Chester CountyPRESS
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Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
INSIDE
Volume 151, No. 51
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Revitalizing and re-imagining downtown Oxford
New OMI Executive Director wants to build upon the progress that has been made By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer For the last 18 years, Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) has served as a catalyst for economic growth and revitalization in Oxford’s business district. Brian Wenzka took over the duties as Executive Director of OMI in late September, and he sees plenty of possibilities for the future as the efforts to revitalize and reimagine downtown Oxford continue. Wenzka, a resident of Atglen, said that before he even joined OMI and got an up-close look at the business district’s attributes, he was impressed by the efforts to revitalize the downtown and to showcase what is unique
about Oxford—the shops, the restaurants, the architecture of the buildings, and the people who call the borough home. “I’ve noted the progress over the years,” Wenzka said during an interview in mid-November. “We want to continue to create an environment for businesses where they can thrive.” Oxford has seen significant changes since OMI was originally founded in 1999. One of the primary responsibilities for the organization is to attract new businesses to town to boost the local economy and to create jobs locally. Oxford now has a solid core of businesses to anchor the commercial district—there are 27 businesses that have been in
the Business Improvement District for more than ten years. In the last five years, another 27 businesses have opened and approximately 190 new jobs have been created as a result. Additionally, OMI has helped plan and promote community activities like the popular First Friday events that attract a lot of visitors to the downtown, and has also played an instrumental role in getting streetscape and facade improvements that have enhanced the look of the town. “I’d like to think that the property owners see the value of what OMI is accomPhoto by Steven Hoffman plishing,” Wenzka said. Brian Wenzka is the new Executive Director of Oxford “We now have quality res- Mainstreet, Inc., which leads the effort to boost ecotaurants, unique shops, two nomic development and revitalize the town’s business Continued on Page 2A
A Christmas miracle A new minister sees God’s hand in how his tiny church is coming back to life By John Chambless Staff Writer
Art that women...1B
celebrates
Kennett Square rolls out art and music...6A
An anonymous donor pays off student lunch debts...3A
INDEX Opinion.......................7A Calendar of Events.....2B Obituaries..............4B-5B Classifieds................6B
© 2007 The Chester County Press
60 Cents
There’s a Christmas miracle underway at the tiny Kelton Church of Christ on Jennersville Road. On a cold, drizzly day in early December, new minister Chuck Wyeth and Larry Steiner were smoothing out freshly poured concrete for a ramp in front of the building, which has been a Church of Christ house of worship since 1836. Wyeth, who has just been hired as the minister at the church for the next three years, took a few minutes to talk about the path that has led him here, and how God seems to have been at his side the whole time. “I’m from Alliance, Ohio, and in 2013 I got the ministry bug,” he said. “The congregation at Alliance Church of Christ started saying that maybe I should become a preacher. I was like, ‘What?’ But we started talking, and they started teaching me how to write and present sermons.” Wyeth went to Sunset International Bible
Sits on 14-acre lot planned for subdivision
Historic Commission fights to save 1700s homestead from possible demolition By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Photo by John Chambless
Blending both information and compassion, long time New Garden Township historian Dr. Margaret “Peg” Jones appealed to the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 18 to step in and attempt to save a piece of Landenberg history from a potential wrecking ball, while a representative from a leading real estate development firm offered possible solutions that could buy some time for it to be sold. The issue is this: The
Middleton Homestead sits on a 14-acre plot near the corner of Newark Road and Laurel Heights Road, and includes a house, a garage, a carriage house and a barn, speculated to have been built between 1783-1796. It also sits on Lot 4 of an L-shaped, seven-lot subdivision currently in the planning stages by Landenbergbased Wilkinson Homes, so the race has begun to explore options to keep the creation of the development on track, while also preserving the home. Continued on Page 4A
Chuck Wyeth has arrived at the historic church at a time when much-needed donations are helping the building become ADA compliant.
Institute in Lubbock, Texas, for two years, then came to Pennsylvania to try out at three churches. “We came here because there was a program called Focus Northeast through the Church of Christ and through Sunset,” he said.
“They had a preacher in Camp Hill named Doug Hamilton, who was the head of the program here, and Doug brought me up and I tried out with three churches. In between, I got a phone call that there was
and a true friend to so many in the area. In fact, one only needed to refer to Joe for everyone knew who you were talking about. An unmatched reservoir of knowledge is now lost, much like the loss of a family’s history that comes with the death of a parent. But most of all, Joe was a poster-child for America’s greatest generation. He was born with little and thrown into the midst of the carnage of the North Atlantic as well as the Pacific in World War II. Joe’s success following the war came not from luck or privilege, but from hard physical work
Tribute to a quiet man By Uncle Irvin
Continued on Page 3A
A pillar of Oxford passes away Last week, Oxford lost one of its most valuable assets – Joe Chamberlain. Joe quietly passed away while leaving us a far better community because of his many years of contributing to the growth of Oxford. No longer will Joe’s vintage blue-and-white Ford pickup be a reminder of his connection to every rural lane, town street, property line, building and farm in the Oxford area. In truth, there wasn’t a location in the area that Joe couldn’t cite the owner, property line and history. He was our de facto town historian. He was also my friend,
district.
beyond what most understand today, along with a dedication to the principle that your word is your bond and a deal needs no more than an honest handshake. He was tough in business, but never without a dry wit that could cut to the bone. I can honestly say I never met him when he didn’t leave me with a smile on my face. We will sorely miss you Joe, because we simply do not have a replacement for your kind! Frank Lobb West Nottingham Editor’s note: See obituary on Page 5B
Joseph Chamberlain, a former Oxford Borough Councilman and President who passed away last week, left a very important legacy... “That action speaks louder than words.” Joe was a blend of farmer, real estate investor, and landlord who quietly contributed to the Oxford community. It took me years to really get to know him where we could speak candidly and he left his indelible mark on the Oxford community. *
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2018 burdensome for Oxford Borough Oxford Borough residents should look forward to a very volatile 2018. The first order of business will be the seating and election of a new Council Chairman by the Democraticelected majority. In no specific order, Council’s agenda will be dominated by: – appointing a new police chief; Continued on Page 4A