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Chester CountyPRESS
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Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 152, No. 51
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
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Oxford Borough finalizes budget— with a tax decrease The borough is reducing its millage rate by .25 mills By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer On Monday night, Oxford Borough Council finalized the budget for 2019, and there’s some very good news for taxpayers: the millage rate will be decreasing by .25 mills for next year. Oxford Borough Council
approved the $3.7 million general fund budget by a vote of 5-1. They also adopted the ordinance that sets the millage rate at 12 mills for 2019. The millage rate for the current year is 12.25 mills. Borough officials were clearly elated that the tax rate was actually declining.
It’s rare for a municipality to be able to reduce taxes from one year to the next. Oxford Borough is the position of being able to reduce taxes because the borough’s revenues are outpacing expenditures. When the proposed 2019 budget was unveiled in November, borough manag-
er Brian Hoover explained that Oxford has seen a significant increase in construction activity, as well as a large increase in the total assessed value of all properties in the borough. Hoover estimated that the total assessed value of all properties has increased by about $5.2 million during
the last year. That equates to about $63,000 in additional revenues to the borough’s coffers without an increase in taxes. Hoover also said that Oxford saw a lot of construction in town in the last year. Some new homes have been built, and a
Wreaths placed on veterans’ graves in Oxford INSIDE
By Chris Barber Correspondent
Undaunted by chill, rain and heavy traffic, scores of volunteers showed up at the Oxford Cemetery on Saturday to pay tribute to U.S. military veterans buried there. They were participating in a tradition known as Wreaths Across America, which in mid-December honors those who have served the United States in its wars by placing wreaths on the veterans’ graves and saying their ‘A Fan’s View’ is a must- names out loud.
The ceremony in Oxford this past weekend, which was celebrated simultaneously in cemeteries nationwide, began with volunteers and participants gathering for refreshments at the Masonic Hall on Route 10 in late morning. It continued with a color guard leading participants across the busy highway into the cemetery. The Chester County Sheriff’s Department, including Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh, was there to Photo by Chris Barber control traffic along the way U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Trevor Derr presents the wreath designated to honor members of the miliand offer support. Continued on Page 3A
tary lost in war.
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Township may preserve 44 acres on two properties By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer New Garden Township may become even greener in perpetuity, thanks to a proposal to acquire more than 44 total acres of farmland and open space, that would be preserved through New cafe is a centerpiece for Chadds Ford Barn conservation easements Shops...1B placed on two distinct properties in the township. A presentation given by the township’s Open Space Courtesy art New Garden Township is considering the purchase of a Review Board (OSRB) to 40-acre property known as the Sprout Farm in the town- the Board of Supervisors at a Dec. 17 meeting gave ship, in order to place a conservation easement on it.
details behind their recommendation to acquire 43.1 acres of the Sproat Farm property, in the vicinity of the Bancroft Elementary School, along Bancroft Road, Pemberton Road and Line Road. Of those acres, 40.8 are expected to be placed in conservation easement and divided into three parcels: 16.7 acres, 13.7 acres and 10.4 acres, respectively. Of that acreage, 16.4 is designated as Highest Protection Area, and the remaining 24.4 Continued on Page 2A
School district fact-checks information shared on local website By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Santa comes to West Grove...2B
INDEX Opinion.......................7A Calendar of Events.....3B Obituaries...................4B Classifieds.................6B
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The Avon Grove School District is attempting to correct what some district officials are saying is not just inaccurate, but misleading, information regarding the high school project that was shared on local social media and website posts. At the Avon Grove School Board’s reorganization meeting on Dec. 6, school board president Tracy Lisi read what was described as a board statement that was prepared in response to a post by a group formed several years ago called The Avon Grove Taxpayers for Responsible Spending. The group maintains a website with a wealth of information about the school district. However, school district officials are concerned that the
website contains inaccurate information that would confuse parents and taxpayers in the district, and that in some cases the information is being presented in such a way so as to purposely mislead residents. Lisi specifically addressed a post that served as a summary of a Nov. 15 meeting of the Avon Grove School Board. The summary included a headline which read, “Board votes 5-4 to increase borrowing from $127 to $139 million.” The summary then goes on to say that the board voted to approve the borrowing resolution of $139 million, which is $12 million more than what was the previous “ceiling” of $127 million. In that same post, the website took the school board to task for holding the Nov. 15 meeting after Avon Grove schools were dismissed early
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that day because of poor weather conditions. Lisi then offered four detailed “fact checks” to the online posts. The most sig-
nificant fact check pertains to the amount that the school district expects to borrow in order to construct a new high Continued on Page 3A
Avon Grove School Board reorganizes for 2019 Lisi selected as board president, while Wood will serve as vice president By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer The Avon Grove School Board held its annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 6. The main order of business was the selection of a president and vice president for the next year. School board member Bill Wood nominated Tracy Lisi for the leadership position. Bonnie Wolff seconded the motion. There were no other nominees, and the board approved Lisi’s selection as president by a vote of 5-4. 2019 will be Lisi’s second straight year as the board president. She is entering her fourth year on the school board, and was elected from Region II, which Continued on Page 2A
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2019 Chesco election starts now By Uncle Irvin The wind is at the back of the Democratic Party in Chester County, and the 2019 municipal election for County Commissioner and District Attorney offices, now held by the GOP, are in their sights. The Democrats, with their stunning victory in all four row offices in 2018, sniff that another sweep is on the horizon. And they are right! The GOP is highly vulnerable and the party has no credible leadership, Continued on Page 3A
Notice to our readers and subscribers For the first time in 15 years, the Chester County Press will be increasing its per-issue newsstand price and yearly subscription rates. Beginning with our January 2, 2019 edition, the cost of the Press will increase from 60 cents to $1, and its mailed subscription rates will increase to $40 a year, and $30 a year for seniors. Subscribers will continue to receive complimentary editions of our regional magazines. While these price changes reflect the rising cost of paying for newsprint, they are, more importantly, indicative of the value that we place on our ability to provide you with high-quality and extensive coverage of local government, townships and municipalities, schools, and the vibrant community and rich culture of Southern Chester County. We thank you for your readership, and we look forward to serving you for years to come.
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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
Chester County Press
Local News Township finalizes purchase of St. Anthony in the Hills By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer After a delay in dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s on an acquisition that was approved in February, the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors approved funding for the township’s purchase of the 137.5-acre St. Anthony in the Hills property, for the price of $1.5 million. St. Anthony in the Hills is owned by St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Wilmington. The board voted at its Dec. 17 meeting that 106.4 acres of the property – designated as Highest Protection and
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acres are designated as Standard Protection Area. The remaining 2.3 acres will be reserved as private property. If it is purchased by the township, the property would serve as a vital connection to the township’s Greenways Plan, whose objective is to identify and attempt to preserve a contiguous “corridor” of undeveloped land throughout the township that connects natural areas, trails, bikeways and easements. The appraised value per acre is $7,300, and the total cost of the Sproat property is projected to be $300,000. Eric McCormick of Natural Lands, who serves as an advisor to the OSRB, told the supervisors that she is confident that as much as 50 percent of the appraised value of the property would be paid for through a grant from a Chester Countybased open space source. The remainder of the cost is projected to be paid for from the township’s Open Space Fund. The OSRB also recommended the purchase of a
Standard Protection areas – will be funded through the township’s Open Space Fund, in the amount of $1,163,164. Because the Open Space Fund is expected to receive $225,000 from Chester County that will be applied to the purchase, the actual allocation from the Open Space Fund will be $938,164. The remaining 30.6 acres – designated as a Minimal Protection Area – will be paid for by the township’s General Fund, in the amount of $336,836. The acreage is in the area just southwest of the intersection of Gap-Newport Pike (Route 41) and
Limestone Road (Route 7), just north of Somerset Lake, and sits on the headwaters of the Broad Run Creek. It was owned and operated by the church as a sanctuary for inner-city Wilmington children as a lasting legacy to the vision of Father Roberto Balducelli, who served as the founder and caretaker of the facility until his death at the age of 99 on Aug. 9, 2013. The first seeds of the collaboration between the township and the parish date back to 2008, when Father Balducelli approached the township with the idea of entering into a conservation agree-
ment. Following a public hearing in Dec. 2015, the board voted unanimously to enter the township into a conservation easement in cooperation with the parish. That agreement was later rejected by the parish, which led to the township’s negotiation with the parish to purchase the property. At its Feb. 20, 2018 meeting, the supervisors approved the township’s acquisition of St. Anthony in the Hills, contingent upon details that were expected to be ironed out during a 90-day agreement of sale. At the board’s authorization, township manager Tony Scheivert was to sign
4.2-acre swath of land off of Landenberg Road, that is owned by the Christie family. It will be the second time the family has negotiated a conservation easement with the OSRB for its property; currently, 12 acres of the family’s land is under conservation easement. Purchase of the additional acreage will provide a continuing link to the township’s several trail systems throughout Landenberg. The easement value of the Christie property is assessed at $9,500 per acre, and its $40,000 asking price is planned to be paid for through the township’s Open Space Fund, as well as from other grant sources. The supervisors are expect to decide on the purchase of these four parcels at their Jan. 22, 2019 meeting. If approved, the OSRB is looking to finalize these transactions in the first quarter of 2019. The Open Space Review Board is a volunteer-based group that assists landowners with planning to preserve remaining open space. Its members meet with property owners to discuss preservation options, to develop pro-
posals to accomplish the easements necessary to protect the property from eventual development, and to recommend proposals to the Board of Supervisors for review toward approval. In other township business, the board adopted Resolutions 803 and 804, which keeps the township’s local enabling and real estate tax rates largely the same for 2019. The only difference in the tax picture for next year will be the increase in the township’s local services tax – effective Jan. 1, 2019 – that will raise the fee for those who work in the township from $10 to $52, annually – one dollar a week for those who earn more than $12,000 a year. Agreed to by the board at its Nov. 19 meeting, the revenues raised from the tax increase will be used for emergency services – police, ambulance and fire and road maintenance – and is estimated to raise $175,320 a year. The board extended its
decision on whether to grant the application of 380 Starr Road, LLP, to convert the building now being used by W.L. Gore in the township into a medical marijuana growing and distribution facility. The applicant agreed to the board’s request for an extension, which it will render at its Jan. 22, 2019 meeting. The board approved a $79,000 contract with McMahon Associates to develop a transportation and streetscape design plan for the Village of Toughkenamon. The design, in partnership with a newly formed committee, is scheduled to begin in January and be completed in early 2020. A conditional use hearing held before the board considered the application of the Samii family to convert an existing twostory office building at the intersection of Newark Roads and Old Baltimore Pike in Toughkenamon, into a 1,590-square-foot convenience store, that
will be primarily used for check cashing and money transfers. Located at 1490 Newark Road, the building had been previously been used as a chiropractor’s office, as well as an office, community center and sub shop. A design for the new use for the building – and a single-family dwelling beside it that will not be used as
commercial space – is still in the works, but it sits at the center of a troublesome intersection that is on a timeline to be upgraded. The supervisors have 45 days to render a decision on the application, which is expected to be reached at its Jan. 22, 2019 meeting.
Reorganization...
The next order of business for the board was to establish meeting nights and times for 2019. The school board will continue to meet as a committee-ofthe-whole on the second Thursday each month, and regular meetings will take place on the fourth Thursday of the month. There was a suggestion from Weber to start the committee-of-the-whole meetings at a later time because the 6 p.m. starts were difficult for her. She said that she has a hard time making it from work to the meeting by 6 p.m., especially if traffic is heavy. “Personally, it’s hard for me to get here by six
o’clock,” she said. Several board members pointed out that the committee-of-the-whole meetings have the earlier start because they tend to be lengthy. A later start would mean that the audience members, board members, and the school district’s administrators would be out later. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Marchese pointed out that the board had had the exact same discussion at the reorganization meeting last year. He said that one thing that is important for the community is to have some sort of consistency with the meetings so that residents know when the meetings
are if they are interested in attending them. He suggested having the committee meetings start at 6 p.m. and having committee-of-the-whole meetings and the regular meetings start at 6:30 p.m. The 2019 committee-of-the-whole meetings would have later starts than in 2018, but the regular meetings would be moved a half an hour earlier. This compromise worked, and the Avon Grove School Board voted unanimously to approve the meeting times for 2019.
Continued from Page 1A
includes the areas of Penn Township and New London Township. Next, board member Jeffrey Billig nominated Wood for the role of vice president. There were no other nominees and the board approved Wood’s appointment as vice president. In 2019, the Avon Grove School Board will include the following members: (Region I) Charles Beatty III, John Auerbach, and Lynn Weber; (Region II) Billig, Rick Dumont, and Lisi; and (Region III) Herman Engel, Wood, and Wolff.
a letter of intent to execute the agreement between the township and the parish. On March 19, 2018, the board voted 5-0 to pass a resolution that committed the township to use money from its Open Space Fund to acquire the property, but although the township had a letter of intent on file with St. Anthony of Padua, there was still no agreement of sale. On June 18, 2018 the board voted to tack an additional 30 days on to the transaction period for the purchase of the property, in order to provide time to conduct additional environmental testing on the
property. Board chairman Randy Geouque said that the township will likely form a committee to determine a plan for public access and use for the property. “The public will not have access to it immediately, because there are some safety concerns that need to be addressed before we can let anyone on the property,” he said. “However, I think we’re all excited. It’s going to be a good benefit at some point, for all of the residents.” To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Courtesy photo
If purchased, the property will serve as a vital link to the township’s Greenways Plan, whose objective is to identify and attempt to preserve a contiguous “corridor” of undeveloped land throughout the township that connects natural areas, trails, bikeways and easements.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
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Chester County Press
Local News Wreaths...
Oxford budget...
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Ordinarily the wreath ceremony, now in its 11th year in Oxford, takes about a half hour and involves a benediction and patriotic testimonials. But in view of the disagreeable weather, master of ceremonies Larry Borst shortened the event somewhat. Following a moment of silence in memory of the deceased veterans, Borst quoted the late President Ronald Reagan, who said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” He credited the local and national military with protecting democracy for the generations that followed. Then, one-by-one, representatives of the branches of the military placed six ceremonial wreaths at the base of the cemetery’s stone monument, including one for those who were lost or unaccounted for. Following the playing of “Taps,” Borst then dismissed the volunteers and instructed them to lay the wreaths on the graves of the veterans throughout the property. Those graves are designated by brass markers as identifying those who have served. He said the Oxford Cemetery holds the remains of about 1,100 veterans, with histories going back to the Revolutionary War.
Fact check... Continued from Page 1A
school and renovate the existing high school into a middle school. Lisi emphasized that, “The Avon Grove School Board remains at the $127 million number in terms of actual dollars to be borrowed. To be clear, the school board has previously authorized total actual borrowing with a $127 million ceiling. For technical purposes, and in order to allow the financing team to price the bonds in the most advantageous way for the school district and its taxpayers, the $139 million figure was listed as a potential outside maximum amount in the parameters filing. The board, however, has clearly instructed the total actual amount borrowed to be set at a maximum of no greater than $127 million.” Lisi expanded on the point, explaining that the school board had, at a meeting in October, directed the administration and the financial advisors from PFM and RBC Capital Markets to prepare a parameters resolution in preparation for the issuance of an immediate bond of $40 million. The school board president explained, “Parameters Resolutions have been used for over a decade in Pennsylvania, since the adoption of Act 1. The parameters idea is to set interest rates and borrowing amounts greater than expected to provide flexibility to the borrower on timing and financing structure. More importantly, this process saves money on borrowing and leagal costs, as there is one resolution, not multiple resolutions. Once the total financings are completed, the remaining Parameters amount is eliminated at the state and does not count against the borrower’s debt limits. The approval of the 2006 Parameters Resolution, commonly known as the Pre-Act 1 Forward, has been dissolved as a result
borough, Hoover said. He lauded the efforts of borough council for working with the staff on the preparation of the budget. “Council worked diligently on this budget since September,” Hoover pointed out. Council vice president Peggy Ann Russell did not vote in favor of the budget or the ordinance that establishes the millage rate. She said that she wanted to support the tax decrease, but with the construction of the parking garage and the uncertainty surrounding the sale of the Oxford Area Sewer Authority, she preferred waiting until those large issues were resolved before reducing taxes.
large number of existing homes are selling in the borough. Many of the new homeowners are undertaking improvement projects. Improvements are also being made to commercial buildings in town, increasing the values of those buildings. Ware Presbyterian Village has also been growing significantly in the last few years, which has helped the borough’s revenues, too. Hoover said that the borough saw about $225,000 in Photos by Chris Barber A color guard leads participants and spectators from the Masonic Hall into the building permits for 2018, which helped the borough Oxford Cemetery on Saturday for Wreaths Across America. build a surplus in its budThe wreaths, having been get. Overall, Hoover said, delivered by a regional branch the borough has a surplus of Wreaths Across America of about $500,000 built up. and paid for by contribuAs a result of the surplus, To contact Staff Writer tions from the community, it was appropriate to reduce Steven Hoffman, email edisat ready for distribution in taxes for the taxpayers in the tor@chestercounty.com. various locations in the cemetery. They had been been delivered by a large truck a Continued from Page 1A couple hours earlier and laid including de facto chair Val DiGiorgio, who is also the out for placement. head of the moribund state GOP. Borst said he was very DiGiorgio literally gave the Sixth Congressional seat to proud of Oxford’s parChrissy Houlahan by not heeding the strong signal that ticipation in the program, incumbent Congressman Ryan Costello wanted to retire, especially two years ago, and did not replace him with a unified candidate. Other when the community had not Eric Jenkins lays a wreath during the Wreaths Across than DiGiorgio, the Chester County GOP is leaderless. raised enough money for the America service in Oxford on Saturday. All three incumbents -- County Commissioners Terence nationwide program. Local Farrell, Michelle Kichline and Kathi Cozzone, along with advocates mobilized their in Maine had more than more than 1,100 cemeteries District Attorney Tom Hogan – who have served two resources and energy, creat- 5,000 extra holiday wreaths nationwide. terms or more should be replaced. Both parties should ing wreaths and carrying out on hand. Its owner, Morrill According to an Arlington nominate fresh, new talent for the primary. the ceremony. Worcester decided to honor Cemetery report, in 2017 The new County Commissioners should embrace “This town does what the country’s fallen with alone, Wreaths Across countywide real estate reassessment to make this tax other towns don’t. This town those wreaths and arranged America and its national more equitable after 22 years. comes together and supports for them to be placed on network of volunteers laid it all,” he said. graves in Arlington National over 1.5 million veterans’ (This is an occasional column written by Uncle Irvin. Wreaths Across America Cemetery. wreaths at 1,433 locations in As always, the column is the opinion of Uncle Irvin, and was begun in 1992 when the The tradition has grown all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and is not a news story.) Worcester Wreath Company and has continued to include abroad.
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of the adoption of this new Parameters Resolution.” By moving forward on the $40 million issuance quickly, Lisi explained, the district was able to achieve a better interest rate than had been anticipated during the presentation by RBC on Nov. 15. Instead of a $3.77 percent rate and a total payback of $54,698,259, the sale of the bonds on Nov. 29 resulted in an interest rate of 3.39 percent with a total payback of $52,878,806. That’s more than $1.8 million less in costs for the taxpayers in the district. Additionally, Lisi said, the millage required to fund the $127 million in projects has gone down from the initial estimates of 2.95 mills, or .59 mills annually for five years, to 2.82 mills over that same five-year period. The millage rates required to fund the borrowing are now projected to be .58 mills in the first year, and .56 mills in each of the next four years after that. On the post on the Avon Grove Taxpayers for Responsible Spending website, a great deal was made of the possibility that borrowing for the high school project will lead to the maximum allowable tax increases for years. Lisi said that this is not accurate. “The actions of the board by approving the resolution has paid off for the district and its taxpayers with this initial borrowing,” Lisi said. “The district will close on this transaction on December 20.”
The statement that Lisi read also addressed the issue of an earned-income tax. On the Avon Grove Taxpayers for Responsible Spending, it was claimed that the district is looking for additional revenues because of the costs associated with the planned construction projects. Lisi provided an update on the earned-income tax (EIT) discussion by saying, “The issue of implementing an EIT was discussed in greater detail at the November Finance Committee meeting. The administration was asked to research how an EIT works. This request came during the September Finance Committee meeting. After much discussion, no action regarding an EIT will be made by the board at this time for various reasons, such as required referendums and implications for boroughs that already have enacted the full one-percent EIT.” Lisi also noted that, while the board did meet on a day when school was dismissed early because of weather conditions, there were timesensitive issues that the board had to attend to that evening. At the beginning of the meeting, Lisi said, the board voted 9-0 to waive its policy in order to conduct the meeting. Everyone agreed on the motion that night, Lisi explained. The school board, which has been sharply divided during the process of analyzing the various building options that would address the district’s long-term facilities
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needs, as well as many other issues, was divided about the statement, too. Board members Charles Beatty III and John Auerbach, in particular, objected to the statement being presented as a “board statement.” Beatty questioned where the statement came from since the board never voted on the statement, and all the members weren’t given enough of an opportunity to even review it before it was made public. Auerbach agreed, saying that while he didn’t have a problem with the statement itself, he did not like how the situation was handled procedurally. Board member Jeffrey Billig said that the most important thing was correcting what he called “grossly incorrect” information. “It was a flat-out incorrect statement,” Billig said of the information that was posted on the website. Billig asked if anybody on the board actually believed that the Nov. 15 vote on borrowing parameters really increased the amount of money that the school board had authorized to be borrowed—as had been suggested by the posts on the Avon Grove Taxpayers for
Responsible Spending website and Facebook page. Billig said that each board member should respond “yes” or “no” to that, to make it clear that everyone on the board is committed to getting out only accurate information to the public. As the disagreements among board members continued, school board vice president Bill Wood suggested discussing the issue at the board’s upcoming retreat, which settled the discussion—on that evening, at least. At the Dec. 13 meeting, board member Rick Dumont, echoing some of the same concerns that Auerbach and Beatty raised about the full board not voting on the statement, requested that the statement be reissued as a statement by the board president. “We received it at 4:17 for a six o’clock meeting,” Dumont said. “It came as a surprise to many of us.” Lisi replied that the statement was being revised right up to the last minute, and they wanted to get the information out to the community as soon as possible. “I felt compelled to correct the inaccurate information,” Lisi said. She also pointed
out that, as board president, it was her duty to speak on behalf of the board when situations arise. She also said that the board should establish some procedural measures at the upcoming retreat. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Marchese supported Lisi’s statement about the importance of correcting any misinformation that might be circulating. He implored the school board members to be proactive when it comes to making sure that the correct information is being shared with the community. “If we see things that are inaccurate, I feel strongly that we have a responsibility to correct it,” Marchese said. “When you see things like this, please correct it.” To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
U-CF District honored by College Board for gains in student access and success Unionville-Chadds Ford is one of 373 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 9th Annual AP District Honor Roll. To be included, the district had to, since 2016, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. “Being named to the AP Honor Roll is reflective of the culture our staff has created to constantly meet the academic needs for all students, regardless of their background,” saidDr. John Sanville, superintendent of schools. “I’m incredibly proud of our students and staff for their commitment to
continually strive for this level of academic achievement.” National data from 2018 show that among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/ African American, Hispanic/ Latino, and Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half are participating. The first step to getting more of these students to participate is to give them access. “Success in Advanced Placement is a combination of students’ own motivation and the opportunities educators provide for them,” said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP and Instruction at the College Board. “I’m inspired by the teachers and administrators in this district who have worked to clear a
path for more students of all backgrounds to earn college credit during high school.” Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. In 2018, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, and/or consideration in the admissions process. Inclusion in the 9th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2016 to 2018, looking across 38 AP Exams, including world language and culture.
Smooth sailing for scouts Scout Pack 22 from Unionville held their annual Raingutter R eg a t t a before Thanksgiving, with more than 40 boats designed by the boys and girls in the scouting program. It was a night of camaraderie and good sportsmanship as one scout earned the title of Regatta Champion for 2018. The program is open to boys and girls in grades K-5. For more information, email r ay m o n d . r i s s m i l l e r @ redclay.k12.de.us.
Santa visits East Nottingham Township
Courtesy photo
It’s a busy time of year for Santa Claus. He scheduled a stop in East Nottingham Township on Dec. 14, taking time to pose for pictures and listen to children share their Christmas lists. He was accompanied by two diligent elves.
Century 21 Pierce & Bair, Inc., held their annual holiday party on Dec. 1. Many agents and guests were in attendance, including Jayne Bair, the sole broker/owner. The party was held at Radley Run Mansion House, and everyone enjoyed the casual atmosphere, the food and drink, and a gift exchange. Managing broker Elizabeth Moro offered a toast to founder Louise Bair, as well as her daughter, Jayne Bair, to celebrate the 41st year of the family business. “Although the faces have changed over the years, the core belief is to treat everyone with honesty and integrity,” Jayne Bair said. To learn more, visit www.Century21PierceAndBair.com.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
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New book is essential, and enjoyable, reading for any Phillies fan By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer For Philadelphia Phillies fans who can’t wait for the start of a new baseball season, the third annual “A Fan’s View: Phillies Minor League Digest” compiled by Steve Potter is essential reading until pitchers and catchers report. “A Fan’s View” is 370 pages of insight and delight, filled with statistics, photos, and stories about the Minor League players who are in the Phillies’ farm system. The book provides comprehensive reviews of each Minor League team during the 2018 season. Potter, an avid baseball fan who writes a daily blog about the Phillies on Facebook, offers insights that can only be developed through hours and hours of watching, talking, and reading about baseball. For the third annual Phillies Minor League Digest, Potter enlisted the help of a number of contributing writers and photographers. “I think the collaboration of fellow writers and my group of photographers stands out more this year,” Potter said. “In the first year I did the book, it was entirely done by me. Last year, I got others to contribute, and this year even more joined in. No one gets paid for their contributions to the book. It is all done voluntarily. The proceeds from
store sales go to Phillies Charities.” For the third edition, Jim Salisbury, the respected writer and reporter whose work is featured on NBC Sports Philadelphia, wrote the forward. He details how the book is a labor of love for Potter. Potter now splits his time between Florida and Pennsylvania, and from the time players start reporting for Spring Training to the time the last players wrap up their work in the fall, he closely follows the Phillies and their farm teams. He writes about what he sees regularly, and while he does, indeed, offer “a fan’s view,” it is a view sharpened by knowledge about the game. Phillies’ broadcasters have even taken to sharing some of Potter’s insights during telecasts, especially when it comes to players in the Phillies’ farm system. Potter is very optimistic about the Phillies’ future because of the talent currently in the pipeline. “The Phillies have a very deep farm system,” Potter said. “The lower level pitching at Williamsport, Lakewood and Clearwater was excellent last year. There were also real major league prospects at Reading and Lehigh Valley, but most of the stronger arms were at the lower levels. The system is light in middle infielders, deep at third base and catcher, and relatively strong in center fielders.
It is lacking at the corner outfield spots in regards to depth.” The players working their way through the farm system will join a good, and improving, team. Rhys Hoskins has established himself as a talented major leaguer. Young players like Scott Kingery and Jorge Alfaro offer a lot of promise. The Phillies recently added shortstop Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen to bolster the lineup. Aaron Nola has developed into an ace, joining Jake Arrieta as the leaders of the pitching rotation that includes a number of good, young arms. Potter has watched closely as a lot of the younger players have developed into major leaguers. When asked about Kingery he said, “Scott Kingery is gonna be a very good player. He’s a kid that is a gymrat type, always working and learning. His gap is up and in and down and away, and he will have to learn to lay off those pitches, but he’s capable of that.” Potter lauded Kingery’s hands as a defensive player and concluded that he will be fine once he makes the full adjustment to the majors. One player that could make an impact on the Phillies as early as 2019, Potter said, is Adam Haseley, the eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft. He has ascended quickly
through the farm system. “Adam Haseley is a pure hitter,” Potter said. “He reminds me of Andrew Benintendi of the Red Sox.” He added that Haseley may not have the arm strength and defensive prowess to play center field at the major league level, but he could project to be a strong defensive left fielder. “He will be a plus major league hitter though, and he knows how to work counts which the Phillies like. I see him in the major leagues at some point in 2019.” Another top prospect working his way through the system is outfielder Mickey Moniak. Potter said that Moniak should be promoted to Double A Reading at some point this summer, and could be a steady contributor at the major league level when he reaches that point. Moniak, who was drafted right out of high school, is still very young, so there is a lot of potential as he matures. Another top prospect who could be on the fasttrack to the big leagues is 17-year-old Luis Garcia, a shortstop. Potter said that Garcia could develop into a true superstar in the mold of Ronald Acuna, Francisco Lindor, or Juan Soto‒all major leaguers who made an immediate impact at the major league level. “Garcia has absolutely the quickest hands I’ve
seen as a middle infielder,” Potter explained. “He has natural movement as a shortstop, a strong arm, and he can flat out hit. He is slated for Lakewood at just 17, and I expect he will be in the big leagues before he’s 20. He’s really, really good.” Potter is well-known in Chester County as an avid baseball enthusiast. He founded the Kennett Men’s Senior Baseball League in 1989, and served as its president for 14 seasons. In addition to being an administrator, he played, managed, and coached at various levels of amateur baseball. He was a member of three national
tournament championship teams in the Men’s Senior Baseball League annual Fall Classic tournament in Florida. He is a Kennett Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and was a vice president of the organization. The third annual “A Fan’s View: Phillies Minor League Digest” is available for sale online at Amazon for $15. It’s also available at Citizens Bank Park and the Minor League team stores in Lehigh Valley, Reading and Lakewood. To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty. com.
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Chester County Press
Local News Thornton named Avon Grove Lions Senior Student of the Month
Shoplifter sought in sunglasses theft Police are seeking a shoplifter who stole designer sunglasses worth $1,000 from Ganly Vision Care in East Marlborough last week. Video surveillance captured the theft. “The guy came in and asked what kind of insurance we took,” said Ganly Vision Care owner Ken Ganly. “He was acting like he was talking to someone on his cellphone, and then he goes and puts five pairs of glasses into his pocket and leaves. My staff saw it right away and walked out after him, but he got in his car and got away.” Ganly added, “We have had five thefts since we opened up. Most have been single pairs of sunglasses and several have been by patients we know, so we were able to get them prosecuted. More recently, we have had two larger thefts
This man was caught on surveillance video as he stole designer sunglasses last week in East Marlborough.
where someone walks in, asks to look at glasses and then proceeds to pocket five or six pairs at a time and then walks out. You wouldn’t believe it when you see the videos, as each time there are folks in the room, yet they still commit the crime.” The stolen glasses are
Ray-Bans. “I think he took Ray-Bans because they are easily re-sellable,” Ganly said. “They are $200 glasses, and you can get 30 or 40 bucks for them on the street.” Police are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-486-6280.
Hannah Thornton has been named the Avon Grove Lions Senior Student of the Month. Thornton is a senior at Avon Grove Charter School. She will be continuing her education at Duquesne University, where she will be majoring in a six-year occupational therapy doctorate program, in addition to being a member of the women’s swim team. Swimming is one of her passions and she has been competitively swimming for 13 years. A lot of her volunteer work has gone toward promoting water safety and the importance of learning to swim. She teaches swimming lessons and coaches a swim team, where she not only encourages water safety, but also shares and spreads her love for the water. She is very devoted
Courtesy photo
Hannah Thornton is pictured with (from left to right) James Thornton, Stephen Thornton, Lions vice president John Dykins, Susan Thornton and Avon Grove Charter School divisional principal Lion Dr. Blase Maitland.
to making a positive difference in her community and she truly enjoys helping others. In addition to swimming, she has been a volunteer at the Jennersville Regional Hospital, Thera-play, two YMCA branches, and at
her church. Volunteering and giving back to the community are very important things in her life and she strives to continually help people around herself whenever she can. She is the daughter of Susan and James Thornton.
Patrick McKenna elected president of Chester County Bar Association Gawthrop Greenwood, PC Partner Patrick M. McKenna has been elected President of the Chester County Bar Association for 2019. “With more than 1,000 members and growing, it’s an exciting time to lead the Chester County Bar Association, and we are so pleased to have Patrick serving as our President,” said Wendy C. Leeper, executive director of the Chester County Bar Association.
McKenna was inducted at CCBA’s ceremony at the historic courthouse in West Chester on Dec. 13 during a moving “passing of the gavel” ceremony that included 18 past presidents spanning the last 42 years. “At more than 300 years old, the Chester County Bar Association has a long and well-respected reputation,” said McKenna. “I am humbled by the long line of attorneys who have held this position not only
throughout the county but within my own firm.” Eleven attorneys from Gawthrop Greenwood have served as CCBA President, including Gawthrop Greenwood partners Kevin Holleran (1995) and John Halsted (1976), both of whom were present at the ceremony. McKenna has been a member of the Chester County Bar Association since 2002 and has also served as Vice President,
Treasurer and Secretary. In addition, McKenna is a past Chair of the Young Lawyers Division and a past Chair of the Judicial Evaluation Committee. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2018 and 2019, McKenna is Chair of Gawthrop Greenwood’s Government and Education Law Department, which is ranked nationally for Land Use and Zoning Law. McKenna and his team provide legal counsel to cities,
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townships, boroughs, police departments, planning commissions, municipal authorities and zoning hearing boards. The firm advocates at government meetings; advises elected boards on governance, open records and other issues; litigates municipal, school, land development and zoning matters through appeal; and drafts legislative and policy documents for municipal governments. Patrick received his
Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Saint Joseph’s University, and received his law degree, cum laude, from Widener University School of Law in 2001, where he was a Josiah Oliver Wolcott Fellow. He holds court admissions in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
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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.
Editorial
Misinformation in Avon Grove? Dictionary.com selected “misinformation” as the word of the year, and it seems as if there might some misinformation being pumped out in Avon Grove. The Avon Grove School Board’s recent reorganization meeting illustrated the deep divide that continues to exist between the nine board members. Reorganization meetings are usually quick and painless. Avon Grove’s reorganization meeting this year was neither. It was a challenging end to what has been, in many ways, a challenging year for this school board. And misinformation played a part, it seems. The selection of a president and vice president was quick enough, but the reorganization meeting took a turn when a statement was read providing “fact checks” on some information about the high school project that was shared on a local website. Some members of the board objected to the statement, or at least the fact that it was presented as a “board statement” when the full board didn’t vote on it, and hadn’t even been given sufficient time to read it. Hopefully, the school board can use the upcoming retreat to work through some of the procedural issues that are dividing them. But the school board shouldn’t be divided on clarifying inaccurate, misleading information about the school district—especially on matters of consequence, like how much is being borrowed to build a new high school. The post on a website maintained by the Avon Grove Taxpayers for Responsible Spending that prompted the board statement raised a question about how much the school district will be borrowing to pay for the high school project, and made it clear that the school board was trying to increase the amount to be borrowed by $12 million. At a meeting in November, the Avon Grove School Board approved a resolution that established parameters for borrowing, and the resolution included the $139 million figure as the maximum amount in the parameters filing. According to the statement read at the reorganization meeting, the $139 million figure was used only for technical purposes “in order to allow the financing team to price the bonds in the most advantageous way for the school district and its taxpayers.” The statement went on to say that the “board has clearly instructed the total amount borrowed to be set at a maximum of no greater than $127 million.” At one point during the reorganization meeting, school board member Jeff Billig challenged his colleagues to acknowledge that there was no confusion, among the nine board members, about what the resolution actually meant. His point was that the information posted on the website was inaccurate and misleading. The nine school board members shouldn’t be confused about what they voted on. Did the resolution approved by the board mean that the borrowing associated with the project is increasing by $12 million or not? A significant number of board members are opposed to borrowing at the $127 million level. If there’s a behind-the-scenes effort to increase the borrowing without being forthright to the public, that’s clearly wrong. Should residents believe the statement which was read at a public meeting, or the information posted on the website? It’s understandable why some board members would be upset that the statement wasn’t shared with them until two hours before the meeting. But at the end of the day, it’s not really important to the taxpayers and children in the school district about whether the statement is identified as a “board statement” or a “board president statement.” It’s far more important for what the school district said with its statement to be accurate. The nine members of the school board have some responsibility here, and it falls to them to make it clear if there is misinformation being spread about a very important project.
A great event in Oxford—that Jerome would have loved We agree with Oxford Borough Mayor Lorraine Bell, who said that the Country Christmas celebration is one of the best nights of the year in Oxford. This year’s event on Dec. 7 featured many family-friendly activities and attractions for people of all ages to enjoy. Three new businesses were welcomed into the downtown. People of all ages had a great time. It was a night that Jerome Rodio, the late business owner and chamber of commerce president, would have loved. The holiday season is definitely not the same without him in Oxford.
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Opinion Competitive state funding available for violence prevention initiative Municipalities, institutions of higher education, counties, and community-based organizations implementing violenceprevention initiatives can apply to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for competitive grant funding. Applicants for 2019 Community Violence Prevention Grants may submit proposals for onetime events or for one- or
two-year projects, and may request up to $350,000. “The promise of wholly supported public safety in Pennsylvania represents an important change in priorities among the General Assembly, and I’m ready to make sure that initiatives from our communities get the state support they need to help keep us safe,” said state Rep.-Elect Christina Sappey, D-Chester. All applications must
be submitted by Feb. 7. Awards will be approved and announced at the public meeting of the School Safety and Security Committee in April. Projects should begin May 1, 2019. Those interested in applying must visit https://www.pccdegrants. pa.gov/Egrants/Public/ OpenAnnouncements. aspx. Interested applicants who are not already regis-
tered in PCCD’s E-grants system must register here before applying: https:// www.pccd.pa.gov/Funding/ Pages/Egrants-Home.aspx The funding for this grant became available in 2018/19 under Act 44 of 2018, which established the School Safety and Security Grant Program and specified that up to 12.5 percent, or $7.5 million, would be earmarked for community violence prevention.
Chester County announces results of latest citizen survey Survey results form part of County’s Strategic Plan review As part of the formal review of Chester County’s Strategic Plan, the Chester County Commissioners announced the results of a citizen survey, undertaken as part of the review process for the Strategic Plan’s next five years. Results of the Chester County Quality of Life Survey, conducted by West Chester University’s Center for Social and Economic Policy Research during September, are based on a random sample of 1,256 responses, evenly represented from all areas of Chester County. The results provide a comparison to the citizens’ surveys undertaken in 2009 and 2013, which helped form the basis of the Commissioners’ Strategic Plan goals. In 2018, residents continued to give Chester County high ratings in terms of it being an excellent or good place to raise a family (94 percent) and nine out of ten (91 percent) rate it as an excellent or good place to obtain a good education. The survey reported a significant increase in those who found the County an “excellent or good” place to find a good job (moving from 62 percent in 2013 to 79 percent in 2018). The percentage of residents describing Chester County as a better place to live increased from 25 percent in 2013 to 33 percent this year. Open space, scenery and rural areas continue to be noted by respondents as the best thing about life in Chester County, and this year’s survey highlighted “maintenance of water quality” and “providing quality
services while maintaining low taxes” as the two most important issues facing Chester County. “We know that people have a positive impression of Chester County, both as a place to live and with regard to county services, and it is reassuring to see that validated through a survey such as this,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Michelle Kichline. “These survey results help us to gauge where we stand now, and how we have increased the level of satisfaction over the past five years. The responses help us to move forward, refine our strategic plan goals, and dig deeper into what we need to do to improve upon our citizens’ satisfaction over the coming five years.” When asked about the importance of issues facing Chester County, the top three results stating “most important or one of the most important” were maintaining the quality of water (83 percent), providing quality services while maintaining low taxes (81 percent) and the preservation of open space (77 percent). The issue of growth and land development in the county (55 percent) moved up in importance from the 2013 survey level of 42 percent. As in the two previous surveys, Emergency Services and the 911 system remain the most important services available to Chester County residents. Eighty-five percent of survey respondents claimed that emergency services and the 911 system are “very important”
(up from 81 percent in 2013), and 77 percent confirmed that they would be very willing or somewhat willing to pay more county taxes for emergency services and the 911 system (up from 71 percent in 2013). In addition to “quality of life” questions, the citizen survey addressed the performance of County employees. Of all residents surveyed in 2018, 38 percent indicated that they had contact with County employees in the past 12 months. Residents who rated employee responsiveness as “excellent” continued to increase – from 40 percent in 2009 to 48 percent in 2013, to 50 percent in 2018. County employee courteousness was rated as excellent or good by nine out of ten respondents. Commenting on the performance of County employees, Commissioner Kathi Cozzone said: “We are pleased with the feedback on the professionalism of County employees that all three citizen surveys have revealed. Chester County is committed to not only maintaining, but continually improving upon providing a professional service to our citizens and we undertake training and establish parameters to regularly measure our performance. “I thank the employees for their continued dedication and am pleased that the survey validates their hard work. You can have the best services and programs available anywhere, but if you don’t have a strong, committed work-
force to communicate and deliver them, then the services and programs will not be effective.” When asked what kind of job the County is doing in specific areas, the 2018 survey noted that 86 percent of respondents believe that the County is doing an excellent or good job at maintaining County parks, followed closely by ensuring public safety (82 percent) and preventing epidemics or public health hazards (81 percent). Commissioner Terence Farrell noted: “Two of the Commissioners’ key priorities within our Strategic Plan are the safety of our citizens and the health of our citizens. These top responses – regarding our parks, public safety and health – support our efforts to keep our residents safe and healthy, and that is very reassuring. “Chester County receives many awards and accolades relating to quality of life including education, leisure and tourism, employment and open space. But many of these accolades come from outside the community, often using a matrix of income, levels of education and tax rates. We appreciate the results of this survey because the responses come from people who live here, work here, raise their families here and who use our services. This is the information that we use to form the strategies that will improve Chester County’s services, professionalism and transparency.” A summary of the Chester County Quality of Life Survey may be viewed on www.chesco.org.
Kennett Square Lions Club Morning Branch collects food donations Courtesy photo
The Kennett Square Lions Club Morning Branch conducts food drives for the Kennett Area Community Services food cupboard. Recently, they collected 740 pounds of donations—approximately 600 items. Since the group started collecting items for these food drives, more than 24,997 have been collected and donated to the Kennett Food Cupboard. Pictured are Kennett Square Lions Club Morning Branch members Patty Hillkirk, Ray McKay, Jack Schwartz and Annmarie Martino, who helped lead the recent food drive.
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Fitting the final piece into the Chadds Ford Barn Shops The new Chadds Cafe is meant to be a community gathering place By John Chambless Staff Writer Last Wednesday, as morning sun streamed through the windows of the Chadds Cafe + Store, Bri Brant was talking about how everything fell into place for the latest addition to the Chadds Ford Barn Shops. About two years ago, Brant’s family purchased the cluster of brick stores at the landmark crossroads in historic Chadds Ford, with the goal of reinventing them as a place to browse and gather. The whole family has pitched in, adding an outdoor seating area, doing some rebranding, and moving a few of the businesses around to make the Barn Shops a buzzedabout location. The final piece in the eight-business complex, which is now at capacity, was a cafe. “As soon as we started the project, we knew we had to have some sort of coffee shop or ice cream shop, just something to bring people in and give them a place to hang out,” Brant said. The space had been the site of a coffee shop in past years, as well as a yoga studio. The brick floor, antiquelooking woodwork and casual vibe are all part of the Brant family’s concept for the Barn Shops as a place to sit, bring your dog, chat with neighbors and take advantage of the eclectic businesses – Green Meadows Flowers and Gifts, Be Soul, Chrome Salon, Lynn Victoria Skin Care, Yoga Underground, Barbara Moore Fine Art, the Arden + James leather goods store, and now the Cafe. “We had a big-bang opening after we worked on this space for almost a year. People knew we were working on it, so when we opened, everyone wanted to see it,” Brant said. “Everybody does really well here, and it’s been awesome.” Once she had the cafe space prepared, Brant turned to Pam Lau, a ceramicist and chef who has worked at the renowned Talula’s Table in Kennett Square. Lau exhibits her ceramics at WorKS in Kennett Square, where Brant also sells her handmade leather purses and accessories. “We were talking one day, and I knew she was a chef,” Brant said. “I knew we had to have everything made fresh daily. Pam’s scones
are the best anybody’s ever had. The coffee is from Brandywine Coffee Roasters, who do the roasting for Brew-Ha-Ha. I wanted Pam here all the time, cooking and making everything, and being able to talk to all the customers. I wanted this to be the highest quality experience we could have – a really personal experience.” The cafe is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – nothing too demanding on the small staff, but enough to establish a presence in the community. “We wanted to set up the hours when we knew we could create a really great experience, and Pam can be here,” Brant said. “Basically, everyone who works here is a friend. This is a chance for us to get the recipes down, and then we’ll expand when we can.” The micro kitchen is just enough space for Pam to turn out the daily specials – usually a soup (there isn’t room to do more than one), and a specialty salad for brunch, along with the signature baked goods. Everything is prepared individually, with an emphasis on healthy ingredients to satisfy the health-conscious customers who come to the Barn Shops for yoga, for instance. Sunday brunch is a busy time, and there’s “a weekend scone crowd,” Brant said, but the whole vibe of the cafe is for coffee and conversation, not hurrying in and out. “There’s been a lot of social media presence,” Brant said. “It’s been almost completely word-of-mouth.” The cafe will bring back Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream in the warmer months, and Brant said there are spring BYOB events and small dinners on the calendar for spring and summer. Dogs are welcome to hang out, too. For Brant, the aim is to make the Barn Shops welcoming to everyone,
Photo by John Chambless
Pam Lau (left), the chef at the new Chadds Cafe, was invited to take on her new job by friend Bri Brant.
“not too cool for itself,” and to maintain the distinctive atmosphere of Chadds Ford. “The barn shops are coming up on their 50th anniversary next year,” she said. “We feel like this cafe was the missing piece to bring more people in. We didn’t brand it any particular way. We’re just being ourselves.” In many ways, the new Cafe is a replacement for the Wawa that used to operate across Route 1, said Brant, who used to work at the Wawa. “It was like our general store,” she said. “It was so much more than a Wawa. It was our daily coffee place where you’d see everybody. That’s why I have a medium blend coffee here that’s good for everybody.” Chadds Cafe + Store is at 1609 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www.chaddscafe.com, or find it on Facebook, @ chaddscafe. To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty. com.
Photo by John Chambless
The patio area outside the cafe has been designed to invite lingering during warmer months.
Pam Lau’s fruit-filled scones are a big drawing card for the cafe.
Lau’s handmade ceramics are for sale in the cafe.
The drink menu includes plenty of The basic menu is altered day to day healthy options. with specials.
Local landmarks have been turned into birdhouses that are displayed at the Barn Shops.
Lau’s avocado toast has been a customer Vegetables and salads are one of Lau’s favorite for brunch. specialties.
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West Grove holiday tree lighting 2018
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
Santa and Mrs. Claus ushered children to the Garage Community & Youth Center as part of annual tree lighting ceremonies held in West Grove on Dec. 14.
The Pensyl family brought a few more friends along.
The Susi family was all smiles.
A choir of students and faculty from the Avon Grove Charter School performed a carol sing-along.
Santa and Mrs. Claus greet children of all ages.
Susanne Fleming with her children, Josh and Margot.
The Inagaki family was part of a crowd of more than 100 visitors.
West Grove Mayor Stephen Black welcomes Mr. and Mrs. Claus to town.
Harlem Wizards to play in Kennett Kennett Consolidated School District teachers and administrators will play the Harlem Wizards on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. in Kennett High School’s Reynolds Gymnasium. The Wizards are a performance basketball team that performs at fundraising events for schools and nonprofits, playing in more 400 communities across the U.S. last season while raising millions of dollars. They are focused on entertaining the crowd with a variety of basketball tricks. Tickets to last year’s Wizards game sold out quickly, and a sellout is expected again this year. Advance tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults (children under 5 free). Beginning on Jan. 3 at 4 p.m., tickets can be purchased online at www.HarlemWizards.com. For families who prefer to purchase tickets using cash or check, tickets will be available in the lobby of Kennett High School and can only be purchased Jan. 3 and 4 from 4 to 7 p.m., and Jan. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some tickets may be available at the door, at $12 for students and $14 for adults. Proceeds benefit Kennett High School’s MiniTHON, a club based on Penn State’s THON that fundraises to support Four Diamonds, an organization dedicated to funding research for childhood cancer and helping families with the cost of treatment. For more information, visit www. khsminithon2018@gmail. com.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
Through Jan. 6 Yuletide at Winterthur Yuletide at Winterthur runs until Jan. 6, with a yuletide tour of the du Pont mansion decked out for the holidays. Each delightful room tells a story reflecting the ways in which Americans have celebrated the winter holiday season from the 1800s to the present. Other highlights include: a magical Christmas tree inspired by Winterthur’s Enchanted Woods children’s garden; more trees celebrating the season throughout the mansion; an 18-room dollhouse mansion filled with nearly 1,000 miniatures and fully decorated for Christmas; and a display of antique Santas and figures of the mischievous Belsnickel. Winterthur’s two stores offer a selection of gifts. Timed tickets for the tour are available at www. winterthur.org, or by calling 800-448-3883. Tickets are $22 for non-members, $20 for seniors and students, $6 for children, and free for infants. Through Jan. 6 ‘A Longwood Christmas’
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square) hosts “A Longwood Christmas” through Jan. 6. There will be decorated trees and greens throughout the Conservatory, and millions of lights on the trees and topiary outdoors. There will be outdoor fire pits, strolling carolers and live music all season long. Admission is by advance purchase of a timed ticket. Tickets are $23 for adults, $20 for seniors and college students with ID, $12 for ages 5 to 18, free for ages 4 and younger. Visit www.longwoodgardens. org for tickets and more information. Through Jan. 6 ‘A Brandywine Christmas’ The Brandywine River Museum of Art (Route 1, Chadds Ford) holds its holiday display through Jan. 6. There will be a landscaped, operating O-gauge model train display, caroling in the museum, decorated trees, a “Breakfast With the Trains” for families on Dec. 15, and more. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The beauty of ‘A Longwood Christmas’ continues this weekend (see listing).
(closed Thanksgiving and Christmas day). Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $6 for students with ID and ages 6 to 18, free for children under 5 and members. Visit www. brandywinemuseum.org for more information. Through Jan. 1 Holidays at Hagley Hagley Museum in Wilmington will celebrate the holidays with exhibitions, a gingerbread house display, and a seasonal setting for taking photos in Santa’s Workshop. Rooms
throughout the residence through Jan. 1 will display decorations reminiscent of Christmases past of the du Pont family. New this year is “The Magic of Miniatures,” with a dollhouse owned by Mrs. E. Paul du Pont, who lived next to Hagley. Visit www.hagley.org for more information. Dec. 22 and 23 Santa arrives by fire truck Santa arrives on a Longwood Fire Company truck from Dec. 15 to 23, with all trips beginning at 8:30 a.m. The schedule
includes: Saturday, Dec. 22 -Pennsbury Township Sunday, Dec. 23 -- East Marlborough Township For more information, visit www.longwoodfireco. com. Dec. 31 Midnight in the Square Kennett Square’s version of the Times Square ball drop will be held Dec. 31 in the heart of downtown. Midnight in the Square opens with a laser light show at 6 p.m., and at midnight, a lighted mushroom will be
Student wins second place in national art contest
Lauren Skurla’s ‘Destined to Assist’ won second place in a national art competition.
Lauren Skurla, a nursing major at Neumann University, has won second place in a national art contest sponsored by the Franciscan Action Network. She will receive a $250 prize and her art will be displayed at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 11 to 27. Submissions had to reflect a theme related to Saints Francis or Clare of Assisi. There were 56 entries from across the country.
“I created a mixed-media piece that tells the story of St. Francis and the leper,” said Skurla, a Lincoln University resident. “I think that the compassion St. Francis exhibited in caring for the leper is similar to the compassion that nurses show in caring for the sick. I see a real connection between the Franciscan tradition, the profession of nursing, and the values of Neumann University.” According to Neumann art professor Glenn Holmstrom,
“The Franciscan Action Network art contest is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the artistic talent of Neumann students in a setting outside the university. The contest presented students the opportunity to learn something about the life of St. Francis while engaging in the making of art.” A member of Delta Pi, Neumann’s chapter of the National Catholic Honor Society, Skurla said she only “dabbles in” art projects
from time to time and was pleasantly surprised by her success in the contest. She hopes to travel to Washington and see her creation on display in late January. The Franciscan Action Network describes itself as “a collective Franciscan voice seeking to transform United States public policy related to peace making, care for creation, poverty, and human rights.” FAN board members judged the submissions in the art contest.
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raised to mark the new year at State and Union streets. At 6:30 p.m., there will be children’s entertainmenty Dan and Galla at the Garage on South Union Street, and Kennett Brewing will be serving food, beer and wine. The “On The Roll” food truck will be serving food and drinks outside. Live entertainment outdoors will include the KMC Dancers, Longwood Performing Arts, the Rose Project, and Fred McCarthy, followed by the Funsters rock band from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Kennett Square restaurants and some shops will be open. Parking is available at Exelon Way off of East Baltimore Pike, and Kennett High School, with free shuttle buses running from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Jan. 9 Comedy and Illusion Tom Coverly, a professional comedian, illusionist and motivational speaker, will be at Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford,) on Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. Admission is free. This event is geared toward youth ages 10 to 15, though all are welcome to attend. Coverly has performed with the likes of Toby Mac, the Newsboys, Reggie Dabbs, and Skillet. He uses his gifts for comedy and illusion to help people see the truth about who they are, and the God that made them. For more information, visit www.oxford1851.org. To submit items to the Calendar of Events, e-mail jchambless@chestercounty. com. There is no charge. Not every submission can be included. Items should be submitted at least two weeks before the event.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
THELMA I. HOWELL
HERBERT SHEETS
ROBERT TAITT MANTELL, SR.
Thelma I. Howell, 88, of Oxford, passed away on Dec. 8 at Ware Presbyterian Village, Oxford. She was the wife of the late Russell B. Howell, Sr. Born in Lancaster, she was the daughter of the late Reese B. and Osa Meadows Webb. Thelma was employed by Hewlett-Packard. She was a member of Gospel Lighthouse Free Will Baptist Church in Nottingham. She is survived by two sons, Russell B. Howell (Wilma), and James D. Howell (Linda); and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Nancy W. Watson; and a son, Frederick D. Howell. She was the last survivor of eight siblings. A funeral was held Dec. 13. Interment was in Union Cemetery of Fremont in West Nottingham, Pa. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Online condolences may be made at www. elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Herbert Sheets, of Oxford, passed away peacefully on Dec. 5, just 15 days before his 97th birthday. In 1951, he married Ola M. Hall Sheets, with whom he shared 34 years of marriage. Ola passed away in 1985. Born in Rugby, Va., in 1921, he was the son of the late Charles and Malinda Weaver Sheets. He was a decorated veteran of World War II. Arriving at Normandy in June 1944, he fought from Omaha to the Elbe River, where his battalion stopped to meet up with the Russian Army. Fighting in Normandy, Southern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe, they were in combat for 201 consecutive days. Herbert enjoyed hunting and was a passionate fisherman, often bringing home trophy sized fish. He was an avid fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles, and could tell you all the stats of both sports. Over the last ten years, he often spoke about going to be with the Lord and was at peace with it. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his five daughters, Joyce (Charles) Wilson of Christiana, Jalana Thomas of Lancaster, Elizabeth (Richard) Gehrman of Wahoo, Neb., Sara Stava of Quarryville, and Martha (Michael) Pell of Peach Bottom; two sons, Jeffrey (Tamathe) Sheets and Benjamin (Joan) Sheets, both of Oxford; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-greatgrandchild; two sisters, Faye Henderson of Marion, Va., and Nell Farmer of Mouth of Wilson, Va.; and one brother, Joe Sheets of Mouth of Wilson, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Malinda Sheets; and nine siblings. A funeral was held Dec. 15. Interment was in Union Cemetery of Freemont, West Nottingham. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Honor Guard, American Legion Mason Dixon Post No. 194, 338 E. Main St., Rising Sun, MD 21911. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Robert Taitt Mantell, Sr., 90, of Kennett Square, passed away on Dec. 9 at Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester. He was the husband of the late Alice M. Ohlfs Mantell, who passed away in 2015, and with whom he shared 60 years of marriage. Born in Philadelphia in 1928, he was the only child of the late Raymond A. Mantell and the late Anne Taitt Mantell. He joined the Army but later joined the Air Force Reserves and retired after 20 years of service as a Major. Robert Studied at Lehigh University and joined the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity. He graduated in 1952. Following college, he began work at Scott Paper Company, where he met Alice Ohlfs. Robert and Alice were married in 1955. The two had three children, Robert (1957), John (1959) and James (1960). Robert enjoyed going to his Uncle’s house on the Sassafras River with friends and family, where he developed a love for the Chesapeake Bay. In the early 1990s, he realized his dream of having a home on the river. Alice and Robert got their real estate licenses and began a career shift in their mid-50s. Robert loved traveling with his wife, utilizing plane rides from the Air Force as well as going on cruises. He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church. He was also an active member of the Kennett Senior Center and enjoyed going to their social events, and the Chadds Ford Historical Society. He was a former Pennsbury Township Supervisor. Robert was predeceased by his son, John R. Mantell, in 1987. He is survived by his two sons, Robert T. Mantell, Jr., and his wife Kathleen of New London, and James F. Mantell and his wife Annie of Morton, Pa.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A funeral was held Dec. 14. Interment was at Union Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be mailed to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Attn: Membership Department, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.griecocares.com.
ELWOOD T. BOYD, JR. Elwood Thomas Boyd, Jr., 74, of Cleveland, Ga., formerly of West Grove, passed away on Nov. 22 at home. He was the husband of Ruth Ann Donnelly Boyd, with whom he shared 55 years of marriage. Born in Coatesville, he was the son of the late Elwood Boyd and Elizabeth Boyd Taylor. He was employed as a service manager and mechanic, and previously owned Boyd’s Exhaust in Oxford. He had lived in Georgia for the past 20 years. He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Yvonne Boyd of Atlanta, Ga.; a sister, Barbara Shoun and husband Mike of Carlisle; and two aunts who helped raise him, Mary Hilton of Coatesville, and Ruth Schoch and husband Fred of Cochranville. He was preceded in death by a brother, William “Skeets” Taylor. A celebration of life will be held Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. in the community room at the Penn Township Building (260 Lewis Rd., West Grove). Contributions in his memory can be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St., N.E., Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309.
PHILIP L. GILBERT Philip Louis Gilbert died peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 28. He was born in 1927 in New York City, and was the only child of Isadore Humphrey Gilbert and Estelle Bernstein Gilbert. Phil attended Woodmere Academy, graduating in 1944. He attended Swarthmore College, graduating in 1948 with a BA in chemistry. He received his MBA from Adelphi University. Phil met Alice Wade Higley in their freshman year at Swarthmore, and they were married the November following their graduation. In 1998, they retired to Kendal-Crosslands Communities in Kennett Square. Phil and Alice were introduced to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at Swarthmore College and became convinced Friends after their graduation. Phil is remembered as an active Quaker. He served on many national Quaker organizations. In retirement, Phil enjoyed working with his wife to raise money at the London Grove Meeting annual flower sale. Phil lived to care for people. His conversion to Quakerism followed his experiences during World War II, including his work on the Manhattan Project, living with a stream of Jewish refugees while in high school, and his broad education at Swarthmore College. His business life included creating and marketing innovative blood products at Certified Blood Donor Service; working in marketing hospital and pharmaceutical information at IMS America; and managing Northeast Paramedical Inc., which designed, crafted and wholesaled prosthetic limbs. Philip is survived by his children and their spouses, Esther Gilbert (Christine), Elizabeth (Richard) and Thomas (Ellen); his five grandchildren; and his two greatgrandchildren. Alice, his wife of 64 years, predeceased him in 2012. A Quaker memorial service is planned for Crosslands at 2 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2019. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phil’s name to Swarthmore College. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.griecocares.com.
Alleluia Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
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
Compliments of
Lions Club of Oxford
Landenberg Church United Methodist All Are Welcome
HERR FOODS, INC. NOTTHINGHAM, PA
932-9330 ENCOURAGES YOU TO ATTEND THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOICE
P.O. Box 270 Oxford, PA 19363 Meets First and Third Thursday at 6:30p.m. Nottingham Inn, Nottingham, PA
205 Penn Green Rd. In Historic Downtown Landenberg Landenberg, PA 19350
610-274-8384 Services Every Sunday • 9:00 am
DENNIS L. HILL Dennis Lloyd Hill, 61, of Cockeysville, Md., formerly of Rising Sun, Md., passed away on Dec. 5 in the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Md., surrounded by his loved ones. He enjoyed reading and studying the Bible. He was an avid, self-taught guitarist. He enjoyed listening to country music when he wasn’t playing it, as well as fishing, spending time on his boat, and visiting museums. He was an expertly skilled carpenter by trade. Dennis was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. He was born in West Grove, and lived most of his life in Rising Sun, Md. He is preceded in death by both parents, James Hershel and Janet C. Hill (Horn). Dennis is survived by his wife, Maureen Gayle Hill (Hamilton); his son, Aaron Lee Hill and his wife Erika of El Paso, Texas; his daughter, Jennifer Lynn Cain and her husband Jason of Oxford; two grandsons, Levi Cain and Saul Munoz; two stepdaughters, Amy Hatfield and boyfriend Jeff Byrd of Millsboro, Del., and Heather Walls and her husband Kent of Pasadena, Md.; three step-grandchildren; four brothers, Ronnie Hill of Lancaster, Pa., Larry Hill of Oxford, Roy Hill of Oxford, and Gary Hill of Peach Bottom; and three sisters, Marie Herrera of Altus, Okla., Angela Eisenfelder of Nottingham, and Donna Steiner of Altus, Okla. A funeral was held Dec. 14. Interment was in West Nottingham Cemetery in Colora, Md. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Dec. 24 Candlelight services Kemblesville United Methodist Church
(1772 New London Rd., Kemblesville) will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. A candlelight service will also be held Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. At Union United Methodist Church (321 Freemont Rd., Nottingham). Dec. 24 Christmas Eve services West Grove United Methodist Church (300 N. Guernsey Rd., West Grove) offers five services on Christmas Eve. At noon, the Wiggly Giggly Children’s Service is designed for young children. Noisemakers and glow sticks are a part of the service to celebrate the birth of Jesus. At 6 p.m., there will be a family service with a pick-up Christmas pageant and music by the Handbell Choir. At 7:15 p.m., there will be a service held at Jenner’s Pond with Rev. Jim Mundell in Allison Theater. At 8:30 p.m., there will be a contemporary service with music by the PraiseWorks Band. At 11 p.m., there will be a traditional service with music by the Chancel Choir and a Holy Communion. Call 610-869-9334 or visit www.westgroveumc.org.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
Chester County Press
Local News Oxford Area High School honors Students of the Month Oxford Area High School recently held a breakfast to recognize the school’s Students of the Month for October. Each month teachers in selected departments nominate underclassmen for this honor, with the final selections made by the school administration. They are: Megan Berg, freshman: Nominating teacher Brenda Moran said, “Megan is starting out her high school career doing the right things. She keeps herself organized and asks for clarification as needed. “Megan keeps vigilant of assignment deadlines and understands that it is sometimes necessary to work outside of class in order to meet a deadline. She accepts feedback in regards to her work and will then apply suggestions to better her final presentations. “Megan also makes a point to greet and wish me well each day. She’s truly a pleasure to have in class.” Courtney Pardoe, freshman: Nominating teacher John Green said, “Courtney is
always prepared for class and participates fully. She challenges herself and works well with her peers.” Neha Patel, freshman: Nominating teacher Kim McCardell said, “Neha is very conscientious and hard working. She goes above what is expected and always does her best. “Neha is respectful, polite and helpful. I can always count on her to have an answer and be willing to participate.” Kirsten Brennan, sophomore: Nominating teacher April Herr said, “Kirsten is always a delight to see in class. She is polite and honest and excels in preparedness, participation and attendance. “Kirsten’s high school career is sure to be a book of experiences that she can take pride in for the rest of her life.” Nicole Morlang, sophomore: Nominating teacher Trevor Haney said, “Nicole is great to have in class. She always has a smile on her face when she works and is a leader in the classroom.” Sam Reyburn, sophomore: Nominating teacher
Bill Kromer said, “Sam has consistently done what’s necessary to earn this nomination. His work is outstanding on a regular basis and he is scoring high grades on all of his work sheets and tests.” Brittany Chavez Guerrero, junior: Nominating teacher Christopher Pierdomenco said, “Brittany is an extremely valuable member of our student newsroom, WOHS. She brightens the mornings of all students every day in her roles as news anchor and weather anchor. “Brittany is kind, caring and works great with other students. She also takes on leadership roles in class and helps other students without prompting. “Brittany recently volunteered to complete a five-week internship at KYW Radio, where she produced and voice-recorded a story that was broadcast on air. She is looking to pursue journalism as a career and, given that the field is very fast-paced and competitive, her kindness and thoughtfulness is desperately needed.”
Thomas Itoney, junior: Nominating teacher Diane Miller said, “Tom consistently shows a pleasant and positive attitude in my Small Animal Care class. He is quick to respond to a question but also contributes to the class by making personal connections and sharing his experiences. “Tom works well with a variety of student partners and can be funny without being a distraction. He has shown that he is interested in learning about new topics and jumps in with enthusiasm.” Justin Kern, junior: Nominating teacher Karly Belford said, “Justin gives 110 percent in every class. He is always prepared, on time and is very helpful getting equipment ready for class and cleaning up at the end. “Justin is a positive influence on other students, and I see this displayed outside of class as well. He works very hard in my class and his other classes, which include AP courses. It is a pleasure to teach a respectful and honest young man like Justin.” Justin Neskie, junior:
Courtesy photo
Oxford Area High School recently named its Students of the Month for November. Seated from left are freshmen Neha Patel, Megan Berg and Courtney Pardoe, junior Brittany Chavez Guerrero and sophomores Nicole Morlang and Kirsten Brennan. Standing from left are juniors Thomas Itoney and Justin Neskie, sophomore Sam Reyburn and junior Justin Kern.
Nominating teacher Josh Socash said, “I nominated Justin because of his performance this semester in athletic conditioning. He has a tremendous work ethic, is eager to learn and is accepting of constructive feedback. It is refreshing to see a studentathlete come to class each day and work hard in an effort to enhance their present level of fitness.” Students of the Month are chosen based on crite-
ria including demonstrating an effort and desire to learn; involvement in school and classroom activities; respect for all school policies and personnel; concern for the school community and friendliness and support for other students. The following Students of the Month for November were named after being nominated by members of the technical education, health & physical education and agricultural sciences departments.
CLASSIFIEDS Garage/Yard Sales YARD SALE FRI, SAT., AND MONDAY, DECEMBER 21,22, AND 24. 9:00- 5:00 Lincoln University Community Center, by railroad track. Mickey Mouse Toys, Chief Running Bear Doll in the box, Beautiful Dishes, and other Christmas items. Lots of old and new stuff. Something for everyone! Don’t miss out!!
Auctions 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt VIN# 1G1AK15F767846071 to be sold December 19, 2018 at 9:00 AM. Chews Towing, Inc. , 722 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363 2000 Ford Expedition VIN# 1FMPU18L5YLB17294 to be sold December 19, 2018 at 9:00 AM. Chews Towing, Inc. , 722 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363 2002 Ford Mustang VIN# 1FAFP45XX2F154515 to be sold December 19, 2018 at 9:00 AM. Chews Towing, Inc. , 722 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363
2009 Nissan Murano VIN# JN8AZ18W89W106770 to be sold December 19, 2018 at 9:00 AM. Chews Towing, Inc. , 722 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363 2007 Honda Pilot VIN# 5FNYF18727BO23493 to be sold December 19, 2018 at 9:00 AM. Chews Towing, Inc. , 722 Market Street, Oxford, PA 19363
LEGALS ADVERTISEMENT FOR GRANT OF LETTERS
ESTATE OF Marguerite E. Kniffen, LATE OF 253 Azalea Lane, West Grove, PA, Deceased. Letters on the estate of the above named Marguerite E. Kniffen , having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Executor: Ira D. Binder, 227 Cullen Rd, Oxford, PA 19363 12p-12-3t
See these local businesses and many more on our website chestercounty.com - Click Directory
Trailer Repair Welding
Truck Acces. Spray Liners
BASHER & SON 610-268-0007 • basherandson.com
Over 40 Years Experience UHAUL
Hitches
Andy's Lawn Care Lawn & Field Mowing Aerating & Overseeding Lawn Renovation Seasonal Cleanups Mulching Landscaping Tree & Stump Removal Lot & Land Clearing Grading & Drainage Snow Removal
(610) 274-2273 Office or (610) 721-3119 cell
PACK N SHIP
Inquire Now! Poison Ivy • Brush & Weed Control
“Quick and Easy” Shipping DHL, FedEx, UPS, Priority Mail Copying, Faxes, Laminating, Gift Boxes and Gift Items Available
Green Grazers 484-643-6939
Southern Chester County authorized Drop-Off Center for DHL, UPS, FedEx
Go Green, Go Goats
Mon-Fri 10-6pm, Sat 10-2pm
Jennersville • 610-345-9070
T L MOVING C SERVICES, LLC A personalized and friendly service specializing in packing and unpacking for house to retirement home moves. We manage your move! www.tlcmovingservicesllc.com Caen Stroud
610-268-3243
Economical, Eco-Friendly All Natural Land Clearing Service for Small and Large Areas
Commercial & Residential
Free Estimates Insured
JOHN’S LAWN SERVICE – Established 1985 –
Lawn Maintenance Mulching Trees Planted Hardscaping Mowing Trimming
Landscaping Brush Cutting Field Mowing Chipping Skid Loader Tractor Work
610-467-1103
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
SALES HOURS: MON-THURS 9-8, FRI & SAT 9-6 | SERVICE & PARTS: MON-THURS 7-7, FRI 7-6, SAT 7-4
Diver Chevrolet in Wilmington
OVER 300 NEW CHEVYS AVAILABLE! PLUS AS MUCH AS $1,000 DIVER BONUS CASH! LEASE AN SUV FOR LESS: EMPLOYEE PRICING + $500 DIVER BONUS CASH! NEW 2018 CHEVROLET
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169
$
0 DOWN PAYMENT
IN STOCK
52
WITH SIMILAR SAVINGS
IN STOCK
MSRP: EMPLOYEE PRICE OR LESS: DIVER BONUS CASH: LEASE LOYALTY TO PURCHASE: GM BONUS CASH: DOWN PMT ASSISTANCE: CONSUMER CASH: BUY FOR PRICE AFTER ALL REBATES
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24
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19,385
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289
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**
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$
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17
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CREW CAB 4X4
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10
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24 IN STOCK
40,545 36,349 - $750 - $3,000 - $2,000 - $1,500 - $1,000
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**
399
0 DOWN PAYMENT
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48
IN STOCK
WITH SIMILAR SAVINGS
MSRP: $43,765
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$
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$
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$
CURRENT GM LESSEES
$
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MSRP: EMPLOYEE PRICE OR LESS: DIVER BONUS CASH: LEASE LOYALTY TO PURCHASE: CONSUMER CASH:
$
28,099
$
CREW CAB CUSTOM 4X4
$
WITH SIMILAR SAVINGS
MSRP: EMPLOYEE PRICE OR LESS: DIVER BONUS CASH: LEASE LOYALTY TO PURCHASE: CONSUMER CASH: DOWN PMT ASSISTANCE: PACKAGE REBATE:
SILVERADO 1500
CURRENT GM LESSEES
$
PER MO LEASE FOR 39 MOS*
$
IN STOCK
NEW 2018 CHEVROLET
DIVER BONUS CASH: LEASE LOYALTY TO PURCHASE: CONSUMER CASH: DOWN PMT ASSISTANCE: GM BONUS CASH: PACKAGE REBATE:
**
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Stk# 90085. *Includes GM Employee Pricing and $750 Diver Chevy Bonus Cash. 10,000 miles per year ultra-low mileage lease offers to very well-qualified applicants through GM Financial. Tags, taxes, and 1st payment due at inception. No security deposit required. **Lease Loyalty to Purchase requires ‘99 or newer GM lease in household. Not available with special finance, lease, or other offers. All offers for well-qualified customers through GM Financial. See dealer for complete details. Offers expire 12/31/18.
- $750 - $2,000 - $2,000 - $1,500 - $1,250 - $1,000
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$
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YEAR-END CAR CLEARANCE: EMPLOYEE PRICING + AS MUCH AS $1,000 DIVER BONUS CASH! NEW 2018 CHEVROLET
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6
IN STOCK
NEW 2018 CHEVROLET
MALIBU LS
33
WITH SIMILAR SAVINGS
17,850 16,347 - $300 - $500 - $1,000
$ $
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14,547
$
Stk# 81528T. Not available with special finance, lease, or other offers. All offers for well-qualified customers through GM Financial. See dealer for complete details. Offer expires 12/31/18.
MSRP: EMPLOYEE PRICE OR LESS: DIVER BONUS CASH: LEASE LOYALTY TO PURCHASE CONSUMER CASH: DOWN PMT ASSISTANCE:
VOLT LT
8
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IN STOCK
IN STOCK
MSRP: EMPLOYEE PRICE OR LESS: DIVER BONUS CASH: CONSUMER CASH: DOWN PMT ASSISTANCE
NEW 2018 CHEVROLET
24,235 22,201 - $500 - $2,000 - $2,500 - $750
$ $
BUY FOR PRICE AFTER ALL REBATES
16,451
$
Stk# 90474. Lease Loyalty to Purchase requires ‘99 or newer GM lease in household. Not available with special finance, lease, or other offers. All offers for well-qualified customers through GM Financial. See dealer for complete details. Offer expires 12/31/18.
DiverChevy.com
WITH SIMILAR SAVINGS
MSRP: EMPLOYEE PRICE OR LESS: DIVER BONUS CASH: LEASE LOYALTY TO PURCHASE GM BONUS CASH: PA CLEAN AIR REBATE
NEW 2018 CHEVROLET
CAMARO 2LT COUPE 15 IN STOCK
34,095 28,880 - $1,000 - $1,500 - $2,000 - $1,750
WITH SIMILAR SAVINGS
MSRP: EMPLOYEE PRICE OR LESS: DIVER BONUS CASH: GM BONUS CASH: CONQUEST CASH:
$ $
BUY FOR PRICE AFTER ALL REBATES
38,870 34,746 - $1,000 - $1,000 - $2,000
$ $
BUY FOR PRICE AFTER ALL REBATES
22,630
30,746
$
$
Stk# 81467. Lease Loyalty to Purchase requires ‘99 or newer GM lease in household. Not available with special finance, lease, or other offers. All offers for well-qualified customers through GM Financial. See dealer for complete details. Offer expires 12/31/18.
Stk# 80264. Not available with special finance, lease, or other offers.
All offers for well-qualified customers through GM Financial. See dealer for complete details. Offer expires 12/31/18.
2101 Pennsylvania Ave | Wilmington, DE 19806
Shop 24-7 at
302-504-8313
15 MINUTES FROM LONGWOOD GARDENS