Chester County Press 12-13-2017 Edition

Chester CountyPRESS

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

Volume 151, No. 50

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Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Township OKs tax increase to pay for new emergency services fund

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

During Kennett Township’s 2018 budget presentation, unveiled and adopted at the Dec. Hitting the slopes is a tra- 6 Board of Supervisors dition for this group...4A meeting, the board voted 3-0 to approve a 1.9 mills property tax increase for township residents to the tune of approximately $930 per household annually, that will be dedicated to a new emergency services fund that is expected to cost $1.5 million a year.

Board chairman Scudder Stevens and supervisors Whitney Hoffman and Dr. Richard Leff all approved the tax increase.

Introduced at the preA new West Grove busisentation, the fund will ness has everything for be a new addition to the your home...1B township’s 2018 budget

categories, which also include a capital fund, general fund, library fund, open space fund, sewer fund and state fund.

The tax will be dedicated entirely to the new fund, and will appear as a line item on residents’ tax bills.

It will not be co-mingled with other township funds.

The creation of the emergency services fund is an outgrowth of the township’s continued financial commitment to the Kennett Township Police Department, and its inclusion in the newly-formed Emergency Services Commission, that consolidates Kennett, Pro-Mar-Lin and Longwood fire companies in an inclusive effort to better serve the six area municipalities they serve.

Continued on Page 3A

Up to the Challenge

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Kennett Township is challenging the Kennett Square Borough to see which municipality will raise the most donations for the annual “Change for Change” program, sponsored by The Martin Luther King Jr. CommUNITY of the Greater Kennett Area. All funds raised through the challenge will be donated to the Kennett Food Cupboard, which offers food to families on a monthly basis and to low-income senior housing residents. Pictured from left to right are Board of Supervisors Chairman Scudder Stevens, Township Manager Lisa Moore, and supervisors Whitney Hoffman and Dr. Richard Leff.

A West Grove mother turns grief into action by forming drug addiction support group

Living for RJ

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

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as a member of the Class of 2009, he began using marijuana and alcohol.

RJ Zwaan loved two things His mother, Jacki, saw above all else: Christmas, that what began as experiand making people laugh.

From the time he had learned to walk, he took to life with the ferocity of someone who chooses not just to embrace it, but tackle it. As a boy, he played baseball and football. He learned to play the drums when he was 8, and taught himself to play the piano. mentation had eventually He dreamed of becoming spiraled into an addiction. a Marine, so he joined the His actions, once fueled by Young Marines, and spent his enthusiasm, had become his summers at Quantico a byproduct of his drug and and Paris Island at drill alcohol abuse. For Jacki, camps. it was like witnessing an Soon after he entered emotional freight train Avon Grove High School accelerating with no brakes.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

This past May, West Grove resident Jacki Smiro created Live4RJ, a non-profit advocacy group whose mission is to create change through community-based solutions meant to assist all adolescents, young adults and veterans suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.

30, 2008, he went out partying with his friends, mixing alcohol with pills that were later identified as Suboxone, a highly addictive narcotic that blocks the effects of opioid medication. “Subs,” as Suboxone

is often called on the street, are more commonly abused for this purpose than to get high, although the medication can still produce a euphoric effect, as it still acts on the same opioid Continued on Page 2A

Meola named Penn Township president of the continues work Kennett School Board on Red Rose Inn Perigo will be the school board vice president

Photo by Steven Hoffman

The Kennett School Board recently reorganized for 2018. The members are Rudy Alfonso, Mark Bowden, William Brown, Michael Finnegan, Aline Frank, Victoria Gehrt, Joseph Meola, Dominic Perigo, Jr. and Paola Rosas-Weed.

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

© 2007 The Chester County Press

She drove him five hours one winter day to a treatment center, only to return there two days later when a representative from the center told her that RJ wanted to go home.

RJ said that he didn’t need treatment for alcohol.

Although he had passed military entrance examinations for the Army, RJ began to avoid the phone calls from the recruiters. In an attempt to get her son into court-ordered treatment, Jacki had him arrested in April 2008. He spent ten days in the juvenile detention center. She reached out constantly to Children & Youth Services locations throughout Chester County.

On the evening of June

Joseph Meola was selected to serve as the president of the Kennett School Board during the annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 4.

The school board also welcomed four new members as a result of

the November 7 school board election. The four new members are Mark Bowden (Region A), Paola Rosas-Weed (Region B), and William Brown and Victoria Gehrt (Region C).

Returning school board members include Meola, Rudy Alfonso, Michael Finnegan, Aline Frank, and Dominic Perigo, Jr.

Once the new board members took the oath of office, they were seated with the other members and the board moved on to its first order of business— electing a president for the next year.

Alfonso nominated Meola for president. It was the only nomination, Continued on Page 3A

By Marcella Peyre-Ferry building, the existing Staff Writer porch was torn off along with the wings added over Restoration work is con- the years, bringing it back tinuing on the historic to it’s original core from Red Rose Inn, with Penn the colonial era. The new Township Supervisors porch will be in line with approving the next steps at what might have been their Wed., Dec. 6 town- original to the building. ship meeting.

The township is also conStamped concrete was to tracting for regular pest be installed at the front control in the building to entrance to the building address any possible terbeginning Dec., 7. That mite or rodent problems. work will be followed “When you have a buildby construction of the ing that’s not occupied you front porch by Smucker have to treat it or you get Exteriors. rats,” Supervisor Curtis The township received Mason said. three bids for adding the Interior work on the porch to the building, building has already all using the same speci- included tearing out closfications for the project. ets and extra bathrooms. “I Prices ranged from a high think after the first of the of $34,224 to Smucker’s year we’ll determine a list low bid of $19,750. In of interior maintenance addition to submitting the that is required,” Historic lowest bid for the porch, Committee member Scott Smuckers has already done Steele said. work on other aspects of Improvements are also the building including the being made at the townexterior fascia. ship building where When the township exterior lights are being Continued on Page 3A began restoration of the

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

Chester County Press

Living for RJ...

Continued from Page 1A

receptors in the brain and creates a flood of dopamine in the brain.

Suboxone can cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses, or when combined with other substances, especially alcohol.

When Jacki came down the stairs at her West Grove home the next morning, she saw the body of her son on the floor. RJ Zwaan was 17 years old.

There are photographs of him throughout the home that Smiro shares with her husband, Valdimir, and her daughter, now in her 20s. In the photos and for the rest of his mother’s life, he will always be the 17-year-old boy with the smile.

Zwaan is one of seven members of the Avon Grove High School Class of 2009 to have died of a drug overdose, a time that many experts point to as the year that began an epidemic of drug abuse -- both heroin and prescription medication -- that has rocked school hallways and homes all over Chester County.

The numbers are not lying. According to the 2013 Pennsylvania Youth Survey Report, the most common gateway substance used in Chester County was alcohol, with 41.8 percent of students responding that they had consumed alcohol at some point. Further, 16 percent said they used marijuana, followed by prescription drugs and stimulants -- all larger percentages than Pennsylvania as a whole.

Look through any newspaper’s obituary columns and there likely will be at least one notice of a young person’s passing. While

they condense the person’s young life into a sweet synopsis of happy times, they are also, on many occasions, devoid of the truth about what killed them, and so they serve as both the official document and escape route.

“Parents tell others that their son and daughter died in an automobile accident,” Smiro said. “They’re embarrassed to tell the truth of what really happened.”

For the next six months, Jacki was this parent. She spoke to no one about RJ. Instead, she came home from work and stared at the walls of her home. She had given up listening to music while driving. The television and radio never went on.

“I was 38 years old, and I had just buried my son,” she said from her home recently.

“It didn’t seem real. I could not wrap my head around what happened. Why didn’t I know that they were taking pills? What could I have done? What should I have known? Was I the bad parent? Why didn’t I leave him in treatment?

“I was not prepared for this. I was prepared for him going to the service and leaving, not finding him on the floor.”

One day, Smiro read a newspaper article about Andy Rumford, who began Kacie’s Cause, a heroin addiction awareness organization, in the wake of his daughter Kacie’s death on March 12, 2013 from a heroin overdose. Through its many volunteers, Kacie’s Cause provides continuing education to students and adults through visits to schools and town meetings throughout Chester County.

Smiro reached out to Rumford, who invited her

In Loving Memoriam

to one of the group’s local events. She also began to attend training presentations at the NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education) Task Force and later became a parent support grief counselor. In 2014, together with other agencies, she helped to form NOPE’s Chester County chapter, where she serves as its parent coordinator.

NOPE educates students in middle schools, high schools, and colleges about the consequences of drug consumption. A network of community leaders goes into Chester County’s schools to deliver personal presentations about their experiences to students and parents.

In April, Smiro was one of four people who testified before the Pennsylvania Republican House Committee about issues facing addicts and families.

At the top of their wish list was to rewrite drug enforcement laws to allow offenders to have opportunities to treat their disease, while also allowing them to re-engage with society once their sentences have finished.

“We really felt we conveyed all of the issues that needed to be conveyed, but legislation moves very slowly,” Smiro said. “We want house bills on the books that make drug laws less punitive. We want to remove laws that expel students who make mistakes with drugs, and instead increase support systems for these young people. We also want to increase support services at all schools.

“People are dying every day, and we felt we really needed to do something.

It’s not happening fast enough at the state level,

Courtesy photo

RJ Zwaan served as a member of the Young Marines.

and it’s going to take years to change the laws that are very detrimental to our young people who are addicted to drugs.”

The laws, Smiro said, are only part of the problem. As her motivation to address these issues turned her private grief into a public one, she began to see more holes in the platform of how Chester County was taking on what had become a drug epidemic. There needed to be more conversation, more advocacy and more connections between agencies and people.

This past May, she officially launched Live4RJ, a grassroots, non-profit advocacy group whose mission is to create change through community-based solutions meant to assist all adolescents, young adults and veterans suffering from drug and alcohol addiction to live to their potential, leading a full, healthy life.

During its eight-month duration, Live4RJ has already hit the ground running. Smiro and her group of volunteers and board members have sponsored public forums, overdose awareness vigils, become a referral agency for those who wish to seek treatment for their loved ones, and opened the door for people who wish to become mentors and advocates.

“Prevention, education, and treatment are necessary if we are to manifest positive changes in the community and ensure success in our youth that will allow them to become employable, productive members of society,” Smiro said. “Live4RJ will be reach and empower all adolescents and young adults, with an emphasis on those struggling with addiction, and help to bridge the gap between those who are falling through the cracks, and those who are not reached by typical non-profit groups.”

While schools play a crucial role in the development of young people, Smiro believes that as a whole, schools are a step behind in engaging in an honest and ongoing dialogue about drugs with their students.

Winden Rowe, MS, a Kennett Square-based counselor who also serves

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Courtesy photo

Live4RJ is dedicated to the memory of RJ Zwaan.

on the board of directors for Live4RJ, said that schools and families are the two greatest liabilities “in terms of acceptance of substance abuse as a crisis in the United States of America.”

“Schools are content driven, and the funding dollars for proper counseling and accessibility and availability for mental health support is isolated mostly to education-based practice, meaning that they look at how children are performing academically as a benchmark for mental health,” Rowe said.

“I think the dialogue needs to be changed, because I don’t think we’re talking about the truth, and the truth is that when you look at the adolescent population, they’re up to experimenting and putting their toes in the water, and a lot of times that has to do with illicit substances. The ‘War on Drugs’ doesn’t work.

It’s not dialogue based. It’s punitive, and the punitive approach does not work.”

The 307 Club in West Chester serves the local recovery community with a clean and safe environment, while providing hope and opportunities. As the Live4RJ mission continues to broaden its outreach in southern Chester County, it looks for a home to do it in.

Smiro said that she wants to create a space where those in recovery can visit on a regular basis to work out together, enjoy a community dinner, and work with Live4RJ volunteers on fundraising events. It will also serve as a central location for private and public meetings.

“We are tired of losing people,” Smiro said. “I am tired of hearing about the death of this person and that person. It comes down to finding the people who want the help. We need a place for them to come to, where we can help support them in their recovery.

There are miracles in recovery. It is possible, and if they’re willing to walk through the door, we will do everything we can to help.”

“Mental health is thought to be unrecoverable, but I

believe the exact opposite,” Rowe said. “Everyone is recoverable, and everyone has the capacity to grow through the trauma and adversity that we face. Jacki is one of those people. Posttraumatic growth doesn’t mean that you won’t continue to feel grief. There’s a revisiting of that grief throughout one’s lifespan, but that growth is an inclusion of all feelings that surround that trauma.

“Inclusion is peace, acceptance and forward movement. I think that’s something that Jacki does beautifully. She expresses her sadness because of RJ’s loss, but also experiences a joy in helping others, through the mission that she has made.”

Christmas was RJ Zwaan’s favorite holiday. Because he was born in December, it was a yearly ritual that the Christmas tree had to be decorated prior to his birthday. Since his death, his mother has made a pilgrimage to her son’s gravesite, where she places a decorated tree, every year. This holiday season, for the first time since 2008, there will also be a decorated Christmas tree in the Smiro home.

“Everything has changed, and that’s the hard part,” she said. “You talk about traditions. Some traditions have to become new traditions.”

To learn more about Live4RJ Chester County Drug Overdose Prevention, or to make a donation, visit www.live4rj.com, email live4rj@gmail.com, or call 484-727-8333.

The Chester County chapter of NOPE is holding additional training sessions for individuals and families who are willing to share their stories with others. To learn more about the NOPE Task Force Chester County chapter or to attend a meeting, visit www.nopetaskforce.org/ chapter-chester.php, email ccnopetaskforce@gmail. com, or call 484-639-7990.

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

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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Local News Kennett...

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While the projected payment into the commission – and the fire companies – will be $469,958 next year, the bulk of the new fund’s expenditures will be seen in the more than $1 million the township has budgeted for its police department, which will include nearly $600,000 in salaries for its full-time officers and its police chief, as well as other operating costs.

“Over the past eight years, the [township’s] police department has been funded out of the general fund surplus,” said Township Manager Lisa Moore, who chaired the presentation. “Over the past four years, our police department’s [annual] budget has been close to $750,000, [a cost] that we had been paying out of our surplus.

“The supervisors are very committed to protecting the community and in order to that, they need to have an adequate police department. In addition, the township has been funding the fire departments, and each year we fund them for part of their operating costs. We have been paying for them out of [township] reserves.”

Determining the way to fund the new account came partly out of the township looking at its current tax structure for potential income sources, and finding very little. Right now, the township receives $150,000 a year in real estate taxes – about $80 a year from each household in the township. Further, unlike many surrounding municipalities, Moore said that Kennett Township has no emergency services tax, nor a local services tax.

During discussion between the supervisors, board chairman Scudder Stevens spoke about the township’s full-fledged commitment to its police department in recent years, which included the hiring of police chief Lydell Nolt and several full- and parttime officers.

“I’ve had occasion over the past few months to congratulate Chief Nolt and the other officers of the township for the quality of work they have performed up to this point,” he said. “I’ve had the occasion to talk to other residents, who initially raised questions with me about nine months or a year ago, asking why they need a township police department.

“Shortly thereafter, [one township resident] told me, ‘You don’t have to talk about it. I understand.’

When the burglar alarm went off in his house, the township police were at his house in less than two minutes.”

Nolt spoke about the advantages of a town-

ship having its own police force, and warned the supervisors that if they fail to address their public safety obligations to their constituents, the community will suffer because of it. Quality-of-life crimes will drive residents away, he said.

“It doesn’t take someone but two minutes to watch the news, either nationally or locally, and realize that public safety is a problem, and you can’t ignore the responsibilities that fall on the shoulders of those who support that safety effort,” Nolt said. “It’s a necessary thing, and if you fail to acknowledge it, your community’s economic health will eventually go away.

“In layman’s terms, all of the people who enjoy living here will move somewhere else, because they won’t enjoy living here any more. It’s the quality of life issues that get dealt with locally that keep people in their communities.”

Nolt stressed the need to provide township residents with a “full-service police agency,” that includes professionallytrained officers; patrol, investigative and narcotic services; as well as developing a sense of community policing that provides opportunities for officers to engage with the people they serve in nonlaw enforcement activities and programs.

“Anything short of being a full-service agency is doing a disservice to the community,” he said.

Increasing township property taxes to pay for the new fund was just one of four total options presented to the board, which also included slight increases in dedicated fire tax, dedicated police tax and local services tax – but individually, they each fell far short of the $1.5 million needed to fund the new account.

While the question of how the township will accommodate and replenish the anticipated gradual increase in ongoing expenses that will likely be needed in the future, consolidating the township’s police, fire, ambulance and EMS under the umbrella of the new fund makes total sense, Stevens said, because it prepares for the anticipated growth of the township and the immediate areas.

“As we reach a new stage in providing both emergency medical services, fire services and police services in this township and this region, it comes with the fact that this area is evolving, and we are all on the cusp of that motion,” he said. “What we do in 2019, at some point, we will begin to embrace that challenge, and this time next year, we will really begin making a

commitment [to the township’s emergency service units].”

In the township’s general fund category, revenue is projected to be $3.4 million for next year, a 3.5 percent increase from 2017, while expenditures are projected to be $3.75 million, a 4.8 percent increase from the current year, due mainly to an anticipated rise of 47 percent in the cost needed to repair roads and bridges in the township next year.

Moore said that the township’s open space fund is expected to receive a $5 million loan in 2018, in order to allow the township to purchase three township properties, totaling about 230 acres. The loan will be paid off over the next six years from revenues generated from open space tax receipts.

The township’s capital find is expected to receive $710,000 in grants in 2018, which will be dedicated to the reconstruction of the historic Chandler Mill Bridge, which the township currently owns.

The township expects to spend $137,000 on road improvements and $304,000 on capital projects, which will include improvements to the historic Fussell House.

In other business, in preparation for the township to advertise and ultimately vote on laws governing the future of proposed medical marijuana growing and dispensary facilities in the township, the board approved by a vote of 2-1 to initiate a Medical Marijuana Ordinance that states that a dispensary unite may not operate less than 250 feet from the nearest point on a property line near a residentially-zoned property, or a parcel that contains a school or day care center. Currently, the state requires a 1,000-foot setback for medical marijuana growing facilities, but has no laws governing set back distances for a dispensary.

Stevens and Hoffman voted in favor of the 250foot setback, while Leff opposed the setback.

The board also approved the township’s purchase of a 77-acre parcel that will be used dedicated as open space, in the amount of $1,395,715, contingent upon receiving grant funding for the purchase.

The township and Kennett Square Borough have applied for and are expected to receive a $1 million TASA (Transportation Alternative Set Aside) Grant, which will create active transportation improvements to bicyclist paths and pedestrian walkways in both the township and the borough.

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

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replaced with LED lights that will better illuminate the parking lot,. That job is being done at a cost of $2,649 for materials only. “Our biggest issue is safety when someone’s using this building. This is a way to make it safe for now,” Mason said.

Another purchase approved at the meet-

Kennett School Board...

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and the full board unanimously approved Meola’s selection.

“It’s an honor to serve as president,” Meola said, explaining that his predecessors served in the role with distinction.

Next, Perigo was nominated to serve as vice president in 2018. There were no other nominations, and Perigo was unanimously approved to serve as the board vice president.

The Kennett School Board then approved its meeting schedule for 2018.

Meetings will take place on the second Monday of the month on the following dates: Jan. 8 (Bancroft Elementary); Feb. 12 (Mary D. Lang K Center); March 12 (Mary D. Lang K Center); March 12 (Mary D. Lang K Center); April 9 (Mary D. Lang K. Center); May 14 (Kennett Middle School); June 11 (Mary D. Lang K Center); July 9 (Mary D. Lang K Center); Sept. 10 (Kennett High School); October 8 (Greenwood Elementary); Nov. 12 (New Garden Elementary); and Dec. 3 (Mary D. Lang K Center).

With the reorganization meeting’s business complete, the board then began the regular agenda.

In his superintendent’s report, Dr. Barry Tomasetti informed the school board that the Kennett Middle School was designated as a Pennsylvania School to Watch. He outlined the criteria that was used in the process of evaluating the Kennett Middle School.

Additionally, Kennett High School was identified by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best high schools in America,

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give of their time throughout the football season.

“We have built a really great thing,” Beeson said.

“We’ve had really great success. It’s a wonderful thing to see this grow.”

Tomasetti and several board members thanked Beeson for his work with overseeing the football program for six years.

Beeson said that he has already turned in his resignation so that the school can make plans for 2018, and he would like to see the middle school football program transition from an all-volunteer effort to a regular school program where a few coaches would be paid for their efforts. He suggested that the head coach and two assistant coaches be paid, with the rest of the staff rounded out by volunteers who are willing to help out with coaching the players. Beeson noted that it’s important for the varsity and junior varsity programs to work in coordination with the middle school program so that the players are learning a similar system with consistent teachings from the coaches.

Tomasetti and middle school officials will explore the possibility of providing some funding for the football program.

Beeson thanked the school board for the support and for the opportunity to coach the team.

The school board will meet again on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. at Bancroft Elementary School.

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

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according to a recent ranking.

Tomasetti credited the curriculum supervisors and all the teachers, K-12, in the district, for helping the students achieve success.

“It takes everybody’s work to get us to where we are today,” Tomasetti said.

Alfonso was appointed to serve as the Kennett School Board’s representative on the Chester County Intermediate Unit Board.

Alfonso’s appointment is for a three-year term, effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021.

During the public comment period, Mark Beeson, the head coach of the middle school football team, talked to the school board about the program, which currently operates without a financial cost to the district.

Beeson explained that the middle school added football as a pay-to-play sport six years ago, and a team of volunteers coach the players. There were about 25 players on the seventhgrade team, and another 25 players on the eighth-grade team this past season.

There is a $185 participation fee for each player to participate, but no child is denied the opportunity to be on the team based on the ability to pay—some parents step up and offer to pay for those families that might not be able to afford the participation fees. Fundraisers are also held to offset the costs.

Beeson said that the program has had a lot of success—no Kennett Middle School football team has finished below .500 in the six seasons—and a group of dedicated volunteers

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main roads would be done by the township,” Mason said.

Toward the close of the meeting the supervisors adopted a resolution setting the 2018 tax rate at .053 mills, unchanged from this year. It has been seventeen years since the last tax increase in Penn Township.

“With the growth that we have, that’s saying something,” Mason said.

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ing was $3,022 for a salt spreader for the township’s F350 truck. This is the first winter that the township will be doing snow plowing on major roads with its two F550 trucks, while the F350 will be used for cleanup in support of the larger trucks. There are three developments in the township that will be cleared by subcontractors.

“The idea is to do a better job than before. The

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

Fun on the slopes:

The Weekday Skiers Club has been enjoying the ride for more than 40 years

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer On the first Tuesday in the New Year, members of the Weekday Skiers Club will gather and travel to Jack Frost Mountain for a day of skiing and camaraderie.

This is what they do each winter.

The club, which includes members from Pennsylania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and the surrounding areas, has been active for more than 40 years. Each Tuesday between January and March, the two dozen or so members board a bus and make the trek to one of the ski resorts in the Poconos. They do so for the love of skiing, but also because of the genuine camaraderie that develops among members. There is a wide range in age for

the club members, but that only heightens the spirit of camaraderie among the members.

The Weekday Skiers Club travels to a different venue each week, rotating between Jack Frost, Blue, Elk, and Camelback mountains.

Club members meet at the Brandywine Town Centre for a departure at 7 a.m., they spend all day on the slopes, and then depart from the mountain at 4:30 p.m. While the participants are always eager to reach the destinations, the bus rides themselves are also enjoyable as members talk with old friends, share stories about family, or get to know newer members.

According to Nancy Hostetter, the secretary for the group, the Weekday Skiers Club can trace its origins to 1973, which was the first time that

the name of the group was formally used.

However, several years before that, an attempt to regularly run a bus from this area to the Poconos was attempted. In 1972, Lav Wintzer and Sally Hawkins incorporated Skimore Tours, which offered six trips for a total of $30. The name was changed to Week Day Ski in 1973. When Wintzer and Hawkins retired, Pat Hollstein and Joann Ott took over the leadership.

Peggy Anderson, a resident of Dover, Del., has been the president of the club since 1993, but has been involved longer than that since her mother was a member in the early 1980s.

The Tuesday outings are an economical way to enjoy skiing. Eight trips are scheduled over the first ten Tuesdays of the year. Full memberships for

Courtesy photo

The Weekday Skiers Club’s first trip of the new season will be on Jan. 2, 2018.

all eight trips are $300 (if paid before Dec. 1) or $350. Half-memberships for four of the trips are $175 (if paid before Dec. 1) or $200. A membership to make only the three trips to Elk is $150 (if paid before Dec. 1).

Walk-ons are always welcome at $55 for each trip. For anyone making the first trip ever with the Weekend Skiers Club,

the cost is $52. All fees include the bus driver tip.

Group-rate lift tickets are extra and vary at each mountain—senior rates apply for those who are eligible. Rentals are at group rates as well.

The trips for 2018 take place on Jan. 2, Jan. 9, Jan. 16, Jan. 23, Jan. 30 (raindate only), Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, Feb. 27 (raindate only), and March

6.

Trip destinations are subject to change and are posted on the group’s Facebook page and the website, www. weekdayskiers.org. More information is available by email at membership@ weekdayskiers.org.

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

Oxford Little League offers clinics Registration is underway for the 2018 season Oxford Little League is offering baseball and softball clinics during Wednesdays and Fridays in January, February, and

March in preparation for the 2018 season.

Registration for the 2018 season is also underway.

The clinics take place on the following dates: Jan. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26,

and 31; Feb. 2,7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, and 28; and March 2,7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, and 30.

Register during December and receive $10 off the registration fee and

enjoy free registration for the winter clinics—a $25 value.

Registration will open on Dec. 15 and close on Feb. 20, 2018. The softball league age is based on the

age of the player as of Dec. 31, 2017. The baseball league age is based on the age of the player as of Aug. 31, 2018. All new players must upload a birth certificate as proof

of age. If you have played with Oxford Little League before, you can register at www.oxfordll.org through Blue Sombrero.

For more information, email playeragent@oxfordll.org.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

5A

Tighe and Patterson elected to leadership positions on Oxford School Board The Oxford School Board held its annual reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5 and elected Joseph Tighe as the new school board president for the next year.

The Oxford School Board welcomed three new members—Kristen Dean, David Severino, and Jenifer Warren— and welcomed back incumbent Stephen Gaspar as a result of the Nov. 7 school board elections.

They join returning board members Gary Olson, Mark Patterson, Howard Robinson, Robert Tenga, and Tighe on the board.

Once the newly elected members were sworn in by district judge Scott

Massey, they took their seats alongside the other members and the board moved on to its first item of business—selecting a president.

Gaspar nominated Tighe for the position of president. There were no other nominations and Tighe was unanimously approved for the leadership position.

Next, the board selected a new vice president. Tighe nominated Patterson, and he was the only nominee.

Patterson was unanimously approved as the vice president.

The school board then voted on the meeting schedule for the next year.

The board will continue to hold work sessions on the second Tuesday of the month and regular meetings

on the third Tuesday of the month. All meetings will be held at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building.

Tenga was appointed to serve as the district’s treasurer, a duty previously undertaken by Tighe.

Tenga was also named as the school board’s representative on the Chester County School Boards Legislative Council for the next year. This is a duty that he is continuing.

Warren, Severino, Olson, and Patterson all agreed to serve on the district’s Policy Committee.

The school board then approved a short list of consent agenda items to close out the business for the final meeting of 2017.

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

The Oxford Area School District’s leadership team...(left to right) superintendent David Woods, school board members Mark Patterson, Robert Tenga, Kristen Dean, Gary Olson, Jenifer Warren, Joseph Tighe, David Severino, Stephen Gaspar, and Howard Robinson, and assistant superintendent Dr. Margaret Billings-Jones.

DUI/ELUDING POLICE Pennsylvania State Police Avondale arrested Alexander Bryant Perkins, 32, of Landenberg, for an Oct. 29 incident when Perkins did not pull over for a traffic stop in the 5600 block of Forge Road, leading police on a pursuit of about 18 miles. Perkins was arrested for fleeing and eluding, DUI, drug possession, resisting arrest and numerous traffic violations.

DUI IN DUMP TRUCK

Ernesto Castaneda, 46, with no known address, was arrested by Southern Chester County Regional Police and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses following a hit-and-run accident. On Nov. 19 at around noon, police were dispatched to the 200 block of West Evergreen Street in West Grove for a report of a dump truck that struck a utility pole and fled the scene. A description of the truck was broadcast and police were advised that a witness had followed it to a mushroom company off of West Avondale Road.

HOLD-UP On Dec. 2 at 8 p.m., a

business in the 600 block fo South Union Street in Kennett Square was robbed, according to Kennett Square Police. A man wearing a ski mask displayed a gun and got away with $800 in cash.

ASSAULT Diego Rivera, 25, of Avondale, was arrested by Southern Chester County Regional Police and charged with simple assault and related offenses stemming from an incident on Nov. 26.

At about 3:18 a.m., police were dispatched to the 100 block of New Garden Road in New Garden Township for the report of a physical assault. Upon arrival, police

saw that the victim had bruises and swelling, as well as evidence of having her hair pulled from her scalp.

The victim told police that she was awakened by Rivera, who was extremely intoxicated, and an argument ensued.

STOLEN VEHICLES FOUND Pennsylvania State Police Avondale announced on Dec. 4 that a 29-year-old man had been arrested in connection with a case involving two stolen ATVs that occurred in October. Police said that they got a report of someone trying to sell an ATV that turned out to be stolen. The

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owner of the vehicle was notified. While recovering the vehicle, another stolen ATV was found at the same location, at 652 Baltimore Pike in Penn Township. Both ATVs were seized by police.

BUSINESS THEFT On Nov. 30, a business in the 400 block of West State Street in Kennett Square reported that they were the victim of a theft on Aug. 23 that netted $1,900. The investigation is continuing.

PHONE HACKED On Nov. 22, a Kennett Square resident told Kennett Square Police that their phone had been hacked and $120 had been withdrawn

from their bank account. The investigation is continuing.

PACKAGES STOLEN Kennett Square Police reported two incidents of packages being stolen from local residences. On Nov. 28 between 3:15 and 3:25 p.m., an Amazon package was taken from a property in the 200 block of Meredith Street.

The package was later found in the 200 block of Chestnut Street, and nothing was missing from it, according to police. On Dec. 1, a resident of the 600 block of Magnolia Court reported that between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 20, a UPS package was taken from their property.

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6A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

Chester County Press

Local News Dinniman announces $60,000 in funding for youth centers State Senator Andy Dinniman announced today that he has secured $60,000 in total state funding to support education and afterschool programs at three youth centers throughout Chester County.

The centers, each of which will receive $20,000 in state grant funding, are The Parkesburg POINT Youth Center, The Garage Community and Youth Center in West Grove, and Phoenixville Area Positive Alternatives.

Dinniman, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Education Committee, said he worked to secure these funds to give students additional opportunities for outside-the-classroom learning, tutoring, homework assistance, skill-building, and remediation.

“These youth centers fill a vital need in communities throughout Chester County by offering safe, stable, and productive environments for young people to continue

their studies, to seek academic assistance, to express themselves artistically, to develop new talents and skill sets, to explore possible career paths, to make friends and mentors, and to be inspired to new heights,” he said.

Dwayne Walton, Executive Director of the Parkesburg POINT, thanked Senator Dinniman for his leadership in securing the funds, which the center will use to support its growing job training and education programs.

“Many young people coming to The POINT face daunting situations - food and housing insecurity, abandonment, neglect, drug and physical abuse, fractured relationships and the terrible pressure to conform to generational cycles of poverty,” he said. “This program will help our youth find hope for a better way of life.”

Kristin Proto, Executive Director of the Garage Community Youth Center,

said the funding will support the purchase of school supplies for its afterschool homework and tutoring programs, as well as food for nutritional meals.

“The Garage is immensely grateful to Senator Dinniman and his staff who advocated for these funds, which will be key in supporting the academic portion of our mission,” he said.

“We serve more than 500 students a year, five days a week, and we’re always working to foster community relationships and forge new partnerships to support our efforts.”

Alexis Boswell, Executive Director of Phoenixville Area Positive Alternatives, said the funding would support two after school literacy programs at the center – “New Directions” for elementary school students and “Fast Forward” for middle school students.

“The New Directions and Fast Forward After School programs help improve and

Courtesy photo

Pictured (from left to right) Dwayne Walton, Executive Director of the Parkesburg POINT; Debbie Shupp, Development Director of the Parkesburg POINT; and state Senator Andy Dinniman.

maintain literacy skills so that all students enrolled in our programs are successful in reading and writing, and progress to the next grade level. By working

with our students daily, as well as dedicating one time per week, we help facilitate activities, lessons and instruction so that our students continue to build their

literacy skill sets,” she said.

“Without grants we would not be able to provide this free program all school year to those students who are at-risk.”

Local Girl Scouts help out for the holidays Local Girl Scouts recently celebrated the holidays with square dancing event, as well as collecting and wrapping presents for the Doris Haley Charity that serves the children of those who are residents at the Chester County Correctional Facility.

The Brandywine Valley

Girl Scout Service Unit, which serves the Kennett and Unionville-Chadds Ford school districts, has a tradition of giving Christmas presents to these children for more than 27 years. In addition to this service project, local Girl Scout troops provide food and gifts to local families who are

vetted by the Chester County Health Department. The Girl Scout troops also “adopt” foster children for the holidays through the Delaware Valley Children’s Charity.

For more information on scouting, to volunteer or join, e-mail Karen D’Agusto at kdagusto@aol.com.

Kennett Area Community Service wins grant funding for exemplary service The Barra Foundation recently announced that Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) is a recipient of a 2018-2019 Barra Award, which recognizes organizations for their leadership, performance and adaptability.

KACS was one of 43 nonprofit organizations in

the Greater Philadelphia region that will each receive $50,000 in grant funding.

Barra Awardees are nominated by their peers in the social sector and are then invited to submit an application to the Foundation. In line with the foundation’s mission to invest in innovation in the social sector,

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the Barra Awards provide unrestricted funding and introduce award-winning organizations to a diverse network of social sector leaders.

Since its 2013 inception, the Barra Awards has granted more than $6 million to area nonprofits from arts and culture, education, and health and human services sectors in the Greater Philadelphia region.

“We are so excited to have chosen for this grant opportunity,” said KACS Executive Director Melanie Weiler. “Our leadership team has been focused on taking our Kennett Food Cupboard program to the next level by working on the task of poverty reduction.

“Not only do we have the opportunity every day to end food insecurity, we can use that connection to begin the journey with our families to achieve economic mobility. Support from the Barra Foundation allows to do just that, to make every relationship count.”

“Without unrestricted capital, nonprofits have little margin for error or appetite for innovation,” said Kristina Wahl, president of The Barra Foundation. “Through the Barra Awards, we hope to provide organizations with some financial breathing room and their leaders with opportunities to learn from their peers — a diverse and inspiring network of entrepreneurial thinkers from across the nonprofit sector.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

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

Help those in need

Protect our parks

One of the best gifts that you could give yourself this Christmas season is to help someone in need.

Who should you help? What need should you meet? That’s up to you.

We all have family members, friends, and acquaintances who could benefit from a gift of generosity or a kind act—large or small.

If you want to take the extra step and help someone that you don’t know but who might be in even greater need of a gift, there are plenty of opportunities.

A surprising number of people struggle with food insecurity—which means that they have trouble providing enough food to meet the healthy diet standards established by the USDA. Statistically, about one in ten people in Chester County struggles with food insecurity. The poor, the elderly, and children are among those who are most vulnerable to food insecurity.

Chester County is fortunate to have the Chester County Food Bank, which does a very good job of providing nutritious meals and meeting the needs of county residents. The Chester County Food Bank partners with organizations like the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center and the Kennett Area Community Service to help distribute food to local families.

The Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center and Kennett Area Community Service both provide a wide range of services and support to people in need. A contribution to either at this time of the year can not only make the holidays brighter for families in need, it can make a difference for these families in the winter months.

Canned goods and non-perishable items, as well as diapers, personal care items, household cleaning supplies and paper products are always in need.

If you’re able to help either of these organizations, it would be a real gift. Another way to help out is by letting people in need know about the services and help that is available.

Kennett Area Community Service 136 W Cedar St., Kennett Square, Pa. 19348 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1025, Kennett Square, PA 19348 610-925-3556 kacsonline.net Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center 35 N 3rd St. Oxford, Pa. 19363 610-932-8557 oxfordnsc.org Another good way to help people in need is by making a donation to the United Way of Southern Chester County, which supports dozens of different nonprofit organizations in the area.

United Way of Southern Chester County 106 W. State Street Kennett Square, Pa. 19348 610-444-4357 unitedwayscc.org There are also dozens of churches and worthwhile nonprofit organizations in southern Chester County. If you can, help out someone in need.

You’ll be giving yourself a gift in the process.

Chester County Press Randall S. Lieberman Publisher

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 Christy Larry.....................Assistant Advertising Director Stone 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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The award winning Chester County Press 2006 - First Place, Special Project 2005 - Honorable Mention - Special Section 1998 - First Place, Special Section 1997 - First Place, Diversity Award 1996 - First Place, Advertising Excellence 1996 - First Place, Diversity Award

Letter to the Editor: I remember spending summer at Cunningham Falls State Park as a child.

Camping in the campgrounds, playing in the massive, gorgeous lake, and climbing the rocks along

the falls—the park was my happy place. I’m so thankful this park is protected by the state of Maryland and will be around for future children to have summers as wonderful as I had. While there are thousands of parks like this all around the nation,

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is unique.

It is home to 250 animal species. Birds from all 50 states come to the refuge every year.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary for these people and animals the same way Cunningham Falls

was a sanctuary for me. We would never dream of letting our favorite park lose protection and become a drilling site, and the Arctic Refuge deserves the same.

Lauren Webb Wayne, Pa.

Barrar and others remember sacrifices made by Armed Forces

Courtesy photo

Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) honored the sacrifices of our military and their families during a ceremony at the Capitol on Monday, Dec. 11, in anticipation of the annual wreath-laying ceremony to be held by Wreaths Across America this weekend.

In memory of all United States Armed Forces personnel, Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, and the Gold and Blue Star Mothers hosted a wreath-laying ceremony in partnership with Wreaths Across America at the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

“As we enter the joyous holiday season, it’s important to remember that this time is not a happy one for everyone. Many families

are missing their loved ones who were lost in battle or are still serving our country,” Barrar said. “Today’s ceremony was a recognition of these families, and, of course, of the soldiers fighting for us now.”

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony. Its mission, “Remember, Honor, Teach,” is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies each December

in all 50 state Capitols.

Individual wreaths, signifying every branch of the armed services, were formally presented by respective representatives of the military, as well as Gold and Blue Star Mothers. The remembrance wreath was also presented.

Maj. Gen. Tony Carrelli, the adjutant general of the Pennsylvania Military and Veterans Affairs, and Lt. Col. Sally Hannan, U.S. Army garrison commander at the Carlisle Barracks, spoke at the ceremony.

Members of the House

Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee also joined to honor veterans and active duty military.

The Central Dauphin High School choir, under the direction of John Madas, performed at the ceremony. Maj. Schaun Myers, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Support chaplain, gave the invocation and benediction. The posting and retiring of colors were provided by The Pennsylvania Military Funeral Honors Guard.

States shouldn’t bail out nuclear plants

By David Williams More than half of America’s nuclear power plants face a financial crisis. Collectively, these plants lose nearly $3 billion a year. They haven’t been able to compete with power plants that run on cheap natural gas.

Nuclear operators are begging state legislatures for subsidies to keep their plants running. They’re hoping to lure lawmakers into bailing them out by promising zero-emissions energy production.

State legislators should reject their requests. Nuclear subsidies cost taxpayers and consumers billions of dollars and offer little to no economic or environmental benefits.

Nuclear plants in several states already receive taxpayer-funded subsidies. In July, an Illinois federal judge upheld state legislation that funnels $230 million per year to Chicago-based Exelon to keep its nuclear facilities operating. The same month in New York, a federal judge dismissed a consumer lawsuit against a $480 mil-

lion annual handout to three nuclear plants.

Nuclear bailouts don’t protect consumers from energy price increases; they facilitate them. Nuclear subsidies are expected to raise New Yorkers’ electric bills by $3.4 billion within the first five years. The Illinois program constitutes the biggest energy rate hike in U.S. history -- projected to cost residents and businesses $16.4 billion.

The same goes for other states. Under a proposed subsidy in Ohio, consumers would see their electric bills climb 5 percent per year. Consumers in the midAtlantic and the Northeast would have to pay $3.9 billion more per year if nuclear plants in the area received similar backing.

Bailout proponents also raise the specter of job losses. While nuclear facilities do provide local jobs -- Exelon employs 5,900 people at its plants in Illinois -- subsidy programs rob Peter to pay Paul. An analysis of the Illinois subsidies found they would cost the state 43,000 jobs by 2030 and $14.7 billion in economic output.

Natural gas firms create jobs and grow the economy without picking taxpayers’ pockets. According to the Amercian Petroleum Institute (API) in Illinois, the natural gas industry supported nearly 150,000 jobs and contributed $18 billion to the state economy in 2015. The numbers are higher still for New York, where natural gas is responsible for 152,000 jobs and over $20 billion in economic output.

Unlike nuclear subsidies that jack up monthly energy bills, natural gas saves consumers billions. Electricity prices in Ohio have dropped 50 percent since 2008 thanks to affordable natural gas. Last year, thanks to the continued natural gas boom, Americans spent just 4 percent of their household budgets on energy costs -the lowest share ever.

Some supporters of nuclear energy claim that the economic inefficiencies are worthwhile, since nuclear power helps reduce U.S. carbon emissions. The United States has indeed made significant progress on curbing emissions. According to the

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), energy-related U.S. carbon output has declined nearly 14 percent since 2005.

But nuclear plants don’t deserve the credit -- natural gas-fired plants do. Almost 70 percent of the reduction in energy-related carbon emissions between 2005 and 2015 is due to the shift from coal to natural gas for electricity generation, according to the EIA. Natural gas is abundant and affordable -- and that won’t change anytime soon. The United States is a global leader in producing oil and natural gas, and the latter now generates one-third of the nation’s electricity.

New York and Illinois officials are harming consumers and taxpayers by propping up failing nuclear plants. Policymakers nationwide should reject corporate welfare and allow unsubsidized market competition to determine which energy sources work best for their constituents.

David Williams is president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

8A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

Section

B

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Everything for decorating, all in one place

By John Chambless Staff Writer Since opening the store one month ago, the owners of Rigby’s Home Decor have found out that people love their merchandise, as well as the history of the building they’re in.

“People have been so enthusiastic,” said Teri Rigby.

“They come in and tell us about the history of the place, like we haven’t heard it before,” she added, smiling. “But everyone has been so supportive and friendly.”

But both Rigby and her daughter, Christine Lodgaard, are overwhelmed with how eager people have been to walk around the store, a sprawling retail space at 30 Prospect Avenue in West Grove, and a landmark building that has been a pharmacy, a hardware store and lots of other things for the past 100 years or so.

But until recently, the building was known for being vacant.

“It had been more or less vacant for six years,” Rigby said. Officials from West Grove Borough were eager to bring some life back to the huge retail site in the center of town, and worked with the landlord to make sure Rigby’s would become a reality. “We worked very hard to get this building,” Lodgaard said.

Rigby has plenty of experience in finding treasures and reselling them. “I’ve been doing this in the area for about 20 years,” she said. “It started back when a local museum had a catalog department.

They sold their overstock and discontinued merchandise at auctions, and I bought it for

less than a dime on a dollar. I could make a good profit and make a lot of people happy.”

She had retail locations at the Market Street Trading Company in Oxford, the Shoppes at the Nottingham Inn, and a massive warehousesize space in northern Cecil County before “semi retiring” and finding that she was bored.

Her daughter, Christine, who also works as a fulltime psychiatric nurse at the Rockford Center in Newark, moved back to the area and asked if her mother wanted to get back into the business.

“I just keep falling into these really great deals,” Rigby said, smiling. The new store opened on Nov. 18.

When you first enter the store, it looks like a retail furniture business. But the living room and dining room furniture isn’t brand new – it’s just in extremely good condition and so well curated that it looks like it comes from a carefully selected range of manufacturers.

The look reflects the taste of Rigby, who said she could happily live with everything in the store. There are no scratch-and-dent castoffs here.

What shoppers will find is a constantly evolving selection of fine furniture, home décor and even jewelry that comes from regional estate sales and auctions. “When we get something inexpensively, we pass that on to the buyer,” Rigby said. “Our prices reflect what we paid.”

The furniture is solidly made, originally quite expensive, and priced to tempt any browser. “We have a look

This unique side table is one of the offerings in the large store.

This chandelier was a bargain at the Habitat for Humanity Restore, and has become the Rigby’s trademark.

that’s a little bit of Pier One, a little bit Restoration Hardware, Thomasville, the higher end,” Lodgaard said. “And we’re extremely picky.”

With Christmas in full swing, there’s a holiday theme, of course, but the merchandise will continue to be themed with the seasons. “What we’d like to do is set up some kind of special event once a month to display the work of local artists, or do some wine tastings with local wineries,” Lodgaard said.

The large space was repainted and touched up after so many years of lying dormant, and the room-like groupings of furniture and decorations are impeccable. The store also has a huge line of draperies and curtain accessories that were purchased from a now-closed Calico Corners store, and the still-bagged merchandise is priced way below retail.

In one of the huge front windows is an elaborate bird cage table that makes a great statement, even without a bird inside. There is a selection

In the front window is an ornate, table-size bird cage.

Photos by John Chambless

Teri Rigby and her daughter, Christine Lodgaard, opened Rigby’s Home Decor in November.

Wooden tables, chairs and housewares are carefully selected by the store owners.

of Boyd’s Bears collectible figurines, a nice selection of jewelry, dozens of lamps, statement pieces such as a metal table from Restoration Hardware that looks like a gigantic meteorite crosssection, and in the center of the space, a monumental chandelier.

“We got that at Habitat for Humanity Re-store in New Garden,” Rigby said. “My daughter and I walked in and we just stopped. It was sitting there in a big crate. It’s all glass and crystal. We got it for an unbelievable price. As soon as we saw it, we knew that it

The furniture may be used, but is in immaculate condition and reflects a cohesive style.

was our focal point. It’s not for sale.”

For now, the co-owners (Rigby is the “creative department” and Lodgaard is the chief financial officer) are happy to be finding their niche in a welcoming retail environment. “We tell people about the other businesses downtown,” Lodgaard said, pulling out business cards and flyers for other places that shoppers will want to visit.

There’s a pot of coffee always ready, since customers like to come in and browse a while, or pull up a seat to talk.

“I love this location,” Rigby said. “I live on State Road in West Grove, so I’ve gone by here a lot. I always envied the windows. What I didn’t realize is that the windows are tinted, so it’s hard to see into them,” she added, laughing. ““At night, though, you can see in, so we have a lot of lights. But now that we’re here, the town has responded, and they have

been buying. We’ve restocked our Christmas merchandise three times.”

The one thing that the store lacks right now is a sign.

The huge sign on the side of the building is for a former business there, and the owners are looking for a solution that won’t break their budget. But word of mouth is the best advertising, and people are readily finding their front door, even without a sign.

“It came down to waiting to open, or opening without a sign,” Lodgaard said. “And people just don’t care about the sign. They see the ‘Sale’ signs out front and they just come right in.”

Rigby’s Home Decor is at 30 Prospect Ave., West Grove.

Hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Call 610-869-8005 for more information.

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

The store has a selection of the collectible Boyd’s Bears.

Kennett Library board member publishes first novel

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer It is 2005, and Father Michael Domani is enduring a life crisis.

A man of complex dichotomies, he is beholden to the teachings of the Catholic Church, the principles of his faith and the lives of his parishioners, and yet he struggles mightily with the vows he has made. From his sacred place on the altar and in private, Father Michael rails against tired traditions, calling for the modernization of a church that has, to him, held firm to centuries-old customs and beliefs.

This is the story that is PassionTide, the first novel

by New Garden Township resident James Diluzio.

From start to finish, the book takes readers on the conundrum roller coaster of Father Michael’s strengths and weaknesses,

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

New Garden Township resident James Diluzio has written his first novel, PassionTide. He recently gave a public reading of the book at the Kennett Library, where he serves on its board of directors.

his search for redemption, and his resolve to make sense of his place in the world.

Published by Dorrance Publishing, PassionTide does not keep the Catholic church away from how it impacts -- and is impacted by -- such issues as opening the doors to priesthood to women, relationships, infidelity,

the war in Iraq, substance abuse, reconciliation and redemption.

Although PassionTide is Diluzio’s first novel, the published book represents his third version of it. He began writing a form of the novel 30 years ago, at a time when he was choosing to leave his position as a parish priest in order to pursue a career

in child-welfare social services, marry, and raise a family.

“My first attempt was purely autobiographical, but I didn’t like that,” Diluzio said prior to a public reading he gave at the Kennett Library, where he serves on its board of directors. “I then began approaching it in terms of a documentary style of writing, but I realized that neither of these forms was right for me.”

Three years ago, Diluzio picked up the project again, but this time, he decided to fictionalize the story, which allowed him to be more creative with the flow of the story and remove himself from sticking with the hard, cold facts. In sketching the character of Michael Domani, Diluzio chose the name Michael because it means “the one who is like God,” and Domani, which is the Italian word

for “tomorrow.”

“That became important to me, because the themes in the book are that while we’re supposed to be like God, we are also given to our human nature, so while it is our aspiration to become like God, it may not happen today,” he said.

Diluzio is currently writing the sequel to PassionTide.

Entitled PassionPlay, the second novel picks up where the first left off -- the tipping point Father Michael reaches that forces him to decide whether or not to remain a priest.

If there is a central theme that runs through PassionTide, Diluzio said, it is pride.

“Michael thought he was ready for the priesthood, and when he got challenged, he failed,” he said. “As we know from our [Catholic] education, virtue isn’t virtue until it is tested. Michael’s kind

of failure happens on many levels, in marriages, in politics, so the idea of failure is very important in human life to face and also ask, ‘Where does that failure come from?’

“Dante spoke about ‘pride’ as the greatest sin, and I agree with him. I agree that everything that happens follows from pride, including lust, and Father Michael embodies pride and lust. Not virtues, but two of the capital sins.

The challenge for him is to work through that.”

PassionTide is available from Dorrance Publishing’s online bookstore (www. dorrancepublishing.com), from Amazon.com, and at Barnes & Noble (print on demand). To have Diluzio sign your copy of PassionTide, contact him at jamesdiluzioauthor@ gmail.com.

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

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Dec. 15 to 31 ‘Christmas Carol’ Radio Play The Resident Theatre Company at Uptown!

Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 N. High St., West Chester) brings Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, complete with vintage commercials, live sound effects and engaging musical score, from Dec. 15 to 31. Six actors bring dozens of characters to the stage as the familiar story unfolds. Evening and matinee performances are scheduled. Visit www. uptownwestchester.org, or call 610-356-2787.

Dec. 15 Chesco Pops holiday The Chesco Pops will be performing joyful holiday music on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at Unionville High School (750 Unionville Rd., Kennett Square). Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for ages 60 and older, free for children and students.

Tickets are sold online at www.chescopops. org, or at the door. The program features familiar carols, along with new arrangements and an appearance by Santa.

Dec. 28 Cabaret evening Avon Grove Community Theater is hosting a family-friendly, open mic event for singers, dancers, musicians, comedians, magicians and more on Dec. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m.

At Kemblesville United Methodist Church. There is a $10 cover charge.

Light refreshments will be served. For tickets and more information, visit

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

www.actheater.org. To perform, email act.cafe. cabaret@gmail.com.

Through Jan. 7 ‘A Brandywine Christmas’ The Brandywine River Museum of Art (Route 1, Chadds Ford) hosts “A Brandywine Christmas” through Jan. 7. There will be a large operating model train display, holiday trees decorated for the season with “Critter” handmade ornaments, and a wide selection of holiday events and programs the whole family can enjoy.

The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Christmas Day).

Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 65 and older, $6 for students and children ages 6 and older; free for children 5 and younger, and Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art members. For more information, call 610388-2700 or visit www. brandywinemuseum.org.

Through Jan. 7 ‘A Longwood Christmas’ Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square) presents “Christmas at Longwood” through Jan. 7. The French-inspired holiday display in the four-acre Conservatory has topiary and more than 50 trees with sparkling crystal ornaments. Inside Longwood’s Conservatory are 16,000 seasonal plants. In the Exhibition Hall, an array of floating cranberries and apples are set in patterns. The Music Room has a mirrored dining table set for Christmas Eve

The Chesco Pops will be performing joyful holiday music on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at Unionville High School (see listing).

dinner. There are free and ticketed holiday-inspired performances as well as daily holiday sing-alongs performed on Longwood’s pipe organ. More than 500,000 outdoor lights will be hung in 124 trees, and there will be three fire pits. Admission to the Christmas display is by Timed Admission Ticket, with tickets purchased in advance for a specific date and time. Tickets are $23 for ages 18 and older ($20 for ages 62 and older and college students, $12 for ages 5 to 18, free for ages 4 and younger).

Tickets can be purchased at www. longwoodgardens.org, or call 610-388-1000 Through Jan. 7 Yuletide at Winterthur Winterthur Museum (5105 Kennett Pike) hosts the annual Yuletide at Winterthur exhibition through Jan. 7. Henry Francis du Pont’s former home explores Christmas traditions from the 1800s to the early 20th century, including displays of the earliest types of lights decorating house exteriors, a full-room scene of Clement Moore’s “A

Visit from St. Nicholas,” and the du Pont family’s holiday celebrations.

There’s an 18-room dollhouse mansion created by designer and philanthropist Nancy McDaniel over a period of 30 years. Visitors can also enjoy jazz and wine events, lectures, and musical and theatrical performances. Winterthur is open daily (including Mondays) during Yuletide, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The last Yuletide Tour is at 3:30 p.m. Galleries and stores are open until 5:30 p.m. Open New Year’s Day. Closed on Christmas.

Yuletide Tour reservations are recommended. Tickets are $22 for adults, $5 for ages 2 to 11, free for infants under 2. Senior tickets (62 and older) are $20. Students 12 and older are $20. For more information about all events and exhibitions, visit www.winterthur.org.

To submit items to the Calendar of Events, e-mail jchambless@ ch e s t e rc o u n t y. c o m .

There is no charge. Not every submission can be included. Items should be submitted at least two weeks before the event.

Through Dec. 31 Christmas in Miniature “Christmas in Miniature Art” continues at Barbara Moore Fine Art (1609 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford) through Dec. 31. The show features small original artworks by more than 30 regional artists. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit www.barbaramoorefineart. com, or call 484-776-5174.

Through Dec. 23 Artisan Gift Shop The Oxford Arts Alliance presents the Artisan Gift Shop through Dec. 23.

Original jewelry, clothing, decorations, ceramics, wood crafts and art by local artists will be available for gift giving. The Artisan Gift Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended Friday hours until 8 p.m., at the Oxford Arts Alliance (38 S. Third St., Oxford) and the Oxford Arts Annex (19 S. Third St., Oxford). Call 610-467-0301 or visit www. oxfordart.org.

Through Dec. 23 Artworks for the Holidays The Station Gallery (Route 52, Greenville, Del.) presents artworks and jewelry for gift-giving through Dec. 23.

Artists include Jim Barwick, Anna Biggs, Maragaretta Bredin, Frank DePietro, Janis Fitch, Gay Freeborn, Michele Green, Lynne Lockhart, Estelle Lukoff, Kirk McBride, Fran Miller, Randy

Murphy, and Mary Pritchard.

For more information, visit www.stationgallery.net.

Through Jan. 28 Ceramics and glass Bookplace (2373 Baltimore Pike, Oxford) hosts a holiday Ceramics and Glass Show through Jan. 28.

Functional and decorative work by Amy Burk, Maggie Creshkoff, Carolyn Hess, Rick Hohenwarter, Amy Holland, Keith Lehman and Gill Mallinckrodt will be featured. Gallery hours are Friday from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 717-715-4775 or visit www. bookplaceoxford.com.

Through Dec. 28 ‘Our Brandywine Roots’ Mala Galleria (206 E. State St., Kennett Square) presents “Our Brandywine Roots,” featuring paintings by Mark Dance, Robert Dance, Karl Kuerner Jr., and Robert Dionne, along with sculpture

by Alejandro Lemus and mosaics by Amy Bruckner, through Dec. 28.

Through Dec. 24 Miniature art show Sunset Hill Fine Arts Gallery (23 N. High St., West Chester) will host the 19th Annual Miniature Show, featuring small paintings by a variety of Chester County artists, through Dec. 24. The gallery is on the second floor of Sunset Hill Jewelers. Visit www.sunsethilljewelers.com for a list of participating artists and gallery hours.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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Family behind Run For Our Sons needs the community’s support

By John Chambless Staff Writer The local family who inspired the annual Run For Our Sons fundraiser for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the focus of a fundraising campaign this holiday season.

On Dec. 1, a Go Fund Me page was started by friends of the family to raise money for a van that will make transportation easier for Elliott and Henry Johnson, who have Duchenne. Their mother, Joanna Johnson, is a Unionville High School teacher. While the annual run raises thousands of dollars every year for Duchenne research, none of the money goes to the Johnson family.

To take the boys anywhere, Joanna and her husband, Paul, must lift them and place them into the car, then load their wheelchairs, and repeat the process when they get to their destination.

In a message sent to the families in the UnionvilleChadds Ford School

District on Dec. 12, Dave Listman, the district’s head of communications, wrote, “Our community has shown such kindness and generosity for those in need, far and near. … Today we are sharing information with you about a family in need, right here in our community -- the Johnson family. The Johnsons helped start the Run for Our Sons, an annual spring fundraising event. However, now is a time when the Johnsons themselves could use a helping hand.

“Imagine how difficult it is when you can’t have your family just hop in the car and drive off to your destination,” Listman wrote. “Imagine having to transfer your children from their scooters into the car, and then load the scooters in the back of the car.

Imagine then having to do it all in reverse after arriving at your destination. Imagine having to unload the scooters and transferring your children back to their scooters so they can enter their home.

“Imagine the Unionville extended family and

community donating enough money so the Johnson family could purchase a van to transport Elliott and Henry independently and safely. As Elliott’s and Henry’s disease progresses, the need for a van that two wheelchairs can get into safely is not a luxury; it is a necessity. And the necessity needs to be filled now. So, imagine being a part of honoring this heroic, brave family who deserves our support.”

The message included a link to the Go Fund Me page, which on Tuesday morning had raised $12,646 of its $80,000 goal for the purchase of a new van.

On the page, the message reads: “Having a van that Elliott and Henry could roll into would be life-changing for the Johnson family. The need for a van that a scooter or wheelchair can roll and be locked into isn’t just a “nice to have,” but a necessity.

Unfortunately, the expense is great and is not covered by insurance or other alternative means. So we’re asking, as

Elliott and Henry Johnson.

you bake holiday cookies, drop off gifts and visit with family and friends – can you spread a little bit more love by participating in a campaign to ‘get the Johnsons rolling?’

“Our goal over the 25 Days of Christmas is to reach out to as many people we can and ask them to donate $25 (or more if you are so inclined) to the Johnson family, so they’ll be able to purchase the van that can accommodate Elliott

and Henry’s scooters and eventual wheelchairs,” the message reads.

“To know Elliott and Henry, Paul and Joanna, is to know people that are quietly heroic, wonderfully brave, and a lot of fun. Let’s create our own holiday magic and bring some joy to Paul, Joanna, Elliott and Henry by donating $25 and encouraging as many people as we can to donate!”

Donations are being

accepted online, and checks are also being collected at the Unionville High School office. Checks should be made payable to the Johnson Special Needs Trust.

To donate, visit www. gofundme.com/25days ofxmasjohnsons.

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

Landenberg resident’s last wish comes true

Courtesy photo

The Bayada Hospice team and Mr. and Mrs. Murtagh at the poker party.

Whenever Bayada Hospice social worker Julie Shindel would visit her 94-year-old patient Donald Murtagh, a Landenberg resident, to provide hospice services, she’d find him playing video poker on his computer.

When Shindel did her standard “life review” with Murtagh, she realized that poker meant much more to him than just a pastime. The life review is a way to help patients prepare for a peaceful end of life by exploring

what goals and experiences are most important to them, what can bring them the most joy now, and what personal relationships may need some time and care to make sure that nothing important goes left unsaid. Then Bayada supports the patient in making their wishes come true.

It came out in his life review that, before his heart disease progressed, Murtagh was very active in local poker clubs. He missed it very much. Murtagh confided that one thing he

would love to do is have a big poker game in his living room, with his family.

Shindel told him she was going to make that happen.

She contacted a company that provides in-home poker parties, and ironed out all the details. On a sunny December afternoon, Murtagh and his wife welcomed into their home their two sons, son-inlaw, Bayada Hospice social workers Julie and Keri, and bereavement coordinator Melissa. Everyone had a

wonderful time playing poker, talking and laughing, and they played all day, until the sun went down.

“I’ll never forget at the end of the night, Mr. Murtagh looked at me with a huge smile on his face, gave me a big hug, and thanked me for making his wish come true,” Shindel said.

“Making him happy makes me so happy!”

For more information on Bayada Hospice, call 610-6272050 or visit www.bayada. com/hospice.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year! lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

And, as always, thank you for your business and referrals.

I am truly grateful!

— Rosina Rosina Woolston

610-345-5000

610-812-1379 RosinaWoolston@yahoo.com www.RosinaWoolston.com “Your Key to Quality Service”

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

MILDRED EDITH GADDE

HAZEL E. NEAD

Mildred Edith (Winslow) Gadde, 93, of West Chester, formerly of Sandown, N.H., and Holden, Mass., passed away on Nov. 16.

Mildred was born in 1924 in Waterbury, Conn. She is survived by her daughter, Donna (William) Goudie, and daughter-in-law, Jan Kippenberger Gadde. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Russell Frederick Gadde; and her son, Alan Winslow Gadde. Mildred is survived by her brother, Leland Winslow; and predeceased by siblings Ruth Winslow, Robert Winslow, and Donald Winslow. She is also survived by her grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Michelle Goudie.

Mildred was raised in Amagansett, N.Y., by her parents, Mildred and Leland Winslow. It was in Amagansett where she met Russell while he was patrolling the beaches of Long Island for the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. They later settled in Worcester, Mass., then Holden, Mass., where they raised their family. Mildred was a loving mother and grandmother, devoting her life to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Mildred was a member of Epworth Methodist Church in Worcester, Mass. She enjoyed bowling in leagues for many years, and was more recently a sports enthusiast and cribbage ace until her passing. She kept sharp with crossword puzzles and enjoyed visiting with family and friends.

Mildred was a resident of Birch Heights in Derry, N.H., before moving to Barclay Friends in West Chester in 2013.

A memorial service was held Dec. 9. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jimmy Fund (www.jimmyfund.org/ways-to-give/memorial-andtribute-gifts) in memory of Alan W. Gadde; or to the Michelle J. Goudie ’93 Scholarship Fund (https:// makeagift.princeton.edu/MainSite/MakeAGift). To share a memory with Mildred’s family, visit www. griecocares.com.

Hazel E. Nead (Cutshall), 102, passed away peacefully on Dec. 2 at Jenner’s Pond in West Grove.

She was the wife of Clarence S. Nead, who passed away in 1986. Hazel was born in Three Springs, Pa., in 1915, the daughter of the late Aley and the late Mary (Fix) Cutshall. She worked for many years at Kennett High School in the cafeteria, and loved knitting, sewing, cooking and gardening. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Kennett Square and was formerly active in the Kennett Senior Center.

She is survived by three sons: Larry Nead (Emmelyn) of Dillwyn, Va., Robert Nead (Betty Jean) of Lancaster, Va., and Richard Nead (Barbara) of Lakeland, Fla.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral was held Dec. 9. Interment was at Cherry Grove Cemetery in Three Springs. In lieu of flowers, a donation would be appreciated to First Baptist Church of Kennett Square, 415 West State St., Kennett Square, PA 19348. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

MARVIN MCGINNIS Marvin “Jack” McGinnis, 71, of Nottingham, passed away on Dec. 1 at his home.

He was the husband of the late Dolores Anne Wolfe McGinnis. Born in Coatesville, he was the son of the late Ralph Norman and Dorothy Bryson McGinnis. He was retired from JJID General Contracting. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Oxford. Marvin enjoyed hunting, yard sales, auctions, country music and poker.

He was a great storyteller and loved to spend time with his family and friends.

He is survived by a stepdaughter, Sandra Peterson; step-granddaughter, Amber; step-grandson, Kyle; five brothers, Ralph McGinnis of Nottingham, Donald McGinnis and his wife Helen McGinnis of Westwood, Paul McGinnis and his wife Mary Ann McGinnis of Coatesville, Barry McGinnis and his companion Marlene Leonard of Coatesville, and Billy McGinnis of Gap; and five sisters, Dawn Ross and her husband Ricardo Vergara of Gap, Evelyn Lash wife of the late Blackie Lash of Honey Brook, Helen Sanchez and her husband David Sanchez of Coatesville, Deborah McGinnis and her companion Bill Underwood of Elizabethtown, and Roxanne McGinnis of Nottingham; many loving nieces and nephews; and his beloved cat, Queenie. He was preceded in death by a brother, Dennis McGinnis; and stepson, Tommy Leung.

A funeral was held Dec. 5. Interment was in Oxford Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www. elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

Alleluia Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24 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.

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

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BERNICE EDMONDSON LITTLE Bernice Edmondson Little, 94, of Landenberg, died on Dec. 5 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford.

She was the wife of the late Kirby Lane Little, who died in 1999, and with whom she shared 58 years of marriage.

Born in Mount Hope, W.Va., she was the eldest daughter of the late Charles Blaine and the late Retha (Stansberry) Edmondson. She attended school in Lansing, N.C. Bernice worked for Yeatman Greenhouses and also the Wynette Dress Shop in Kennett Square. She and her husband were founding members of Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church and she attended there most of her adult life. Bernice enjoyed church, family, gardening, genealogy, travel and Bible study.

Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Malbone (Martin G.) of West Grove; sons, J. Stephen Little (Franca) of Landenberg, and D. Johnnie Little (Carol Ann) of Kennett Square; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by a son, Richard Danny; a granddaughter, Stephanie DelCampo; a brother, Galen; and sisters, Wanda and Laska.

A funeral was held Dec. 9. Interment was in Union Hill Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church, 408 Bayard Rd., Kennett Square PA 19348. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www. griecocares.com.

Dec. 16 Live nativity West Grove United Methodist Church (300 N. Guernsey Rd., West Grove) hosts a live nativity on Dec. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Visitors will see actors portraying Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds and wise men, along with live animals. Visitors can enjoy home baked goods and hot chocolate inside the church. For directions and more information, call 610-869-9334 or visit www. westgroveumc.org.

Dec. 16 Holiday vacation Bible school Kemblesville United Methodist Church, Kemblesville, hosts a Christmas vacation Bible school on Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register at kemblesvilleumc@verizon. net.

Dec. 16 Drive-through nativity Union United Methodist Church (31 Fremont Rd., Nottingham) hosts a drivethrough live nativity on Dec. 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

There will also be a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7 p.m.

Through Dec. 16 10,000 Villages shop Oxford Presbyterian Church (6 Pine St., Oxford) hosts a 10,000 Villages gift shop on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with special hours on Dec. 5 from 5 to 9 p.m. The shop features ethically sourced crafts that raise funds for the makers in 33 countries. Products include coffee, tea, chocolate and nuts as well. Call 610-932-9640 for more information.

Dec. 20 Joseph’s People meeting The monthly Joseph’s People West Grove meeting for the unemployed/underemployed will be on Dec. 20 at 6:45 p.m. In the Parish Life Center of ABVM’s Church (300 State Rd., West Grove). Ruder Schill from Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) will be the guest speaker. For 31 years, Ruder worked at Hewlett Packard in Avondale.

When HP spun off to Agilent Technologies, Ruder continued with Agilent until he retired in 2012. He regularly counsels entrepreneurs in person, and via workshops. Joseph’s People provides prayerful support, introducing community resources, encouraging member interaction and discussing job opportunitie.

Visit www.josephspeople.org.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

5B

6B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

Chester County Press

Penn’s Grove School honors top students

LEGALS PUBLIC NOTICE

The London Grove Township Zoning Hearing Board will conduct a public hearing on, Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 7:00 p.m., in the London Grove Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA for the following purpose: 520 West State Road- To hear the appeal of Peter Kjellerup for a special exception pursuant to section 27-1605 in order to permit portions of structures, utilities and the Eco-Village Internal Accessway to be located in precautionary slope area as depicted on their plans.

B). A special exception pursuant to Section 27-1604 to permit more than 40% of the precautionary slope area to be permanently disturbed for the installation of the improvements proposed as part of the Development. The permitted disturbance is approximately 11,495 sq. ft. and the proposed disturbance is approximately 13,184 sq. ft. or 47.8% of the precautionary slope area.

C). A variance from section 27-1604 to permit the total amount of impervious surface proposed to be installed in precautionary slope area to exceed 40% of the total impervious area permitted according to the provisions of the underlying base zoning district.

The proposed percentage of impervious area in the precautionary slope area is 44%.

D). A variance from section 27-202, the definition of “Eco-Village Dwelling Unit” and section 27-603.6A to permit dwelling units in a building containing Eco-village Dwelling Units to be separated by horizontal common party walls rather than to be separated only by vertical common party walls.

E.) A variance from section 27-603.6D and section 27-1836 to permit the net tract area for the Eco-village to be calculated utilizing the actual proposed road right-of-way determined to be required in connection with the Development by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and London Grove Township rather than the estimated proposed road right-of-way. Pursuant to section 271836, 10 % is required to be deducted for proposed road right-of-way in the RR District when calculating net tract area. In this case, under a prior iteration of a proposed Eco-village development on the Property, PennDOT reviewed and approved the access points on the Property as part of a Highway Occupancy Permit. These same access points are proposed to utilize in connection with the currently proposed Development. At that time of PennDOT’s review, the actual amount of proposed road-right-of-way needed for the Property was determined, which equated to a 4% deduction rather than a

10 % deduction. Accordingly, Applicant is seeking a variance to utilize a 4% deduction for proposed road-right-ofway rather than a 10 % deduction when calculating the net tract area applicable to the Development.

F) A variance from Section 27-603.6.

L to permit a maximum building height of 42 feet rather than the permitted 35 feet or 3 stories.

G). A variance from section 27-603.6.

N to permit the proposed Eco-Village Internal Accessways to be constructed of asphalt or other paved material rather than reinforced pervious or vegetated surfaces and to permit permanent parking in designated areas along the proposed Eco-village Internal Accessways.

H). Such other relief as is necessary for the Development as proposed.

This property is in the Rural/Residential (RR) District.

William Grandizio, Chairman, Zoning Hearing Board 12p-6-2t

NOTICE

Pursuant to the requirements of section 1975 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, notice is hereby given that AMERICAN HERITAGE LANDMARK TOURS, INC. is currently in the process of voluntarily dissolving.

David Lyle Segal, Esq., 121 S. Broad St., Suite 1700, Philadelphia, PA 19107 12p-13-1t

NOTICE

Pursuant to the requirements of section 1975 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, notice is hereby given that Biopeptek Incorporated is currently in the process of voluntarily dissolving. Frank P. Farmer, Jr., Esq., 90 Daniel Drive, Avondale, PA 19311 12p-13-1t

NOTICE

The reorganization meeting of the Penn Township Supervisors will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Penn Township Municipal Building, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA. The regular Board of Supervisors meeting will be held immediately following the reorganizational meeting. Caitlin A. Ianni, Township Secretary 12p-13-1t

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The Penn Township Planning Commission will hold a special meeting on Wed., Dec. 20, 2017, 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.

See these local businesses and many more on our website

chestercounty.com Click Directory PACK N SHIP

Respectfully submitted, Caitlin A. Ianni, Penn Township Secretary, 12p-13-1t

NOTICE

PENN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 2018 MEETING SCHEDULE, All Regular meetings of the Board of Supervisors will be held on the 1st Wednesday of each month except January. Work Session Meetings will be held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, January through April and then September and October. Agenda deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday preceding the regular meeting. All meetings begin at 6 p.m. at the Township Building in the Finnen Community Room, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA 19390 unless advertised otherwise. The public is invited. The Board of Supervisors of Penn Township will meet in the 2018 calendar year on the following dates for regular meetings: January 2, February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, August 1, September 5, October 3, November 7, and December 5. Work Session Meetings are as follows: January 17, February 21, March 21, April 18, September 19, October 17, 2018.

12p-13-1t

NOTICE

PENN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE 2018, All regular meetings of the Planning Commission will be held on the 4th Wednesday of each month with the exception of January. All meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and are held at the Township Building in the Finnen Community Room, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA. The public is invited. The Planning Commission will meet in the 2018 calendar year on the following dates: February 28, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26, October 24, November 28, and December 26.

12p-13-1t

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Courtesy photos

Penn’s Grove School teachers nominate Students of the Month for each grade level team based on their academic achievements and participation in class and 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, Jonathan Baker, Trent Keenan, Brady Bennett, Eliot Long, Sean Hunsicker and Sarah Brown; second row from left Sydney Troutman, Shelby Dawson, Angela Beadle, Sarah Stidham, Andrew Klein and Yaritzel Torres.

Pictured with Principal Tami Motes, top left, and Assistant Principal Kristen Chastain, Penn’s Grove School eighth grade Students of the Month for October are, front from left, Alexandra Ennis, Sandra Sosa, Jackson Paris, KaLeigh Cruz, Hannah Peterson and Emiliano Zetune; second row from left, Samantha Castillo, Ryan Meiler, Carlos Tapia-Espinosa, Eileen Diaz, Caleb Ham and Alexandra Zurita.

Students of the Month named at Hopewell Elementary 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, Rebecca Powell, Brandon Cisneros, Nina Cram, Genalyn Mason and Landen Rozich; second row from left, Elliana Gentile, Athena Wilson, Logan Puckett, Kaia Patterson, Brian Zaragoza Trujillo and Jaden Stringer. Sixth grade October Students of the Month are, third row from left, Justin Tyre, Brooklyn Roberts, Benjamin Palita, Zoe Verbanas and Veronika Soto; top row from left, Giovanni Hernandez, Conner Mallon, Jude Campbell, Jesse Palita, Ryan Vanella and Kaden Cave.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

7B

Looking at the county’s vanishing places

By John Chambless Staff Writer John Suplee’s paintings are lovely to look at, and they have a warm, sunny tone, but the artist’s little tweaks and commentaries make them richly resonant.

His latest solo show, which opened on Dec. 8 at the Church Street Gallery in West Chester, is a bountiful selection of his vivid landscapes and his wry observations about the way time and progress are pushing aside the old spaces in Chester County.

Suplee’s longtime dismay over the intrusion of development into the natural world, or the way it displaces history, is evident in “Crebilly Cut,” in which telephone wires pierce the branches of a row of trees with a ridiculously large gash.

That same concern is seen in “Remembering Creek Road, Pocopson,” which captures the ancient sycamores and building at the intersection that have been bypassed by the new bridge and road in Pocopson.

Contemporary sprawl is addressed in “The Golden Door,” in which a morass of industrial blight dwarfs an almost impreceptible Statue of Liberty in a perspective from the New Jersey Turnpike. Then there’s

the three-part “American Life Triptych” – crowded horizontal slices titled “Traff ic,” “Dwelling” and “Commerce” – that unfortunately sum up the daily experience of too many commuters.

But Suplee doesn’t condemn bitterly. His works are from the point of view of someone who has deep roots in this area, and a nostalgia for the way the world was before “progress” pushed out what was time-honored and true.

There’s an appreciation of the beauty of Chester County in “February Sunset,” with a shadowed field in the foreground, snow stretched thinly over a brown hillside, and a perfect pink glow on the horizon. It perfectly captures the elusive moment of not-quite-day in midwinter.

Suplee’s love of flowers is seen in “Cheerful Disregard,” in which exuberant sunflowers try to overwhelm a stop sign. Flowers also take a final bow, with only a few scattered colorful blooms amidst the dried stalks in “November Flowers.” “Last of the Line” is a view of North High Street, heading out of West Chester, where a solitary living sycamore stands as a sentinel for what used to be a stately line of trees.

There’s a quiet beauty in “Summer Solstice,” with a slanting summer light on a brick West Chester home; as well as in the large expanse of “Grand Spanish Landscape.” And don’t miss “Off-Season Arcade,” which is hanging in the gallery’s powder room. It’s a stretch of candy-colored attractions jumbled together along a swath of empty boardwalk.

It’s that kind of subdued duality – the beauty of what remains, coupled with longing for what is lost – that runs through Suplee’s masterful paintings. You’ll come away from this show with a renewed appreciation for the rich history of Chester County, and perhaps a bit of nostalgia for what is being paved over, or cut away, in our rush to the future.

“John Suplee: Perils and Pleasures of Modern Life” continues at the Church Street Gallery (12 S. Church St., West Chester) through Jan. 13. Gallery hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www. churchstreetgaller ywc. com.

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

‘The Golden Door’

‘Grand Spanish Landscape’

‘Crebilly Cut’

‘November Flowers’

‘Summer Solstice’

‘American Life Triptych’

‘Cheerful Disregard’

‘Remembering Creek Road, Pocopson’

8B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017