from the Sheriff’s Office and therefore won’t be seeking re-election. Her term ends in early 2020.

Chester County Sheriff Carolyn Bunny Welsh, the longest-serving sheriff in county history, said she plans to pursue one of several opportunities that have surfaced. “Sometimes, God leads you down a path and opens doors where you least expect it,” Welsh said. “After serving as sheriff for 20 years, I will be looking forward to a new challenge in 2020.”

Welsh said she is weighing several options and will not disclose her decision until it

has been finalized. She added that she was announcing her intention to change course now to give qualified candidates an opportunity to step forward and be considered.

“I care deeply about this office,” she said. “Leading it has been one of the greatest honors. I am thankful to the citizens who continued to give me their trust and confidence.”

Welsh, a resident of Pennsbury Township, was the first woman to be elected president of a graduating class at the National Sheriffs Institute, Welsh also became the first female president of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association in 2009.

She was elected in 2011 to the board of the National Sheriffs Association, which

oversees more than 3,000 sheriffs across the nation.

She currently serves on the NSA’s executive committee as third vice president, the first woman ever to hold that post.

She is co-chair of the National Coalition on Violence Against Animals (NCOVAA) and a board member of the National Flag Foundation.

Locally, Welsh is a member of the Rotary Club of West Chester and serves as vice president of the Chester County Hero Fund. She sits on the board of the Chester County Family Academy and the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School.

In 1997, Welsh was named one of the Top 50 Women in Business in the Commonwealth of

Voted Delaware’s #1 Home Improvement Co. 7 Years In A Row!

Pennsylvania.

In 2014, Philadelphia Main Line Today Magazine named Welsh, a mother of four and grandmother of nine, one of its 24 power women. And in 2018, Welsh received the Senator Robert J. Thompson Public Service Award for the broad scope of her myriad accomplishments.

Welsh acknowledged that handing over the Sheriff’s Office to her successor will be bittersweet. “I hope that he or she will share both my pride and my passion for this wonderful job,” she said. “I also hope they will recognize what an honor it is to work with these extraordinary men and women who serve the courts and the citizens with professionalism and dignity.”

Carolyn Welsh

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6A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

A gift of life for Lincoln University couple Public invited to meeting about long-range plan for U-CF schools

The annual Holiday Concert on Nov. 29 held a special meaning for two Lincoln University staff members, who, after years of hospital visits and doctor appointments, recently received life-changing news from the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Timothy Chambers, director of the Orange Crush Roaring Lions Marching Band, and Reachell Chambers, an executive assistant in academic affairs, each received a kidney transplant after spending years on a waitlist.

“It couldn’t have happened for two better people. Both of them have giving hearts and have poured into our students since Mr. Chambers’ arrival in 2016,” said Dr. Patricia P. Ramsey, provost and vice president for academic

affairs. “Although Mrs. Chambers didn’t work for the University, at that time, she generously assisted Mr. Chambers with the flag squad and was the unofficial ‘band mom.’”

Regardless of their numerous visits to the hospital for dialysis treatments, Timothy and Reachell Chambers remained dedicated to their students.

“When the band had to travel out of town, Mr. Chambers would make arrangements,” Ramseysaid.

“They love the students, and ironically, Mr. Chambers received that special call from the hospital during a pep talk, after the big homecoming performance.”

It was early October -- the height of the band’s marching season for football – when Timothy Chambers received

Timothy and Reachell Chambers, of Lincoln University, both recently received kidney transplants.

the news that he would be receiving a matching kidney.

Three weeks later, while in Baltimore for a checkup after his transplant surgery, his wife, Reachell, who joined Lincoln in 2017, was informed that she would be receiving a donor kidney.

Reachell’s subsequent transplant occurred in early November, ending her 18

years of dialysis treatments.

“Lincoln University is blessed to have Mr. and Mrs. Chambers in the LU family and we wish them the very best,” Ramsey said.

Both Timothy and Reachell Chambers said they are eternally grateful for the two organ donors and their families who opted to give the gift of life.

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is inviting the public to a “community conversation” about the district’s long-range plan.

The district develops longrange strategic plans in many areas, including curriculum, technology, facilities/grounds, and its comprehensive plan.

The district has been working on a long-range facilities plan to address immediate and longrange buildings and grounds needs. Details of the plan have been shared during recent board meetings and on the district website.

The district is hosting a public meeting to discuss

the long-range facilities plan on Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Unionville High School cafeteria. This event is open to all school district parents, students, district staff, and community members.

During the meeting, the district will present an overview of the plan, after which attendees will break into small groups to discuss different aspects of the plan. Finally, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to administrators.

For more information, email ucfsdcommunications@ucfsd. net, or visit www.ucfsd.org/ LRP.

Decade to Doorways honors groups working to prevent and end homelessness in Chester County Administrators and staff of Decade to Doorways, Chester County’s initiative to end homelessness, honored a number of organizations recently that are working to prevent – and eventually eradicate – chronic homelessness in the county.

Representatives from nearly 40 groups attended the event and ten “hometown heroes” were nominated by their peers for their dedication to pursuing an end to homelessness within Chester County.

Lauren Campbell, Decade to Doorways Administrator, said: “Chester County’s efforts to end homelessness have

been – and will continue to be – extremely effective because of the commitment of so many agencies, non-profits, healthcare professionals, faith communities and compassionate volunteers who have come together to address the issues and collaborate on positive actions.

“This appreciation event allowed us to share some impressive statistics on the collective years of service, and, importantly, the impact that their actions have made to help end homelessness in Chester County.”

The event included words

Courtesy photo

Some of the “Hometown Heroes” honored at the recent Decade to Doorways appreciation event for their dedication to preventing and ending homelessness in Chester County.

from keynote speaker Julia Orlando, who, as Director of Bergen County, New Jersey Housing, Health and Human Service Center, led that county

to be the first in the nation to successfully reach and maintain “functional zero’ for chronic homelessness.

Since the inception of Decade

to Doorways in 2012, Chester County has served more than 6,200 clients experiencing homelessness, of which over 1,300 were children. Nearly 225,000 nights of emergency shelter were made available to the most vulnerable in Chester County, and 1,451 people found permanent housing.

Earlier this year, Decade to Doorways published its most recent operational plan to ensure the program continues to divert, prevent and quickly re-house those experiencing homelessness, rather than just manage homelessness. The updated plan will guide the

approximately 35 organizations who diligently work every day to see the Chester County community is healthy, housed and stable.

“The causes and situations of homelessness are vast and often deep-rooted, but in Chester County we recognize that homeless does not define anyone. We truly believe that it is a temporary situation to which an end is achievable,” added Lauren Campbell.

“We are on track, and remain committed to focusing our resources on ending chronic homelessness within the next two years in Chester County.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

7A

Chester County Press

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Opinion

Editorial

Letter to the Editor

Moving our communities from darkness to light

Putting drug prices on TV will cause unnecessary patient panic

It is the quietest epidemic, but its numbers do not lie.

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau report revealed that one in five girls and one in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse, and that one in 10 boys and girls will be the victim of sexual abuse by the time they reach their 18th birthday.

A further dig into these startling facts reveal even larger and more terrifying truths.

Nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults occur to children ages 17 and under, and 44 percent of sexual assaults with penetration occur to children under 18.

Further, child sexual abuse has been determined as the most prevalent health problem children face, and that of the babies born in the U.S. this year, about 400,000 of them will later become victims of child sexual abuse.

While reported incidents of child sexual abuse declined nearly 50 percent nationally over a 12-year span from 1993 to 2005, the rate of child abuse reports has increased dramatically in Chester County over the past few years. In 2014, for instance, there were 414 reports of child sexual abuse; by 2017, that number had soared to 1,924.

There is another number that is equally horrifying: Only 38 percent of child victims disclose the fact that they have been sexually abused, and for every victim who has the courage to tell his or her story, there is a similar victim whose story is never heard. Worse still, there are millions more who know or suspect that a child is being sexually abused, and for reasons having to do with fear, ignorance or avoidance of conflict, never come forward.

It is the deafening and catastrophic equivalent of a giant door being shut, reverberating around our nations’ leading healthcare and mental health facilities, in our law enforcement centers, in our classrooms and in our living rooms and our children’s bedrooms.

Locally, one agency is doing the necessary lifting to wedge that closed door open. The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. (CVC) (See story on Page 1A) is facilitating a three-year Safe and Healthy Communities initiative to prevent child sexual abuse in Chester County before it happens, and to also provide the adult population with the knowledge to recognize and react to the red flags of childhood sexual abuse.

Through a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network at Penn State University, CVC staff facilitate the “Stewards of Children” program at schools, churches and libraries all over the county.

Created by the Darkness to Light foundation, “Stewards of Children” is the only nationally available program scientifically proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child-protective behaviors. It’s an all-hands-on-deck initiative whose mission is to minimize opportunities for child sexual abuse; have ageappropriate conversations about sex and boundaries; and sharpen an individual’s ability to detect and report irresponsible behavior.

Engaging the county in the topic of child sexual abuse prevention is not being limited to just adults. Through its Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative, the CVC kicked off “Safe Touches” this past September, as part of a two-year goal to educate as many as 5,000 secondgraders in Chester County about how they can keep their bodies safe.

Developed by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, “Safe Touches” uses colorful puppets and role-playing scenarios to help children identify the difference between safe and unsafe touches.

The workshop emphasizes the important messages that if a child has been touched inappropriately, it is never the child’s fault, and for children to keep telling about not-safe touches they have received until they are believed.

All over Chester County – in schools, in libraries and in houses of worship – there is a sound being made by The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc.. It is the sound of voices and truths and breakthroughs, banging down the door of secrecy, over and over, community by community, until there are no barriers left.

For more information about the “Stewards of Children” and “Safe Touches” programs being conducted by the Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc., contact Deborah Ryan at debr@cvcofcc.org, or call 610-6921926, x. 220. To learn more about Darkness to Light, visit www.D2L.org.

Chester County Press Publisher - Randall S. Lieberman

Steve Hoffman . . . . . . Managing Editor John Chambless . . . . . Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw . . . . . Staff Writer Carla Lucas . . . . . . . . Correspondent Nancy Johnson . . . . . . Correspondent Brenda Butt . . . . . . . . Office Manager Tricia Hoadley . . . . . . Art Director Alan E. Turns . . . . . . . Advertising Director Amy Lieberman . . . . . Advertising Executive Teri Turns . . . . . . . . . . Advertising Executive Helen E. Warren . . . . . Advertising Executive

The Chester County Press (USPS 416-500) is published every Wednesday by: AD PRO, Inc. 144 South Jennersville Rd, West Grove, PA 19390 Mailing Address: PO Box 150, Kelton, PA 19346 Telephone: (610) 869-5553 FAX (610) 869-9628 Internet E-mail (editor): editor@chestercounty.com HOURS: Monday- Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., no weekend hours

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By Sally C. Pipes The Trump administration has proposed several reforms to drive down prescription drug prices.

One measure would force pharmaceutical companies to mention the sticker prices of their medicines in television advertisements.

The new mandate covers all prescriptions drugs reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid that cost more than $35 a month.

The administration hopes this change will empower patients to choose more affordable drugs and embarrass companies into reducing their prices. But the rule won’t achieve those goals.

Instead, it would mislead customers into thinking drug prices are higher than they actually are. It could deter patients from asking doctors about medicines that would improve or save their lives.

The rule would require

advertisements to announce drugs’ “wholesale acquisition cost.” That’s the sticker price manufacturers set when they introduce products to market.

Pharmaceutical companies don’t actually receive this amount; it’s merely the starting point for pricing negotiations with health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and other middlemen in the supply chain. These negotiations result in substantial discounts. On average, manufacturers rebate onethird of a drug’s sticker price back to payers.

Often, discounts can cut 60 percent or more off the sticker price. Last year alone, manufacturers offered more than $150 billion in discounts and rebates.

Manufacturer discounts wouldn’t be reflected in ads.

So the price patients see on their screens would be substantially higher than the true, discounted price.

Even that discounted price doesn’t represent what people pay at the pharmacy counter.

Patients’ out-of-pocket spending depends on their insurance plans, which detail their co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, and so on. It’s entirely possible that a patient could pay just a few dollars for a drug with a sticker price of hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.

Forcing drug companies to announce unrepresentative list prices could actively harm patients’ health. Beyond making patients anxious, sticker shock could prevent people from taking necessary medications.

As prices go up, patients are less likely to adhere to their prescriptions. Doubling patient copays reduces adherence by as much as 45 percent. If patients mistakenly believe they’re going to spend a small fortune, they may never inquire about medicines that could keep them healthy.

Patients ought to be better informed about drug costs.

But there’s a better way to offer that transparency.

Drug manufacturers have proposed directing TV viewers to websites that provide detailed pricing breakdowns about drugs.

Online, manufacturers have the space to provide essential details and more accurate price estimations that can’t be squished into 30-second commercials.

The Trump administration’s new advertising proposal is well-intentioned -- but it’s likely to scare people away from needed medications.

Officials would be wise to shelve the rule.

Sally C. Pipes is President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy at the Pacific Research Institute. Her latest book is The False Promise of Single-Payer Health Care (Encounter 2018). Follow her on Twitter @sallypipes.

Barrar and Commission present report on improving first responder recruitment, retention As co-chair of the Senate Resolution 6 Commission, Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/ Delaware) joined other commission members in presenting the report focused on improving recruitment and retention in the two critical fields of fire and emergency medical services (EMS).

After the bipartisan, bicameral commission held a series of meetings during the last year, it created a report of 27 recommendations about how to address recruitment and retention problems in the Commonwealth.

“Since the report was released now, we will be able to hit the ground running when the next legislative session begins in January,” Barrar said. “We will be able to hold hearings, as necessary, and draft legislation to make a real difference with the problems we are facing.”

For example, the number of volunteer firefighters shrunk from about 300,000 in the 1980s to 38,000 today, according to the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute.

Recommendations include

providing tax credit expansion for personnel, free community college or state university system tuition funding basic fire and emergency medical technician training for all firefighters and EMS personnel.

Concepts, like regionalization, are also suggested in the report.

As stated in the report, the concept would be to provide a core of career personnel to handle the “routine” responses supported by volunteers to handle more involved responses.

Another recommendation was to raise the fine for misusing fireworks from $100 to $500, with the majority being retained by local governments to better equip them to handle the significant increase in calls made in many communities across the state.

“I remain committed to ensuring that our first responder services remain viable in the Commonwealth, and look forward to advancing concepts contained the in the report next year,” Barrar added.

Lincoln University raises more than $80,000 on Day of Giving Lincoln University supporters came together recently to raise the largest amount ever during a national Day of Giving. When all the gifts and pledges were tallied, the final number exceeded $80,000.

“We exceeded our goal because of the sheer number of constituencies that participated: alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends, elected officials, local businesses, trustees, and foundations all came together to close the gap for student success,” said Dr. Mellissia M. Zanjani, CFRE, and vice president for institutional advancement.

“Each donation played a part in yesterday’s success, but more importantly every donor acted on a belief in the University’s mission to educate and empower students to lead their communities and change the world.”

Throughout the day, students in the Pre-Alumni Council manned phones to answer questions from callers.

Richard Lancaster, III, MLD ’12, annual giving manager, talked with donors on the phone, updated messaging with communications staff members for social media updates, and assisted advancement staff in

collecting donations. One professor even collected money during his two classes and personally delivered students’ donations along with his own personal gift to the Division of Institutional Advancement.

“It was an all-hands on deck day, and together, the Lincoln Community stepped up in a big way,” said Lancaster, manager of annual giving.

Alumni laid the groundwork for a successful day by engaging their networks and rallying supporters through grassroots efforts. Corporations and foundations contributed some of the largest monetary

gifts, while many individuals saw their donation matched by their employers.

The need for student support to close the gap is ongoing. Visit www.lincoln. edu/dayofgiving to donate to student scholarships or another fund of your choosing.

The advancement team will build on the success from the Day of Giving with the next major fundraising day, which will be held on April 29, Founder’s Day. This special day of fundraising is an annual celebration of the signing of the charter of Lincoln University in 1854.

In 2019, the University will celebrate 165 years.

Oxford man receives Certificate of Excellence Tim Ard, a resident of Oxford, has received a Certificate of Excellence from Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s MSC Business Services.

“The Certificate of Excellence honors account supervisors who provide exceptional service to their clients and excel in all areas of job performance,” said Michael Volinskie, Manager of MSC Business Services.

Ard is an account supervisor who meets the needs of clients in Chester County. He also serves as regional manager.

MSC Business Services offers tax planning and preparation, consulting and

financial analysis services to Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members to help them improve their net income. MSC Business Services has been helping meet the accounting needs of Farm Bureau members for more than 60 years. A team of 33 account supervisors serve 3,360 members across the state.

“Outstanding local account supervisors like Tim Ard help the Farm Bureau provide excellent service to clients and meet the changing needs of Pennsylvania agriculture,” Volinskie said.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm

Courtesy photo

Regional manager Tim Ard (center) receives a Certificate of Excellence from Michael Volinskie, manager of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s MSC Business Services (right) and Sam Kieffer, PFB’s Chief Administrative Officer.

organization with a volunteer families, representing farms membership of more than of every size and commodity 62,000 farm and rural across Pennsylvania.

8A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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B

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

Strikingly original ceramics and glass at Bookplace in Oxford

By John Chambless Staff Writer

The annual ‘Ceramics and Glass’ show continues through Jan. 20 at Bookplace in Oxford.

Bowls and cups by Gill Mallinckrodt.

Glass tumblers by Kevin Lehman.

Carlo Jury’s pots have little pots clinging to them as handles.

Two cups with spattered designs by Rick Hohenwarter.

The annual show of ceramics and glass at Bookplace in Oxford is becoming a Christmas tradition, offering a nice selection of items for gift giving that you won’t find anywhere else -- and that’s a nice thing at this time of year.

The show, which opened last weekend and continues through Jan. 20, features seven artists who have a great range of functional and artistic ceramics and glass. Amedeo Salamoni shows a wonderful variety of face jugs, cups and crocks in the southern folk tradition.

They retain the traditional gargoyle-like faces, but add a slight contemporary edge.

Each one is unique, and the expressions range from grumpy to sleepy to something in between.

Salamoni also has some tamer vases, bowls and teapots that have a lovely brown glaze and incised surfaces.

Rick Hohenwarter’s spattered, abstract glazes are really fun, reminiscent of the drip paintings of Jackson Pollock. Each one has its own energy, with one foot in mid-century cool and one foot in

contemporary art.

Carolyn Hess works with traditional glazes and motifs. Her crocks look like 1800s originals, her redware is elegantly done, and her hens-andfox teapot is a warm, witty highlight.

Kevin Lehman shows a large selection of handmade glass cups, with transluscent designs that catch the light beautifully. Gill Mallinckrodt’s cups and bowls have an appealingly raw look, intriguingly rough and original.

And make sure you stop to appreciate the little things, such as Carlo Jury’s bowls and pots. The handles on two of them are actually little pots themselves, clinging to the larger vessels with spindly arms. They are completely charming.

“Ceramics and Glass” continues at Bookplace (2373 Baltimore Pike, Oxford) through Jan. 20. The book shop and gallery is open Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Call 717-715-4775 for more information.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@ chestercounty.com.

A tray by Jenni Sigman.

A traditional crock by Carolyn Hess.

Tickets are on sale for Winterfest, the annual beer festival in Kennett Square. This year’s event will be held Feb. 23 from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

More than 60 breweries will be represented at the event. Visitors can sample brews from a wide variety of breweries, and several food trucks will supply snacks and meals. Live music is also part of the event.

Tickets are $60 general admission, and $15 for

Amedeo Salamoni’s face jugs and cups have distinctive personalities.

A hens-and-fox teapot by Carolyn Hess.

Beer lovers can get Winterfest tickets

designated drivers.

This year’s special Def Conn 1.6 ticket features Levante Brewing Company. Ticket holders will be admitted to the event early, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and will get a special tasting, gourmet food pairings from Talula’s Table and George’s Seafood, as well as entrance to the regular festival. Tickets are limited, and are $100 each.

For more information,

visit www.kennett winterfest.com, or call 610-444-8188. The list of participating breweries, so far, includes: 2SP Brewing Abomination Brewing Argilla Brewing Artillery Brewing Braeloch Brewing DogFish Head Dressler Estates Cidery Fegley’s Brew Works Duck Rabbit Graft Cidery Hollow Earth Kennett Brewing

Company Lake Placid Brewing Levante Liquid Hero Brewing Locust Lane McKenzie Cider Rebel Seed River Horse Brewing Stolen Sun Urban Village Brewing Victory Brewing Wilmington Brew Works Workhorse Brewing Company Yards Zero Day Brewing

File photo by Richard Gaw

Even though it’s in February, the Kennett Winterfest always draws a thirsty crowd.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

CHRISTOPHER M. BAILEY

RAY W. MELRATH, SR.

FRANCIS C. WOERNER

Christopher Michael (Mike) Bailey, 43, of Oxford, was called home to heaven on Nov. 24.

He was the fiancé of Dr. Elysia Schaefer.

Born in 1975 in Orlando, Fla., he was the son of Kathleen Bailey Kronquist of North Carolina and the late Christopher Pariscoff.

Mike was a certified journeyman farrier who owned and operated Chesapeake Forge, servicing the tristate area. He was active in the American Farriers Association and Pennsylvania Professional Farriers Association. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oxford. Mike enjoyed bladesmithing, working on cars and spending time with family. He built many strong friendships over the years and will be deeply missed by all.

He is survived by his fiancé; mother; stepfather, James Kronquist of North Carolina; two sons, Kalman Bailey of North Carolina and Tyler Bailey of Oxford; one daughter, Hope Bailey of Oxford; a half-sister, Brittani Waldrip and her husband Jacob of North Carolina; and maternal grandparents, Kalman and Voner Bailey of Florida.

Interment was private.

Ray W. Melrath, Sr., 83, of Colora, Md., formerly of Oxford, passed away on Nov. 21 at his home.

Born in Oxford, he was the son of the late Lawrence Kirk and Alice Gertrude Jackson Melrath. Ray was a member of the American Legion Mason Dixon Post No. 194, Rising Sun, Md. He retired from Robinson’s Furniture in Oxford.

Ray was an avid sports fan.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Dorothy Adams; two sons, Dale Melrath of Oxford and Richard Melrath (Cindy) of Rising Sun, Md.; one brother, Jack E. Melrath (Brenda) of Nottingham; five grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Ray W. Melrath, Jr. Services were private. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

Francis C. Woerner, Sr., 73, of Bear, Del., passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Nov. 20 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del. He was the husband of Barbara Grimes Woerner, with whom he shared 53 years of marriage. Born in Wilmington, Del., he was the son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Kiefer Woerner. Francis was employed with Amtrak as a car repairman for 30 years. He enjoyed watching the Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles. He loved spending time with his family and helping others.

He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Elizabeth (Derrick) Aliff of Georgetown, Del., and Debbie (Frank) Armstrong of New Castle, Del.; one son, Francis, Jr. (Kimberly) Woerner of Kennett Square; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Barbara Ann Jones.

A memorial service was held Nov. 20. Interment was in Grace Lawn Memorial Park, New Castle, Del. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

VICTOR C. VELAZQUEZ Victor Castaneda Velazquez, 54, of Avondale, passed away on Nov. 26 at Christiana Hospital.

He was the husband of Irene Ayllon Mendiola. Born in Almoloya De Alquisiras, Mexico, he was the son of Elpidia Velaquez of Mexico and the late Rafael Castaneda. He was a maintenance worker at South Mill Mushrooms in Kennett Square.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Miguel Castaneda of Avondale; three daughters, Yulissa Castaneda, Veronico Castaneda and Esmeralda Castaneda; two brothers; seven sisters; and one grandson.

A visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at St. Rocco Catholic Church (313 Sunny Dell Rd., Avondale). His funeral mass will follow at 5 p.m. Burial will be in Mexico.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.griecocares.com.

GIBBS STANLEY Gibbs Stanley, 81, of Kirkwood, Pa., was called home on Nov. 23 by his Lord and Savior.

He was the husband of Audrey J. Porter Stanley, with whom he shared 55 years of marriage. Born in Bakersville, N.C., he was the son of the late Dewey Wesley and Esta Gouge Stanley. Gibbs was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was employed with the Coatesville VA Hospital as the boiler plant supervisor for 12 years, and later as a barber for 10 years, retiring in 1995. He attended Nottingham Presbyterian Church.

Gibbs was a generous man who loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and friends.

He is survived by his wife; one son, Timothy C. Stanley of Nottingham; one daughter, Cheryl A. Thompson of Oxford; six grandchildren; three brothers, Herman Stanley of Rising Sun, Md., Bill Stanley of Bakersville, N.C., and Earl Stanley of Kirkwood; and three sisters, Lola Morales of Hopkins, S.C., Evelyn Bennett of Bakersville, N.C., and Shirley Pittman of Spruce Pine, N.C. He was preceded in death by a son, Gibbs Stanley, Jr.; a daughter, Krista E. Longenecker; three brothers, Lee Stanley, Donald Stanley and Charles Stanley; and two sisters, Gertrude Agnoli and Helen Stanley.

Funeral services and interment were private. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome. com.

GRACE DEFEO Grace DeFeo, 87, of Glen Mills, formerly of Ocean City, N.J., passed away on Nov. 27 at Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester.

She was the wife of Frank DeFeo, who passed away in 2013, and with whom she shared 57 years of marriage.

Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Camillo Verratti and the late Anna Bianchi Verratti. She was an underwriter at the Aetna Insurance Company in Philadelphia, retiring after 34 years of service. She was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She was a member of St. Damien Catholic Church in Ocean City, N.J., and the Italian American Club in Ocean City, N.J. Grace enjoyed reading, the beach, family get-togethers, sports and watching game shows on TV. She is survived by one sister, Rose Less of Glen Mills; seven nieces and nephews and their families. She was was predeceased by two sisters, Connie Falco and Esther Koziel.

A visitation will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at St. Cornelius Catholic Church (160 Ridge Rd., Chadds Ford).

Her funeral mass will follow at 10 a.m. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to St. Cornelius Church at the above address. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

Alleluia And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 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.

Compliments of

Landenberg Church United Methodist All Are Welcome

HERR FOODS, INC. NOTTHINGHAM, PA

932-9330 ENCOURAGES YOU TO ATTEND THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOICE

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

Nottingham Inn, Nottingham, PA

Through Dec. 13 Ten Thousand Villages shop Oxford Presbyterian Church (6 Pine St., Oxford) will host a gift shop featuring crafts from around the world by Ten Thousand Villages, on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Dec. 16. Local author Iris Gray Dowling will be at the shop on Dec. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Call 610-932-9640 for more information.

Dec. 7-8 Live Nativity Stillwaters Presbyterian Church (643 Coatesville Road, Route 841, West Grove) is hosting their sixth annual Living Nativity on Dec. 7 and 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Visitors will walk through several outdoor scenes that tell the story of the birth of Jesus, from the announcement of the coming of Christ to the journey to Bethlehem, the proclamation of angels, the Holy Family in the stable, and the visit by the wise men.

Actors will portray each role, along with live animals. The event is free, handicappedaccessible and suitable for all ages. Visitors may also

stop in the church for free hot chocolate, cookies, and live music provided by choral groups from West Fallowfield Christian School and Wilmington Christian School.

For more information, call 610-869-2009 or visit www. stillwatersfamily.com.

Dec. 8 and 9 Drive-through Nativity Beulah Baptist Church (just north of the intersection of routes 10 and 896) will host its Christmas DriveThru Nativity on Dec. 8 and 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. Visitors drive through the village of “Bethlehem,” and experience a re-creation of what it may have been like for the people who were there the night Jesus was born. The actors will be talking to passengers in each vehicle that comes through. The event will also be celebrated in the church lobby, where guests are encouraged to come for refreshments.

For more information, call 610-932-9595 or visit www.

Christmasatbeulah.com.

Dec. 16 Live Nativity West Grove United Methodist Church (300 N. Guernsey Rd., West Grove) will present a live Nativity on Dec. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Visitors will see a stable, complete with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men, and live animals. A bulletin outlining the story of Jesus’ birth found in the gospel of Luke will be shared. Visitors can warm up inside the church with fellowship among friends, home baked goodies, and cups of hot chocolate. For directions and more information, call 610-869-9334 or visit www. westgroveumc.org.

Obituary submissions

For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10

Lions Club of Oxford

West Grove United Methodist Church will present a live Nativity on Dec. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. (see listing).

205 Penn Green Rd. In Historic Downtown Landenberg Landenberg, PA 19350

610-274-8384 Services Every Sunday • 9:00 am

The Chester County Press publishes obituaries, free of charge, for those with a connection to southern Chester County. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received, space permitting.

They also are posted on www.chestercounty.com.

Photos should be sent as .jpg attachments to the obituary text.

To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press, email the information to: jchambless@ chestercounty.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

A host of holiday events in the region The holiday spirit is everywhere, so in between the gift shopping and family get-togethers, here are a few of the local events taking place in the coming weeks: Herr Foods, Inc. (20 Herr Drive, Nottingham) is hosting their free display of holiday lights through Jan. 1. The drivethrough display is open beginning at dusk, seven days a week. Call 610932-9330 or visit www. herrs.com.

Stillwaters Presbyterian Church (643 Coatesville Road, Route 841, West Grove) is hosting their sixth annual Living Nativity on Dec. 7 and 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Visitors will walk through several outdoor scenes that tell the story of the birth of Jesus, from the announcement of the coming of Christ to the journey to Bethlehem, the proclamation of angels, the Holy Family in the stable, and the visit by the wise men. Actors will portray each role, along with live animals.

The event is free, handicapped-accessible and suitable for all ages.

Visitors may also stop in the church for free hot chocolate, cookies, and live music provided by choral groups from West Fallowf ield Christian School and Wilmington Christian School. For more information, call 610-869-2009 or visit www.stillwatersfamily. com.

Beulah Baptist Church (just north of the intersection of routes 10 and 896) will host its Christmas Drive-Thru Nativity on Dec. 8 and 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. Visitors drive through the village of “Bethlehem,” and experience a re-creation of what it may have been like for the people who were there the night Jesus was born. The actors will be talking to passengers in each vehicle that comes through. The event will also be celebrated in the church lobby, where guests are encouraged to come for refreshments.

For more information, call 610-932-9595 or visit www.Christmasatbeulah. com.

West Grove welcomes Santa Claus to town on

Dec. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.

There will be music by the Avon Grove Charter School Choir followed by a tree lighting at 117 Rosehill Ave., near the library. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by fire truck, and meet children at the West Grove Garage Community and Youth Center (122 Rosehill Ave.). There will be hot chocolate and a food truck for visitors. Avon Grove Library and Casa Guanajuato will provide children’s activities.

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church (116 E. Lancaster Pike, Oxford) hosts a concert of Celtic holiday music by Charlie Zahm on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the church.

Bring nonperishable food item which will be given to food cupboards.

Tickets are $15 (children 12 and younger free). For more information and reservations, call 610869-8076 or visit www. thefriendsfolkclub.com.

Santa arrives on a Longwood Fire Company truck from Dec. 15 to 23, with all trips beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The schedule includes: Saturday, Dec. 15 -Kennett Township Sunday, Dec. 16 -Pocopson Township Saturday, Dec. 22 -Pennsbury Township Sunday, Dec. 23 -- East Marlborough Township Fo r more information, visit www. longwoodfireco.com.

Santa arrives for breakfast on Dec. 16 at the Red Clay Room of Kenett Fire Company No. 1 (423 Dalmatian St., Kennett Square). There will be two seatings, from 8 to 10 a.m., and 10 a.m. to noon. A photo with Santa is included. The menu includes pancakes, French toast, sausage and bacon. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for ages 3 to 12 (2 and younger free). Call 610-444-4810 for reservations, or email info@firestation24.com.

West Grove United Methodist Church (300 N. Guernsey Rd., West Grove) will present a live Nativity on Dec. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Visitors will see a stable, complete with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus,

The free drive-through holiday light display at Herr’s in Nottingham continues through Jan. 1.

shepherds, wise men, and live animals. A bulletin outlining the story of Jesus’ birth found in the gospel of Luke will be shared. Visitors can warm up inside the church with fellowship among friends, home baked goodies, and cups of hot chocolate.

For directions and more information, call 610869-9334 or visit www. westgroveumc.org.

Kennett Square’s version of the Times Square ball drop will be held Dec. 31 in the heart of downtown. Midnight in the Square opens with a laser light show at 6 p.m., and at midnight, a lighted mushroom will be raised to mark the new year at State and Union streets. At 6:30 p.m., there will be children’s entertainmenty Dan and Galla at the Garage on South Union Street, and Kennett Brewing will be serving food, beer and wine. The “On The Roll” food truck will be serving food and drinks outside.

Live entertainment outdoors will include the KMC Dancers, Longwood Performing Arts, the Rose Project, and Fred McCarthy, followed by the Funsters rock band from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Kennett Square restaurants and some shops will be open.

Parking is available at Exelon Way off of East Baltimore Pike, and Kennett High School, with free shuttle buses running from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will meet children at the West Grove Garage on Dec. 14.

West Grove United Methodist Church will present a live Nativity on Dec. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Santa arrives by fire truck, thanks to the Longwood Fire Company, from Dec. 15 to 23.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive by fire truck in West Grove in 2015.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

Chester County Press

Local News UHS student selected for prestigious choir Unionville High School Junior Margaret Wu has been selected for the prestigious ACDA National Honor Choir.

Last year, she was selected to participate in the PMEA District and Regional Choir Festivals. Following her participation in these festivals, Unionville High School Choral Director, Jason Throne, recorded and submitted Margaret’s audition, which led to her selection into the 2019 ACDA National Honor Choir.

Margaret is one of a select few in the region to be chosen by the ACDA to perform in the national choir.

She is only the second UHS singer to be selected for an ACDA National Honor Choir in school history.

“I’m very proud of Margaret,” Throne said.

“She worked really hard on her audition and competed against singers from around the country from both high school and college levels. Singing in an ACDA National Honor Choir is a once-in-a-life-

other talented singers from across the nation,” Margaret said. “I’d like to thank Mr. Throne for providing me with this opportunity. I’m so excited for February!”

Before Margaret travels to Kansas she will perform in the 2018 PMEA District Choir Festival, during which she will have an opportunity to once again audition for the regional and state choirs.

Margaret Wu, a junior at Unionville High School, has been selected for the ACDA National Choir.

time experience, and I am so excited that she will have this opportunity.”

The finest choral musicians from all over the country will meet in Kansas City to rehearse with conductor, Dr. Sandra Snow, and perform choral music. The four-day conference will begin Feb. 27, culminating with a final performance at the Kauffman Center on March 2.

“I feel honored to have been chosen to sing in Kansas City with so many

Hopewell Elementary School names top students Courtesy photo

Hopewell Elementary School teachers nominate Students of the Month based on their academic achievements and participation in class and school activities. Pictured with principal Dr. Nicole Addis and assistant principal Jason Soule, fifth grade October Students of the Month are, front row from left, Cameron Phouthavongsa, John Fitz, Sophia Barron, Abigail Fraundorfer and Molly Walsh; second row from left, Davian Guerrero, Dalton Carr, Emma Murch, Keenan Thomas, Kaylee Carr and Jimmy Velazquez-Vazquez. Sixth grade October Students of the Month are, third row from left, Noah Stoltzfus, Jadyn Cosenzo, Joseph Hill, Hailey Patton, Olivia Rodriguez and Kim Hendry; top row from left, Katie Truslow, Kainoa Distenfeld, Ismael Zermeno, Elise Lanier and Jesus Ibarra Mara. Sixth grader Alex Almanza Leon is not pictured.

Penn’s Grove School honors Students of the Month Penn’s Grove School teachers nominate Students of academic achievements and participation in class and the Month for each grade level team based on their school activities.

Pictured with principal Tami Motes, top left, and assistant principal Kristen Chastain, Penn’s Grove School seventh grade Students of the Month for October are, front from left, Javier Chavez Garcia, Andrea Magana, Yovana Aguilar Lesdesma, Keigan Barnes, Elizabeth Kiernan and AJ Migroni; top from left, Paul Kellerman, Charlie Burns, Kaylee Johnson, Amelia Donahue and Conner Mallon.

Pictured with principal Tami Motes, top right, and assistant principal Kristen Chastain, Penn’s Grove Middle School eighth grade Students of the Month for October are, front from left, Sydney Troutman, Emily Horton, Jordan DiNapoli, Hayli Hart, Miah Villa and Daniel Guzman; top from left, Allison Sinigaglio, Olivia Peterson, Brady Bennett, Matthew Rinehimer and Andrew Klein. Yaritzel Torres is not pictured.

LEGALS ESTATE NOTICE

Letters Testamentary or of Administration having been granted in the estate of Eleanor Veronica Holbrook, late of Coatesville. All persons having claim or demands against the estate are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedents are requested to make payment w/o delay to the Colleen Holbrook, 79 Melrose Ave, Westmont, NJ 08108, Executrix.

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INCORPORATION NOTICE

BE HERE BREWING COMPANY, INC. has been incorporated under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988.

Brutscher, Foley, Milliner & Land, LLP, 213 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 12p-05-1t

INCORPORATION NOTICE

Elite Sports Marketing and Management, Inc. has been incorporated under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988.

Schindler Law Group, LLC, 818 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square, PA 19348 12p-05-1t

NOTICE OF RESCHEDULED PUBLIC MEETING

The December Penn Township Plan-

ning Commission has been rescheduled for Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at the Penn Township Municipal Building, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA. to consider township business. Please refer any questions or requests for special accommodation to Caitlin Ianni, Township Secretary at 610-869-9620. Respectfully submitted, Caitlin A. Ianni, Penn Township Secretary 12p-05-1t

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Zoning Hearing Board of Elk Township will meet on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the Elk Township Building, 952 Chesterville Road, Lewisville, Pennsylvania, to conduct hearings on one (1) application as fol-

lows: Application of Dan (Dana) Weber, seeking a variance regarding new construction of a pole barn in an area measured less than 50 feet landward from the top of bank or watercourse and/or to permit a structure and/or impervious surface to be located within 50 feet of the back of a watercourse for the property located at 205 Wills Farm Road, Lincoln University, PA 19352 (Elk Township Zoning Ordinance of 2002, as amended §1101.G.5 and 1103.E.1.B(2)).

The public may attend and participate in the hearing. If you would like to review the application and you are a person with a disability and require accommodations to attend or participate in the hearings, please contact the Township secretary at 610-255-0634.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018

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New Garden brings its holiday fest indoors Last-minute location change still draws 500

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Photos by Richard L. Gaw

With an escort by the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department, Santa Claus arrived at the New Garden township building on Dec. 2.

On Dec. 2 at 3:16 p.m., thousands of New Garden Township residents received an email from the township, informing them that its annual tree lighting festivities, originally scheduled for New Garden Township Park, were being moved to the township building on Starr Road due to a heavy rain forecast.

“Due to the inclement weather conditions, the helicopter that usually transports Santa Claus to the park wasn’t able to fly, and the Weather Channel was predicting a 60 percent chance of rain, so [Assistant to the Township Manager] Kati Parlier and I had to make a decision by 2 p.m.,” said Township Manager Tony Scheivert. “We needed to keep everything in place and mobilized, and the event went great, despite the change of venue.”

Members of the Busam family patiently await the arrival of Santa Claus.

Scheivert estimated the attendance at more than 500 people who began to arrive well before the 3:45 p.m. start time, filling the township building’s parking lot and adjacent field and trudging through the murky conditions to enter the building. Once inside, families were treated to holiday snacks, cocoa and Santa Claus, who arrived at 4 p.m. as part of a police escort by members of the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department.

“Everyone seemed to be in such good spirits, despite our having to move the location,” Scheivert added. “We kept receiving thanks from everyone. Families showed great patience, in spite of the fact that many had to wait as long as 45 minutes to see Santa.”

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

The Nicholson family of Landenberg were just one of hundreds of families who packed the New Garden township building to greet Santa Claus and get some holiday treats.

Santa prepares to enter the building through a thicket of admirers.

The Mumford family sends its season’s greetings to Deputy Chief Michael King of the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department.

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Through Jan. 6 Yuletide at Winterthur Yuletide at Winterthur runs until Jan. 6, with a yuletide tour of the du Pont mansion decked out for the holidays.

Each delightful room tells a story reflecting the ways in which Americans have celebrated the winter holiday season from the 1800s to the present. Other highlights include: a magical Christmas tree inspired by Winterthur’s Enchanted Woods children’s garden; more trees celebrating the season throughout the mansion; an 18-room dollhouse mansion filled with nearly 1,000 miniatures and fully decorated for Christmas; and a display of antique Santas and figures of the mischievous Belsnickel.

Winterthur’s two stores offer a selection of gifts.

Programs throughout the season include the weekly Yuletide Jazz and Wine series, which features favorite holiday music ensembles on Wednesday evenings; live one-man performances of “A Christmas Carol” featuring Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens; and the popular Yuletide Brunch with Santa. Timed tickets for the tour are available at www. winterthur.org, or by calling 800-448-3883. Tickets are $22 for non-members, $20 for seniors and students, $6 for children, and free for infants.

Through Jan. 6 ‘A Longwood Christmas’ Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square) hosts “A Longwood Christmas” through Jan. 6.

There will be decorated trees and greens throughout the Conservatory, and millions of lights on the trees and topiary outdoors.

There will be outdoor fire pits, strolling carolers and live music all season long.

Admission is by advance purchase of a timed ticket.

Tickets are $23 for adults, $20 for seniors and college students with ID, $12 for ages 5 to 18, free for ages 4 and younger. Visit www. longwoodgardens.org for tickets and more information.

Through Jan. 6 ‘A Brandywine Christmas’ The Brandywine River Museum of Art (Route 1, Chadds Ford) holds its holiday display through Jan. 6. There will be a landscaped, operating O-gauge model train display, caroling in the museum, decorated trees, a children’s party on Dec. 5, a “Breakfast With the Trains” for families on Dec. 8 and 15, and more.

The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas day). Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $6 for students with ID and ages 6 to 18, free for children under 5 and members. Visit www. brandywinemuseum.org for more information.

Through Jan. 1 Holidays at Hagley Hagley Museum in Wilmington will celebrate the holidays with exhibitions, a gingerbread house display, and a seasonal setting for taking photos in Santa’s Workshop. Rooms throughout the residence through Jan. 1 will display decorations reminiscent of Christmases past of the du Pont family. New this year is “The Magic of Miniatures,” with a dollhouse owned by Mrs. E. Paul du Pont, who lived next to Hagley. On Dec. 8, Santa will be available for photos at 10 a.m., 1, and 3 p.m. Visit www.hagley.org

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The beauty of the season is on display at Longwood Gardens through Jan. 6 (see listing).

for more information.

Dec. 14 Celtic Christmas St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church (116 E. Lancaster Pike, Oxford) hosts a concert of Celtic holiday music by Charlie Zahm on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the church. Bring nonperishable food item which will be given to food cupboards. Tickets are $15 (children 12 and younger free). For more information and reservations, call 610869-8076 or visit www. thefriendsfolkclub.com.

Dec. 15 Voice competition The Kennett Symphony of Chester County will host the 2018 Voice Competition on Dec. 15. The winners will get to perform with the Kennett Symphony. The competition is free, and will be held Dec. 15 beginning at noon in the auditorium of Kendal at Longwood in Kennett Square.

The competition is limited to 20 singers, ages 18 to 26.

Competitors must perform three operatic, oratorio, or concert arias from the 18th

to the 21st centuries, with at least one in English. Judges will award prizes ranging from $100 to $1,000, and the first-place winner will be invited to perform at a Kennett Symphony concert.

Applications are available at www.KennettSymphony.org.

Jan. 27 Chocolate Festival The Kennett Chocolate Lovers Festival will be held Jan. 27 at Kennett High School from noon to 3 p.m. The festival raises funds for United Way of Southern Chester County.

Tickets are on sale at www.

KennettChocolate.org. VIP ticket holders gain early entrance at noon. General admission opens 1 p.m.

VIP tickets are $30 ($50 per couple) and include six tastings, a beverage, professional demonstrations, as well as free parking.

General admission tickets are $13 ($40 for a family fourpack) and include six tastings per person. Additional tasting tickets are available for 50 cents each. Parking is $5 per car.

Kennett Flash schedule The Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square) hosts regional and national artists. Tickets are available in advance at www. kennettflash.org, or at the door. Snacks and beverages are sold, or guests can BYOB. The schedule includes: Dan Navarro, Bruce Sudano and Chas Sandford (Dec. 7, 8 p.m., $22 and $26); Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling (Dec. 8, 8 p.m., $35); “The Merry Movable Feast” a benefit for the Flash in Kennett Square homes with various musical acts (Dec. 9, $100); Runnin’ Late Rock and Roll Christmas Jam (Dec. 14, 8 p.m., $15 to $18); Better Than Bacon NonDenominational Holiday Extravaganza (Dec. 15, 8 p.m., $16 to $20); Open Mic with host Scott Birney (Dec. 16, 7 p.m., $4); a cappella holiday celebration with Backtrack (Dec. 20, 8 p.m., $16 to $20); Edgardo Cintron and the Inca Band: tribute to Santana (Dec. 21, 8 p.m., $14 to $22); We Kids Rock holiday show (Dec. 22, 11:30

a.m., $10 to $14); Christmas with Los Festingos (Dec. 22, 8 p.m., $15); Francis Dunnery solo (Dec. 28, 8 p.m., $27 to $32); vocalist Bettye Lavette and keyboardist Evan Mercer (Dec. 29, 8 p.m., $60 and $65); “Films & Words” Lambert and Stamp with guest lecture

by Bill Luther (Dec. 30, 7 p.m., free); New Year’s Eve with Jeffrey Gaines (Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m., $40); comedy with Big Daddy Graham (Jan. 11, 8 p.m., $20 and $30).

Reactors Comedy Club Reactors Comedy Club, in the Quality Inn and Suites (943 S. High St., West Chester). Hosts live comedy presented by Reactors on weekends. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and showtime is 8:30 p.m. Admission is $20 at the door. Visit www. reactorscomedyclub.com.

To submit items to the Calendar of Events, e-mail jchambless@chestercounty. com. There is no charge.

Not every submission can be included. Items should be submitted at least two weeks before the event.

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