Chester County Press 12-22-2021 Edition

Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

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

Volume 155, No. 51

INSIDE

A river runs through an historic region...1B

22nd annual Little Lincoln Gettysburg Address Contest...4B

Chester County seeks volunteers for authorities, boards and commissions...5A

INDEX Opinion.......................5A Obituaries........2B,3B,5B

To Subscribe Call 610.869.5553

Classifieds..................4B

© 2007 The Chester County Press

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

$1.00

Capital campaign continues toward $21.1 million goal

Celebrating the season Kennett Library in Kennett Square & Resource Center begins construction

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

week that is projected to be completed by the Spring of 2023 – is a two-floor, Throughout the last year 33,425 square-foot facility of their nearly 20-year that will feature 15 meetjourney to construct a new ing rooms, maker spaces library, the visionaries for children and adults, an responsible for raising the outdoor terrace, a 110-seat Photo by Chris Barber funds for what will become auditorium with a stage Carolers from Kennett High School entertained the visitors at Kennett Square’s the Kennett Library & and, in a wider sense, serve Tinsel on the Town on Dec. 10. The shops were open, there were vendors on the Resource Center have asked as a new and revolutionstreets, and Santa Claus was available for pictures with children. thousands in the community ary complex of learning, “To Imagine a Place.” resources and opportunity The “place” they are that will forever change For the moment, however, began his new job on Nov. 22 munity has responded. Now referring to – which began how libraries have been the only physical represen- after several years as a library that the earth has begun to a construction process last traditionally defined. tation of that vision is in executive in Oklahoma, where move, I think more people the form of a fenced-in con- he was involved with three will come to understand struction site at the corner library projects, including the what an extraordinary new of State and Willow streets $30 million construction of a resource is being built in in Kennett Square, just new library in Moore, Okla., Kennett Square. This is a down the street from the expected to open in 2023.

22nd Century investment – In many ways, however, the for our children’s children.” current library, an 11,000 square-foot building that site of bulldozers and conIn order to engage and has served the community tractors in hard hats along inform the entire eightState Street is merely the municipality area that since 1961.

“Having gone through the latest chapter marker in the both uses and supports the revitalization of a library in realization that a new library library, a marketing camtwo other large communities in Kennett Square is on the paign has been developed to like this, I have seen how horizon. keep the public in the loop much it galvanized these “These are exciting about the library’s progress Photo by Richard L. Gaw communities around the times, but we still have through frequent mailings, Celebrating the start of construction on the new Kennett Library & Resource Center are, from left library becoming the ‘third a long way to go,” said e-mail blasts, a marketing to right, Collis Townsend, trustee and chair of the place’ in people’s lives after Collis Townsend, Trustee video and an online newsImagine Campaign Cabinet; Jeff Yetter, board presi- ‘work’ and ‘home,’” said and Chair of the Imagine letter that is distributed dent; Mary Hutchins, campaign administrator; and Kennett Library Executive Campaign Cabinet. “I am every week. new executive director Christopher Manna.

Continued on page 3A Director Chris Manna, who thrilled by how the com-

Medic 94 service continues uninterrupted despite looming closure of hospital

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Medic 94, the advanced life support system that responds to life-threatening accidents and sudden illnesses in southern Chester County, will continue its service uninterrupted despite the imminent closing of its landlord, Jennersville

Hospital, on Jan. 1, 2022.

The Medic 94 unit is housed in the east end of the hospital, as it has been for 38 years, and its vehicles function as emergency rooms on wheels.

Medic 94 paramedics drive to serious incidents and often accompany the patients to hospitals, administering care in the ambulances that have arrived on the scene as well.

On Sept. 27, Tower Health, Jennersville’s owner, announced the impending closing of the hospital.

Then on Nov. 22, Tower announced a deal with Canyon Atlantic Partners to purchase the hospital and keep it open.

That was a relief to Medic 94 CEO Bob Hotchkiss, who, as soon as the closing

was announced, had been strategizing ways for his unit to continue operations.

But on Dec. 8, bad news arrived again when Tower announced that the deal with Canyon had fallen through. Not only would Jennersville close on Dec. 31, but Brandywine Hospital in Caln would also close on Jan. 31, 2022.

Hotchkiss, who has been with Medic 94 for 30 years – 23 of them as CEO -- issued this public statement on Dec. 18: “Let me assure the community that we serve, Medic 94’s service will be uninterrupted across southern Chester County, as it has been for 38 years. We have Continued on page 2A

Oxford Police Tighe selected Department returns as president of Oxford hybrid police car to Ford

By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Oxford Mayor Phil Harris told council that the Ford hybrid they had purchased for the police Department has been in the shop more than out.

“After months of work, we finally got Ford to agree to buy back the hybrid police car,” Harris explained. “We learned the hard way that hybrids don’t work for emergency vehicles. Ford fully reimbursed the borough and gave the department a brand new car, not a hybrid. And since the hybrid had cost more than the car it was replaced with, the borough received the difference.”

The problems for the police department occurred because the police vehicle is kept running and not shut down when in use, so the police can utilize all the

accessories needed on a police car, such as the computer and other technical equipment.

Also at the council meeting, Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. Executive Director Brian Dix informed council that the Shoebox Theatre project has been briefly put on pause until they receive more information about the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Grant through the Budget Office of Pennsylvania. The grant is expected to be awarded around the first of January.

Dix also informed council that the event applications will be coming to council at the first of the year.

First Fridays are expected to return in April.

The application of Presbyterian Homes, Inc. (Ware Presbyterian Village) requested an indefinite continuance of the pending Zoning Hearing Board application related to the

proposed independent living apartment building.

The borough has consented to the continuance.

Public Works Director John Schaible said the department is ready to handle snow removal when it is necessary.

“Our snow equipment is ready to go, we have salt in our shed and we are ready for winter weather,” he said.

He also announced that the department would be performing Christmas tree collection after the holiday.

He explained that all decorations, lights, etc. must be removed from the trees and they should be placed curbside. They will be picked up on Mondays along with branches and brush.

Leaf pickup can only be done after November if leaves are placed in biodegradable bags. Each bag should weigh less than 20 pounds. No household Continued on page 4A

School Board New board members also named

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer Joseph Tighe was once again selected to serve as the president of the Oxford School Board during the reorganization meeting at the district’s Administration Building on Dec. 7.

The meeting began with a roll call of the five members of the board— Tighe, Jennifer Harrison, Mark Patterson, Howard Robinson, and Robert Tenga—who are in the middle of their terms on the board.

Judge Scott Massey, who presides in the District Court in Oxford, administered the oath of office to the four newly elected school board

members—Michael Blessington, Kristen Dean, William Kloss, and Jennifer Kehs. Dean is beginning her second full term on the Oxford School Board after being elected in November, while Blessington, Kloss, and Kehs are all newcomers to the board.

Once the new members were sworn in, they took seats at the table with their new colleagues to handle the remaining items on the evening’s agenda.

When the floor was opened for nominations for board president, Tighe was once again nominated by his colleagues. The school board voted 6-2 in favor of having Tighe continue to serve as president.

Continued on page 2A

2A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

Chester County Press

Local News Medic 94...

Continued from Page 1A

no formal relationship with Tower Health so the hospital’s closing will not change our delivery of best-in-class advanced life support services to the area, nor the security of the jobs of our paramedics.”

Hotchkiss added that at least one of the advanced life support units will continue to be based in the Jennersville area, while they establish a more permanent location in Penn Township.

With the eventuality of the hospital – Medic 94’s landlord – closing, Hotchkiss began early planning on how to cope while maintaining service.

Hotchkiss listed in order three major tasks he had to deal with: finding a new physical headquarters; establishing a new vendor from whom to buy supplies; and accommodating the staffing of longer rides and distances to other hospitals.

Looking back, he said when the formal announcement of the planned closing came on Sept. 27, he was shocked and disappointed.

He thought maybe the hospital would be sold, but he didn’t anticipate an actual closing.

The first thing he dealt with was finding a new home.

Fortunately, officials in the surrounding 17 municipalities Medic 94 serves responded enthusiastically with help right away.

“They told me, ‘anything we can do to help,’” Hotchkiss said. “Penn Township said we could move into their facility, but they had no garage for our vehicles. Jenner’s Pond offered a cottage with a garage. New London said they had a house. The fire companies offered as well, but their locations [skewed away from] the center of our service area.”

Following the suggestion of one supporter, Hotchkiss asked Tower Health if Medic 94 could remain in the building for six months. He was granted permission for three.

“Three months. That’s fantastic. It gets us through the winter,” he recalled thinking.

That was the first step.

The second was finding another place to buy supplies. Up until now Medic 94 worked with Tower Health and were able to get what they needed—and often at a discount.

Hotchkiss contacted another local hospital and said they agreed right away to serve as his vendor.

Photos by Chris Barber

The Medic 94 office, garage and headquarters are on the east end of the Jennersville Hospital.

The third challenge was filling the staffing gaps that would be created by accompanying patients to hospitals father away – the time element.

Hotchkiss figured that he needed one more part-time paramedic and acquisition of another monitor. The cost is estimated at $200,000. He said he was gratified by the response of almost all the municipalities and donors.

They were jumping in right away with financial support.

“This community is very generous. I think they appreciated what we provided. My phone was ringing off the hook,” he said.

Meanwhile, the public and elected representatives expressed their dismay at the possibility of losing a local hospital and jumped in to seek solutions.

“State Rep. John Lawrence, County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz, and state Sen. Carolyn Comitta: They said, ‘You need to keep the hospital here,’ and they know Medic 94 needs to be here in Penn Township,” Hotchkiss said.

Medic 94 transports more than 1,000 patients a year to Jennersville Hospital.

With the closing of both Jennersville and Brandywine Hospital, more than 40,000 patients who visited the two emergency departments annually will need to seek care at more distant hospitals.

Hotchkiss said he expects EMS call volume to increase, transport times to increase and times to transfer patients at already overcrowded emergency departments to increase. When his para-

Medic 94 CEO Bob Hotchkiss is making plans to adapt to the closing of Jennersville Hospital.

medic crew cannot transfer a patient at the hospital due to overcrowding, it means time that EMS crews are not available for responses back in the district, he added.

Hotchkiss said his medics have experienced increasing instances of one-to-two hours of waiting with a patient on the stretcher in the emergency department because no bed is available. Adding the additional 30 minutes after the patient is transferred for the MEDIC 94 vehicles to get back into the district and available due to the more distant transport distance, it places the EMS resources under a serious strain.

Meanwhile, Hotchkiss said, he and his staff have had to meet and engage in

some self-examination.

They need to come up with scenarios and solutions for circumstances that are happening now that Jennersville is diminishing. These are things like familiarity with the staffs of other hospitals, providing blood-taking for the state police DUIs, increased turnaround times, maintenance of equipment and transporting patients home after treatment at farther hospitals, to name a few.

“The impact of closing a hospital is far beyond what people think. We have to make sure the impact of life support stays here. We’re riding the wave. Everybody has been so supportive. It’s been humbling,” Hotchkiss concluded.

Chester County Sheriff’s Office delivers Christmas gifts This December, members of the Chester County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and collaborating partner Alpha Kappa Alpha-Iota Tau Omega (AKA-ITO), an African American women’s service organization, collected and delivered items for the Chester County Youth Center. The project, initiated by CCSO’s Sgt. Paul Bryant, aims to build bridges among law enforcement and youth who may be afraid of or resistant to law enforcement.

Members of the CCSO interact with many of the youth who reside at the Center’s detention facility or shelter when they come to the Justice Center during stressful court cases. This fall, Sgt. Janis Pickell and

Tighe...

Continued from Page 1A

Kehs nominated herself for the position, and that motion was defeated.

This is Tighe’s 11th year on the school board, and he has served as the board’s president since 2016.

USPCA-certified Comfort K-9 Marley began visiting small groups at the Youth Center. Marley—nonjudgmental and attentive to their moods and needs— can often calm a child or stabilize intense emotions very quickly in a way that humans cannot.

“As a lawyer, in the past I represented children who were part of the juvenile legal system as victims or who were heading down troubled paths,” said Sheriff Fredda Maddox, who is also a member of AKAITO. “Largely, trauma was at the root of their difficulties. Like some residents of the Youth Center, they were vulnerable, homeless, shuffled from one foster home to another, or living in very

challenging situations. Gifts of journals or snacks, or visits from Sgt. Pickell and Marley sometimes speak louder than words when connecting with youth who don’t trust any adults.”

Megan Delaney, PREA Coordinator at the Youth Center, explained the importance of the donations and Marley’s visits.

“Gift cards for pizza, cups of noodles, special blankets and fun socks go a long way toward letting youth know that the community cares about them,” she said. “During the holidays they are aware that their experiences don’t resemble idyllic Christmas card pictures. Marley’s wagging tail and small gifts make a difference.”

Next, the floor was opened for nominations for the position of vice president. Tighe nominated Patterson, a longtime school board member who was not present at the reorganization meeting.

Tighe said that he had spoken to Patterson and he had agreed to once again serve as vice president if he were

nominated. The motion to approve Patterson as vice president was approved by a 6-2 vote.

The school board formally established its meeting nights for the coming year.

Work sessions will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

Regular school board meet-

Chester County Sheriff’s Office canine Marley checked his list twice for gifts headed to the Chester County Youth Center.

Courtesy photos

The Chester County Youth Center provides specialized programs for Chester County youths who receive services from the Chester County Juvenile Probation Department, the

Members of the CCSO, AKA-ITO and Chester County Youth Center gather around donations to the Center.

Chester County Department of Children, Youth and Families.

To find out more about opportunities to help,

contact Megan Delaney at the Chester County Youth Center, 610-344-6700 ext. 7204 or mdelaney@ chesco.org.

ings will take place on the third Tuesday of each month, and those will also begin at 7 p.m.

Kloss was selected to serve as the Oxford School Board’s representative on the Chester County School Boards Legislative Council.

Harrison was then nominated as the chair of the

Policy Review Committee.

Kehs and Tighe were appointed to serve on the school board’s Policy Review Committee.

The board also appointed Robinson to serve at the Chester County School Authority from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2027.

In the new year, the Oxford School Board will meet again for a work session on Tuesday, January 11 and the regular meeting on Tuesday, January 18.

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

The holidays

by Capriotti’s catering

SHOPPES AT LONGWOOD E. Baltimore Pike, 610.444.4475

Visit order.capriottis.com for delivery!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

3A

Chester County Press

Local News Library...

Continued from Page 1A

It’s working.

“I can’t meet anyone anymore who doesn’t know what’s been happening at the Kennett Library,” said Jeff Yetter, president of the Library’s Board of Trustees.

“Much of the energy of our campaign for the new library is coming from our current library. We used to have six book clubs and now we have eight. This place is on fire with activities and this is letting people know that the Kennett Library is a place where great things happen.”

“We have a great Campaign Cabinet,” said Townsend. “Claire Murray, Phoebe Fisher and Pattie Morgan Miller just joined.

Collectively, the Cabinet bespeaks the merit of the campaign – well-known civic leaders spreading the gospel about the new library in a favorable way.”

Progress has also been made to determine the final cost of the Kennett Library & Resource Center. The New Building Committee, led by Library Trustees Brad Peiper and Loren Pearson, recently finalized an agreement with the library’s construction management firm EDiS to cap the cost of the project at $21.1 million.

“In these uncertain times we wanted to make sure that EDiS and the Library agreed on a maximum price for the building. The Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment ensures that our costs will not exceed $21.1 million, allowing the price to come in lower if material prices don’t rise as we anticipate,” Peiper said.

Library receives additional $1.9 million state grant In early December, the Kennett Library received a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program award that will allow the Library to use up to $1.9 million in new grant funding, thanks to the work of Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester and Delaware), Rep. Christina Sappey (D-Chester), Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester County) and Sen. John Kane (D-Chester and Delaware), who helped secure the fund.

“I am extremely pleased by this grant approval,” said Sappey. “The Kennett Library serves numerous townships in the Kennett area and this project gives thoughtful consideration to the collaborative way we work and learn now. The facility will provide a stateof-the-art, energy-efficient building with event space, auditorium, and multipurpose rooms for public gatherings and educational programs.

“Numerous individuals and groups came together to make this modern library a reality. It’s a testament to the people and creativity here, so I am grateful for their efforts and very pleased that this funding will help complete a dream in our community.”

How the award will be used – and how much of it will be used -- will be determined by the library’s key stakeholders.

“It is great news as an endorsement that the state continues to recognize the Kennett Library again, and we are grateful to our legislators who really came through for us,” Townsend said. “What we are doing

Images courtesy of Kennett Library

The Kennett Library & Resource Center will be a 33,425 square-foot facility and is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2023.

The capital campaign for the new library has already The new library will feature 15 meeting rooms, maker spaces for children and adults raised $13.7 million toward its $21.1 million goal. and a children’s area.

now is evaluating the terms and conditions of the grant to see how we can best strategically use it to help build the new library.”

‘It’s like casting a fishing net’ As several components of the campaign to build the new library are firmly in place – community awareness, government support and the start of construction – so too is the Kennett Library’s capital campaign, that continues to push forward in acquiring the funding to meet the $21.1 million final price tag. To date, the campaign has raised over $13.7 million toward its goal from contributions made by private foundations, local businesses, area municipalities and private donations from community members.

To help steer the campaign, the Library has recruited Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup, founders of Dansko, together with Paul Redman, President & CEO of Longwood Gardens, to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of the Campaign.

The campaign is scheduling several special events in the coming months, including a private dinner at Longwood Gardens on March 15 that will include a private fountain show; a concert at Longwood Gardens scheduled for April 7 (the artist has yet to be determined); a “Next Generation” party at a family farm in May; and a wine tasting event in June. Townsend said he is confident that these events will generate more than $6 million.

“And there is also the Melton Terrace,” Townsend added. “Greg and Caroline Bentley have made the leadership gift, as well as Dennis’ twin brother Dale Melton. Dennis and I, along with Nancy Mohr, Michael Walker, Tom Swett and many others, have been advocating for this new library for 20 years. It is so fitting the Board of Trustees chose to name the upstairs terrace in his honor. He touched a lot of people and cared deeply for this community.

“There will be lots of opportunities for people

to hear our story,” he said.

“At the end of the day, our Donor Wall is going to be a list of people, mostly from Southern Chester County, who had the generosity of spirit to look out for others -- people like Jeff and Carol Yetter, Michael and Nancy Pia, Ann and Steve Hutton, Julie Noolan, Meredith and Mike Rotko and the list goes on.

“Ask a friend, tell a friend -- everybody needs to be part of this project.”

Naming opportunities

Manna knows that he and his staff will be charged not only with the responsibility of directing the operations of a 33,000 square-foot facility, but redefining what the role of a modern library is to the communities it serves. It’s a philosophy he’s applying whose roots are found in the mission of the Harwood Institute, which is to teach organizations that their primary responsibility is to turn their attentions “outward” toward what those in the community need.

“Many people continue to see libraries as if it’s 1895, because that is where we have remained as a profession for many, many years,” he said.

“We – librarians -- have not taken those necessary steps, and have continued to hole themselves up instead of reflecting outward.

“In reality, however, the future optics for libraries is entirely the opposite of our history. We need to get out of our building, go to the schools and the playgrounds and the neighborhoods, and ask people what they need help with, and grow this new library based on those needs.

“As libraries reshape, we must and will invert that relationship of what they have stood for, and this new library builds this around the changing needs of this community.”

To learn more about the capital campaign to build the Kennett Library & Resource Center and to make a donation at a variety of levels, visit www.campaign4kennettlibrary.org or e-mail Mary Hutchins at mary@kennettlibrary.org.

Another arm of the capital campaign has been providing donors with the opportunity to have naming rights attached to several rooms and spaces in the new library. While some areas have had already been committed, several still remain, from having one’s name be included in the Kennett Library & (Name) Resource Center ($5 million) to receiving naming rights to the auditorium ($3 million) to receiving a tote bag featuring the imprinted words “I helped build the Kennett Library” ($250).

“The building of this library is huge, and short of Longwood Garden’s expansion, it’s the largest project happening in Chester County,” Townsend said.

“During COVID, the Library proved it is an essential part of our community. There are people who have done profoundly well in this world who should be reinvesting in their community. Almost everybody that I meet, from age 2 to age 90, has a wonderful library story to tell.”

To contact Staff Writer When the Kennett Library & Resource Center opens its Richard L. Gaw, email doors in the spring of 2023, rgaw@chestercounty.com.

%GNGDTCVKPI [GCTU

2TQRCPG )CU 5GTXKEG #0;9*'4' *GCVKPI *QV 9CVGT )CU .QIU )GPGTCVQTU CPF OQTG

(TGG 'UVKOCVGU ^ #NN (WGNU

4A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

Chester County Press

Local News Agency to partner with real estate group on new initiative

KACS honors homeless with moment of silence

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

annually on the winter solstice and longest night of the year to remember those who have died without stable housing, to reflect on the shocking inhumanity of homelessness, and to call for meaningful policy changes.

The ceremony also included comments from KACS Executive Director Leah Reynolds and an a cappella performance of

“I’ll Be Seeing You” by KACS board member Leon Spencer. In addition to the More than 30 members KACS event, several parof the local community ishes across Chester County gathered outside of Kennett rang their bells at 1 p.m., Area Community Service and at 7 p.m., and Warm (KACS) at 136 West Cedar Blanket candles created by Street on Dec. 21 to honor KACS and Candle Studio those who have died while 1422 were lit to shine a light being homeless, as part of on homelessness.

National Homeless Persons’ Following the moment Memorial Day. of silence, Reynolds told The ceremony takes place the audience that with the new year about to approach, 2022 will “be a time for us to use our voices to share the message that “we cannot accept homelessness and to move the conversation to address poverty, hunger and the need for affordable housing,” she said.

“We – we here – will continue to work with our partners and friends in the KACS Executive Director Leah Reynolds introduced community to shine a light a new partnership between KACS and the Waterkotte on this important issue.”

Reynolds then announced Group, a Kennett Square-based realtor.

that KACS’ “Don’t Settle For Homelessness” initiative will begin in January, in partnership with the Waterkotte Group, a Kennett Square-based component of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors.

Called “Closing for KACS,” the program will invite 52 agents from the Waterkotte Group to make a donation to KACS after each home sale closing.

Reynolds said that eventually the program will be rolled out to other real estate agencies throughout the southern Chester County region and eventually to other states, “so that every real estate agent has an opportunity to help local organizations end food insecurity, poverty and homelessness,” she said.

This year’s memorial also included events through-

out Chester County with KACS’ partners at Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness and Open Hearth Inc. To learn more about

KACS, visit: www.kacsonline.net.

Borough Council heard a report by Garcia-Allen about the traffic calming policy. She requested more time to analyze the community feedback.

She said, “This will not sit on my desk. I want to bring myself up to speed on it. I will be working with the Manager’s Consortium and our Chief of Police and clarify costs with the engineers.” Council approved more time.

In other business, Council approved the resigna-

In order for that funding to be used approval from five council members is required.

Council approved a motion to approve the Union Fire Company No. 1 2022 Agreement in the amount of $73,511.00.

Funding was approved and will be sent out in July.

Council also approved a motion to approve the Union Fire Company No. 1 Ambulance Division 2022 Agreement in the amount of $69,528.00. Council did

discuss the possibility of Ware contributing to this due to their usage of the ambulance. This will be discussed further.

A motion was also passed to approve Resolution #1324-2021 approving modification of the recorded approved plans for Sycamore Crossing Phase II regarding a requested change to street trees.

A motion was passed to approve an extension request for Sycamore Crossing Phases 6 and 7

up to and including May 31, 2022.

A motion was passed to approve the HARB Recommendation for 401 Market Street.

A motion was passed to advertise the ordinance regarding the Non-Uniform Pension.

Council member Kathryn Cloyd informed Council the rain barrels are available. Residents interested in receiving a barrel should contact the borough at 610-932-2500.

Oxford police...

Continued from Page 1A

trash should be placed in the bags, or it will not be picked up.

Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen updated council on the crossing guard situation. The solicitor is continuing talks with the Oxford Area School District Superintendent David Woods.

It was also reported that the Second Street project has gone out to bid.

tion of council member Amanda Birdwell as the Borough representative on the Board of Directors of Oxford Mainstreet. Council then approved appointing Garcia-Allen as the new borough representative to OMI’s board.

Council also approved a motion to Approve Resolution #1323-2021 for adopting a policy Governing Fund Balances.

They also clarified specifics regarding the Borough Council Endowment Fund.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Former Kennett Square Mayor and current Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) board member Leon Spencer performed “I’ll Be Seeing You” as part of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on Dec. 21, in tribute to those who have lost their lives because of homelessness.

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

BRANDYWINE VALLEY EXCLUSIVE

2022

HEALTH

AND MEDICAL GUIDE Ad Pro Inc, publishers of the Chester County Press and the Life Magazines will be publishing its popular guide to health, fitness and medicine.

This extremely comprehensive annual directory will feature advertising information from local hospitals, doctors and various health and wellness organizations. The booklet is skillfully designed to display the colorful magazine style pages and make your advertisement stand out. This contemporary 8" x 8.5" magazine promises to be a ready reference and keepsake for the entire year.

PROMOTE YOUR PRACTICE OR BUSINESS TO OVER 20,000 READERS

The comprehensive circulation of the Health and Medical Guide will be launched on January 26, 2022 when 11,000 copies will be the featured insert in the Chester County Press, the oldest and largest weekly newspaper in the county. In addition, 4,500 copies will be displayed at over 100 different newsstands, public areas, and select locations all over Southern Chester County and New Castle County, Delaware. The circulation coverage will blanket Chadds Ford, Longwood, Pocopson, Unionville, Kennett Square, Avondale, West Grove, Landenberg, Kemblesville, Lincoln University, Jennersville, Oxford, and Nottingham and also with increased coverage in Newark, Greenville, Hockessin, and Wilmington, Delaware. Thereafter, additional copies will be refreshed seasonally in the spring, summer and fall.

In addition, the 2022 Health & Medical Guide will contain a special section of services for the senior homeowners and aging population in Chester County and New Castle County.

PRICES INCLUDE FREE SPACE for your NEWS RELEASE & PHOTOGRAPHY PLUS FREE FULL COLOR AD COPY & NEWS RELEASE DEADLINE: JAN 7, 2022 • PUBLISHING DATE: JAN 26, 2022

Call 610-869-5553 for more information

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

5A

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

Yes, Chester County, there is hope We, the vast lot of us whose lives are tendered to the necessary obligations of adulthood, rarely find ourselves in the beautifully vulnerable position of holding onto faith and hope, the way we did when were children.

Our schedules are rigid, our commitments are many, and most telling, they derive their importance in our lives by the fact that they are clearly defined and assigned. We live according to parameters and we remain within the lines. We have taken the playfulness of our childhood beliefs and stored them in the attics of our memory, or worse, made the decision to render them to dust.

Sometime in September 1897, eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, a resident of 115 West 95th Street in New York City, was so captivated by her faith that she fought to keep it alive. It is likely that during that time, the young girl was made fun of by her fiends for believing in Santa Claus, which prompted her, at her father’s insistence, to write a letter to the New York Sun. “If you see it in the Sun, it is so,” he told his daughter.

Her letter was received by Francis Pharcellus Church, a veteran newspaperman who was serving as the Sun’s editorial writer at the time. His response to the young girl – one that has become the most-read newspaper editorial of all time, was completely uncharacteristic of Church, who had become known for his curmudgeonly editorials that espoused hardened cynicism and skepticism.

In the span of five paragraphs, however, Church blew open the notion that his work as a journalist had become hardened. It was as if he took up pen and paper and found again his lost heart of optimism.

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” Church wrote. “He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.”

It is perhaps naive of this newspaper to introduce such frolicking words of hope to a county that has every right to abandon it. In the span of the last 12 months, Chester County has witnessed the devastating effects of Hurricane Ida, the reminders of which have left homeowners in Oxford and beyond left to rebuild not only their houses but their lives.

Chester County has invested all of its medical might to hold back the continued onslaught of a worldwide pandemic that is now in its second strain of the virus with no signs of abating.

Just weeks after the future of two of its hospitals was apparently saved by an investor, thousands of county residents who had come to rely on the hospitals at Jennersville and Brandywine for their family’s care are now left to see both close soon.

In the face of a worldwide pandemic, small businesses throughout our municipalities have suffered innumerable financial losses.

Yet, within the course of a year that has seen the darkest of despair, we have been fortunate as a newspaper to illuminate hope manifested in the form of action, community and love.

We have walked the neighborhoods of Oxford, reporting on how an entire community came together to help those whose homes were severely damaged by a hurricane.

We have documented the continued and dedicated work of our medical professionals, whose care in the face of COVID-19 has been the strength that moves mountains.

We have written about the efforts of Chester County government – as well as private enterprises and private citizens -- to provide funding for small businesses.

We have shared the story of how a group of prominent stakeholders are working together to create additional broadband access throughout the county, specifically in those neighborhoods that have been traditionally underserved.

We have followed the courageous work of a Kennett Square-based community service center that has simply refused to let families go hungry or homeless by providing them with access to food, shelter and hope.

“You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart,” Church wrote.

“Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond.

“Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.”

Happy holidays from the Chester County Press.

Opinion Pennsylvania State Grange applauds legislative broadband action The Pennsylvania State Grange issued the following statement after a vote by the General Assembly to pass House Bill 2071 sponsored by Rep. Martin Causer (R-McKean/Potter/ Cameron) to establish the PA Broadband Development Authority: “With the promise of new Federal dollars for Broadband from the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, as passed by Congress, and funds from the USDA and the FCC,

Pennsylvania needs to use these resources efficiently and equitably to areas without Broadband now.”

Pennsylvania State Grange Wayne Campbell said, “The action by the General Assembly indicates legislators recognize this urgency too, as well as the importance of control and oversite being in one location.”

This bill establishes a funded, central authority to co-ordinate actions for gaining access to high-

speed Broadband for rural Pennsylvanians. It consolidates efforts to one coordinating entity. This Broadband Authority was a key recommendation of the Joint State Government Commission in their landmark 2019 study of Broadband policy options.

Pennsylvania State Grange was chosen as the only rural membership organization to help define those options.

The Grange has been stating for several years that Broadband access is to this

century what rural electrification was to the 1900s.

The need to act quickly is critical to the needs of many Pennsylvanians.

The Pennsylvania State Grange testified before the House Consumer Affairs Committee on Nov. 10 to urge quick action.

The Pennsylvania State Grange was founded in 1873 as an advocacy organization to promote the interests of farmers, families, and rural communities in the Commonwealth.

Chester County seeks volunteers for authorities, boards, and commissions Serving empowers citizens to help shape public policy Several of Chester County’s 26 authorities, boards and commissions are looking for more residents to volunteer to fill current vacancies and serve.

“We are very fortunate in Chester County to have engaged citizens who care about the vitality and future of their community, and their neighbors,” said the Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline in a statement. “Serving on one of our authorities, boards or commissions offers a unique opportunity to collaborate and help shape public policy in a wide range of issues, from agriculture and land preservation to child welfare, parks and recreation, pipeline safety and numerous other areas.

Community involvement ensures decisions reflect the widest range of voices and expertise.”

Some roles call for specialized skills while the main qualification for others is interest in a particular area. For example, the Chester County Airport Authority is led by two men with aviation backgrounds but the remainder of the seven positions are filled by individuals in other career fields.

“We have a huge cross section of expertise on our Authority,” said chairman Rich Saylor. “We have an architect, two members in land development and another in finance. But volunteering for any board is more about service and trying to give back as much as you can.”

Courtesy photos Victory Brewing Company Founder and Brewmaster Bill Covaleski serves Lenda Carillo of Kennett Square volunon Chester County’s Agricultural Land teers because she wants to give back to her community.

Preservation Board.

Lenda Carillo, who immigrated to Kennett Square from Mexico, serves on the Children Youth and Families Board because, she said, she has a special interest in child welfare and appreciates all that the Chester County community has given to her.

“When I first came to the U.S. in 1996, there were many agencies that helped me with different resources,” she said. “So, I made a promise to myself that one day I was going to give back to my community. It also sets a good example for my children, and it’s a great feeling.”

Bill Covaleski, the founder and brewmaster at Victory Brewing Company, has more than a full-time job running his business, but he also makes time to serve on Chester County’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board, which reviews bond applications from farmers that want to permanently preserve their space as farmland.

“I volunteer because the stewardship of natural resources is very important

&KHVWHU &RXQW\ 3UHVV 3XEOLVKHU 5DQGDOO 6 /LHEHUPDQ

6WHYH +RIIPDQ 0DQDJLQJ (GLWRU 5LFKDUG / *DZ $VVRFLDWH (GLWRU %UHQGD %XWW 2IILFH 0DQDJHU 7ULFLD +RDGOH\ $UW 'LUHFWRU $ODQ ( 7XUQV $GYHUWLVLQJ 'LUHFWRU 7HUL 7XUQV $GYHUWLVLQJ ([HFXWLYH +HOHQ ( :DUUHQ $GYHUWLVLQJ ([HFXWLYH $P\ /LHEHUPDQ 0DUNHWLQJ 3XEOLF 5HODWLRQV

12 5()81'6 $)7(5 5(&(,37 2) 68%6&5,37,21 3$<0(17 2daaT]c P]S _aTeX^db fTTZ b XbbdTb PaT TPRW >[STa XbbdTb PaT $ TPRW ?TaX^SXRP[b _^bcPVT _PXS Pc >gU^aS ?0 ("%" ?>BC<0BC4A) BT]S PSSaTbb RWP]VTb c^ 2WTbcTa 2^d]ch ?aTbb ? > 1^g $ :T[c^] ?0 ("#%

to me, both personally and professionally,” Covaleski said. “By dedicating some time to this program, I can help make the County healthier and wealthier for all citizens because the natural resources we preserve benefit everyone in our community.”

Dr. Veda Maany, the medical director for Student Health Services at West Chester University, stays busy in her work, including teaching duties, but also carves out time to serve on a Board Advisory Committee that helps people with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities.

“Sometimes, we might feel frustrated or disappointed about how certain issues are unfolding and we might feel powerless to change because they’re so big,” Maany said. “But oftentimes if you volunteer on your local boards and you can see the small changes that are made to ordinances or programs, you realize how much power you really do have.”

Retirees can also find fulfillment serving on authorities, boards, and commissions.

JoAnn Weinberger spent a career working in adult literacy in Philadelphia while living in Chester County. When she decided she wanted to give back to her home county, she saw serving on the Chester County Library Board as a perfect fit.

“Given my background with reading and learning, and the fact that I love and use the library regularly, when I heard about an opening I jumped at the opportunity,” Weinberger said. “I think you need to have a real interest and passion for what the authority or board does, and then

you need to have some time to devote to it.”

Fellow retiree Kathleen Pearse also volunteers on the Library Boards as well as the Health and Education Facilities Authority Board, which arranges financing for building improvement projects for nonprofits.

“It’s always good to get a new point of view on the board,” she said. “If you’ve got the energy and are willing to make the effort, volunteerism supports so many things in our county.

They contend our county is the healthiest, wealthiest, and most educated county in the state, and a good part of the reason is the people that live in it. So why not put your interests to work for the good of the County?”

Chester County currently has vacancies on the Aging Advisory Council; Children, Youth and Families Advisory Committee; Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board; Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board; Parks and Recreation Board; Pipeline Safety Advisory Board; Planning Commission; SEPTA Citizens Advisory Committee; and Veterans Affairs Advisory Council.

To learn more about what each of Chester County’s Authorities, Boards and Commissions does, please visit the County’s website: https:// w w w. c h e s c o . o rg / 3 0 9 3 / Authorities-Boards-andCommissions.

To register an interest in serving on a specific authority, board or commission, email your resume with a covering message on qualifications and interest in serving, to Taylor Pettit at tpettit@chesco.org.

6A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

HIRING ALL POSITIONS WITH INCENTIVES HEALTH CARE IS 50% PAID FOR BY EMPLOYER

School Bus Drivers Van Drivers | Aides

FAMILY-OWNED

610-869-2881 DUVALLBUSSERVICE.COM

Chester County Press

In the Spotlight

Section

B

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

LI V IN G H IS TORY

by Gene Pisasale

Newlin Township: A river runs through an historic region The Brandywine Creek has seen numerous generations of Indians, settlers, businessmen and explorers roaming its banks.

Along its west branch sits Newlin Township, named for Nicholas Newlin (16301699), who received a deed for land from William Penn. The Township’s expanse includes parts of historic districts, structures on the National Register of Historic Places and a nature preserve. If you drive northward from Kennett Square on Route 162, you’ll be passing through the township, which helped demarcate a boundary between two early North American colonies.

The township’s website mentions the Lenni-Lenape Indians, who inhabited the area for centuries before European settlers arrived.

One of their best known –a woman called Indian Hannah– lived in the region; she is buried on the grounds of what was once called the Embreeville Poorhouse, situated on property of the former Embreeville Hospital. Local artist Adrian Martinez did a magnificent re-creation of Indian Hannah in one of his paintings. Another woman who grew up in the vicinity, Helen Murray Sipala, lived in the house which is now the Newlin Township building. The Murray family’s story is highlighted in Helen’s booklet “Chester County, Newlin Township, Embreeville, Pennsylvania: A small spot in Chester County… A large part of our lives” which describes their time here from the mid-1930s into the 1950s, with photographs and narratives of the hospital, the nearby Potter’s Field and other sites.

Mills were a critical part of colonial-era America, grinding corn and other grains, providing food for thousands and even creating the paper upon which the Declaration of Independence was printed. One of them – the Embreeville Mill– is a prominent feature of the landscape in Newlin Township, its mill race

William Baldwin, botanist.

“Indian Hannah” painting by artist Adrian Martinez.

flowing toward the picturesque Embreeville Bridge, a 220-foot concrete structure built in 1923 by the Dunleavy Brothers of Coatesville. A plaque on the inside of the bridge tells its story; the one for the Mill is just as interesting.

Embreeville Mill was built in the mid-18th century; the township website mentions a 1756 deed listing a corn gristmill and sawmill in the village. Both structures are captured beautifully in a painting by artist Jacalyn Beam. Many of the buildings in the Historic District date to the period between 1822- 1842. The Mill operates today as a retail outlet; the company website notes it as a distributor of “animal feed, hay, bedding and supplies.”

The September 2021 floods along the Brandywine and other creeks damaged many structures. The Mill was out of operation for a while, but it is now open.

The township includes another interesting placethe Northbrook Historic District, spread across parts of Newlin, Pocopson and West Bradford townships.

There are approximately 14 buildings in the district, most of which date to the 18th and 19th century, added to the National

Potter’s Field sign denoting unmarked graves for patients from the Embreeville Hospital.

Indian Hannah historical marker in Newlin Township.

Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Newlin Township was the setting for two explorers- Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon – who came here in 1764 to resolve the long-standing border dispute between the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland. This dispute actually led to armed conflict—dubbed “Cresap’s War”—which raged from 1730-1738 as descendants of the Penn and Calvert families attempted to stake their claims for land in the region. Mason and Dixon were hired to survey the area to produce a line both groups could agree on. A stone marks their observation point. They stayed at the Harlan House (circa 1724), believed to be the first house constructed in the township. The journal of the two men (which includes a slight misspelling) mentions their stay: “Fixed on the House of Mr. John Harland’s (about 31 miles West of Philadelphia) to bring

our Instruments to…”

Other historic structures are nearby, including the Hayes Mill House (circa 1780).

This area has a few famous personalities, including the noted botanist William Baldwin (17791819), whose work on the plant genus Cyperaceae influenced many other botanists of his day. Baldwin’s plant collections were later included in those of the Darlington Herbarium of West Chester University, Kew Gardens in London and the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Josiah Harlan (1799-1871) was an adventurer and world traveler who visited the little explored country of Afghanistan. His exploits are believed to be described in “The Man Who Would Be King” by Rudyard Kipling. Old timers will recognize the name of another King- King Ranch. The King Ranch in Texas is one of the largest cattle ranches in the United States. It has a place

The Stargazer’s Stone where Mason and Dixon conducted their surveys.

Helen Murray Sipala’s home, now the Newlin Township building.

“Embreeville Mill” by artist Jacalyn Beam.

“Embreeville Bridge” by artist Jacalyn Beam.

in Chester County history as the owners purchased land in Newlin Township decades ago for cattle grazing. The Natural Lands Trust acquired some of this land and turned it into the ChesLen Preserve, which offers miles of hiking and nature trails just off Route 162.

Newlin Township has a number of interesting places to see, historic sites to explore which will allow you a better understanding of the rich heritage of the region. For more information, please visit www.

newlintwphistory.org.

Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. He has written ten books, which focus mostly on American history. His latest book is “Forgotten Founding Fathers: Pennsylvania and Delaware in the American Revolution.” Gene’s books are available through his website at www.

GenePisasale.com and also on www.Amazon.com. He can be reached via e-mail at Gene@GenePisasale. com.

2B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

Chester County Press

Obituaries F. NORRIL SMITH F. Norril Smith passed away on Dec. 10 while at home in Nottingham. He was 89.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Marie Gaddis Smith.

Born in Marion, W.Va., he was the son of the late Robert and Arietta Kegley Smith.

Norril was employed with Mack Resse Mushroom Farm and was formerly employed with his father on his mushroom farm. He was also employed as a farmer.

He enjoyed fishing, airplanes, and his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife; one brother, Earl Smith (Carol) of Nottingham; and two sisters, Shirley Hall of

Oxford and Trudy Titus of Virginia.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Walter, Jimmy and Bobby; and three sisters, Libby, Marion and Louise.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 27 at the Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church, 303 W. Christine Road in Nottingham, where friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Friends and family may also visit on Sunday, Dec. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, 86 Pine St. in Oxford.

Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery.

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

Obituary submissions The Chester County Press publishes obituaries free of charge for funeral homes with active advertising accounts only. Others

with a connection to southern Chester County are charged a modest fee. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received with a

Monday 5pm deadline. They are also posted on www. chestercounty.com. Photos should be sent as .jpeg attachments to the obituary text.

To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press or for a rate quote, email the information to editor@ chestercounty.com.

FRANCIS J. “FRANK” NOVACK, III Francis J. “Frank” Novack, III, 61, formerly of Oxford, went home to his Heavenly Father on Dec. 13 at Green Meadows Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Lancaster, he was the son of Francis, Jr., and Peggy M. (Mann) Novack.

Frank was a 1979 graduate of Penn Manor High School. He went on to work as a car salesman for several car dealerships in Lancaster. He enjoyed NASCAR, Philadelphia Eagles football, building models, and keeping up with family and friends on Facebook.

Frank is survived by his sister, Joan Novack, wife of Nelson Saunders of Oxford; a niece, Janeane Novack; a nephew, Jason Novack and numerous extended family members.

A memorial service will take place at Dewald Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc. 227 West 4th Street, Quarryville, Pa. on Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 6:30 p.m.

The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

Private interment will be at the discretion of the family. Online guestbook at www.dewalds.com.

Alleluia When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17 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.

Our Family Serving Your Family

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

Compliments of

Lions Club of Oxford 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

Landenberg Church United Methodist All Are Welcome 205 Penn Green Rd. In Historic Downtown Landenberg Landenberg, PA 19350

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

Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories.

Matthew J. Grieco, Supervisor, Funeral Director / Certified Celebrant

We own and operate our own crematory Cremation, Burial, Pre-Planning

Specializing in Personalized Life Celebration Events at Venues of all kinds 1-800-FUNERAL & 1-800-CREMATE

ABOUT OUR STAFF Our funeral professionals offer a combination of ingenuity and have over 100 years of combined experience. As we guide you through the decision making process, we will explain options while ensuring your family's needs are being met. We feel our service to the families of Southern Chester County is more than a business. It’s a tradition of comfort and trust.

KUZO FUNERAL HOME, INC.

FOULK FUNERAL HOME

Keely W. Griffin, Supervisor

Curtis S. Greer, Supervisor

610.444.4116

610.869.2685

KENNETT SQUARE, PA

OF

www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com

WEST GROVE, INC.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

3B

Chester County Press

Obituaries

Additional Obituaries on Page 5B

THOMAS JOHN PURIFOY Thomas John Purifoy was called Home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Nov. 26 after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his loving family at home as he entered eternal life peacefully. He had recently moved from Texas to West Grove to live with his children and grandchildren. He was 81 and lived a full and accomplished life, sustained by his steadfast faith and trust in Christ.

Tom was born to Edmond and Evelyn Purifoy in Tucson, Ariz. His parents, his sister Eva Purifoy Murawski, his brother-in-law Joseph Murawski, and his beloved parentsin-law Rodolfo and Josefina Garcia predeceased him.

He is greatly loved and missed by Myrna, his devoted wife of 51 years; a son, Jonathan and his wife, Christie; a son, Eric and his wife Lori; and his precious grandchildren Lillian, Thaddeus, Beau, and Elsa. He will be remembered by numerous extended family members and friends.

A standout athlete in high school, Tom lettered in football, basketball, and track and field. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and proudly served our country. He and his crew maintained the

engines of B-52 bombers during the Vietnam War. He was honored as the top instructor of aircraft maintenance.

In 1970, he earned his bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the University of Texas, met his dream girl, Myrna, and they were married that year in Austin. They both became teachers for Austin ISD. The following year, they moved to Corpus Christi to be near her parents where they taught for Corpus Christi ISD. He was a math teacher at King High School when he earned his master’s degree in school administration and was selected as the director of staff development for the district. Then he entered the doctoral program at the University of Texas and earned his Ph.D in school administration, while Myrna was a stay-athome mom to their two sons. He became principal at King High school and Flour Bluff High School. In 1987, the family moved to Bryan when Tom was chosen to be assistant superintendent for administration of Bryan ISD. After working 30 years for public schools, Tom retired and was immediately hired as a professor at Schreiner University in Kerrville. He was instrumental in designing and developing the master’s in education and the principal certification program, which granted university status to Schreiner College at that time. After 20 years of teaching there, he retired as a tenured, full professor. He was 75, having been an educator for 50 years. His former students who

became principals would still seek his guidance.

A man of many gifts, he was a brilliant problem solver and an extraordinary craftsman, always ready to help family, friends and neighbors. He excelled in mechanics, carpentry, electrical wiring, plumbing, masonry, design, and construction.

Fascinated by the wonders of nature and the beauty of mountains, lakes, rivers and beaches, Tom enjoyed taking the family on numerous camping trips in their trailer, including visiting the country’s extraordinary national parks. He and Myrna visited all 48 contiguous states and traveled extensively in Mexico and Canada.

Tom was a dedicated dad to Jonathan and Eric from the time they were born until his last days. His unwavering love for them and support let them know that they could always count on him. They both reflect his outgoing nature and willingness to help everyone with a servant’s heart.

Tom had a twinkle in his blue eyes and easily made those around him laugh. He will be missed greatly.

Honoring Tom’s wishes, there will be no services held.

Arrangements are being held by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove.

Please visit Tom’s online memorial by going to www. kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

PAMELA SANFORD HERGLOTZ Pamela Sanford Herglotz died peacefully at her home in Marietta, Ga on Dec. 3. She spent her last days with her daughter Kristin, sonin-law Keven, granddaughter Emily and supportive caregivers and loved ones.

Born in Wilmington, Del. on December 26, 1944, to parents Agnes and James Sanford, Pam was a devoted mother, wife and friend who carried throughout her life a passion for family, faith, the arts, and community.

Pam grew up and spent her early years in the tri-state region, attending the University of Delaware in pursuit of an arts degree, then starting a family, having two children, Sean and Kristin. Pam later moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1979, marrying Harald Herglotz, and expanding her family to include his four children, Harold, Hampton, Kevin and Heath, whom she helped raise and nurture.

Pam and Harald’s love for each other was connected through their mutual passion for family, art, nature and cooking. Pam focused her art mainly on watercolor and

oil portraits, while Harald specialized in crystal engraving.

They would often cook together and loved to share in making traditional German dishes for family and friends. They enjoyed day trips where they could enjoy the outdoors and go antiquing together. Family reunions, particularly around Thanksgiving and Christmas, were always special to Pam, and her joyous laugh always brought smiles and hugs from the children and grandchildren.

Anchored by her faith, Pam always looked forward to the fellowship with her church friends and Bible study groups. She was very nurturing, a good listener, and a mentor to many, especially with her children. Her love language was acts of kindness and service, always doing for her family and friends and being supportive. She loved special projects – sewing, collecting antique treasures, artistically refinishing furniture, homemaking, and painting murals for local schools and churches. Her artwork was a constant passion that provided peace and happiness.

Pam was blessed with a very large and loving family that brought her so much joy, happiness and pride.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Harald Joseph.

She is survived by her blended family of six children:

Sean Kenney, of Yorktown, Va., and his wife Holly; Kristin Kenney-Izen of Atlanta, Ga., and her husband Keven; Kevin of Los Angeles, Calif., and his husband James Maxwell; Heath of Tuscaloosa and his wife Jackie; Harold of Tuscaloosa and his wife Trisha; and Hampton of Anchorage, Alaska, and his wife Arianne. Pam’s spirit lives on in her nine grandchildren, Allison and Ryan Kenney; Emily Izen; Patrick and Justin Herglotz; Reilly Maxwell; Hailey and Peyton Herglotz; Ryan, Josiah and Kayla Herglotz; and, a great-grandchild, London Herglotz.

A funeral service celebrating Pam’s life was held at New London Presbyterian Church on Dec. 19.

Pam was a lover of animals, particularly cats. Her beloved Willow was with her for the past 11 years.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made online to the Humane Society of Birmingham https:// gbhs.org/donate, via mail to the Humane Society of Tuscaloosa https://www.humanesocietyofwa.org/contact, or to a local animal shelter in Pam’s name.

Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. (484-734-8100).

Condolences may be shared at www.griecofunerals. com.

4B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

Chester County Press

Local News History in the making: 22nd annual Little Lincoln Gettysburg Address Contest The Chester County Community Foundation hosted the 22nd Annual Gettysburg Address Contest on Dec. 4. Seven “Little Lincolns” dressed up as President Abraham Lincoln and recited the Gettysburg Address from the steps of the Historic Chester County Courthouse as a crowd of family members, friends, teachers, and community members cheered the middle schoolers on.

The event was organized

by Joe Martino on behalf of the West Chester Historical & Architectural Review Board (HARB). He and event founder Bob Gross applauded the participants for their hard work, say-

ing, “Each student did a great job delivering their speeches.”

Samantha Carroll from Fugett Middle School, Matthew Hogan from Saints Peter and Paul School, and Victoria Murray from Fugett Middle School placed first, second, and third, respectively. Hogan also won for Best Costume. John Kelley from Saint Agnes School and Jack Armbruster, Naina Bhatia, and Nairi Pannosian from Fugett Middle School also participated in the contest.

Each finalist received a large Lincoln coin engraved with the Gettysburg Address, as this event celebrates the 157th anni-

versary of President Lincoln’s famous speech.

Each participant was also awarded a cash prize and a copy of Malcolm Johnstone’s book “For the Union,” which features the extraordinary story of how Quaker abolition, a hanging, a slave riot, and a small newspaper in West Chester set the stage to launch Lincoln’s quest for the presidency. State Senator Carolyn Comitta and State Representative Dianne Herrin were in attendance and presented the contestants with certificates.

Those sponsoring the event included Delphi Wealth Management Group, Zukin Realty, Team

Courtesy photos

First-place winner Samantha Carroll.

Jean Gross Homes, State Sen. Carolyn Comitta, and WhirlAway Travel, and to the judges Dr. John Noakes, Marie Martino, and Malcolm Johnstone. Also, a big thank you to all the students, teachers, parents, and

State Senator Carolyn Comitta, Malcolm Johnstone, Little Lincoln participants, State Representative Dianne Herrin, and Bob Gross at the 22nd Annual Gettysburg Address Contest.

schools for supporting the Little Lincolns. This event encourages young people to become more involved

in the community and gain a deeper appreciation for the ways local history has shaped the nation.

Winterizing Your Skin

By Lisa A. Carroll, MD, FAAD Protecting your skin from the elements during the winter months Is just as important as it is in the summer months. The cold and crisp winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin.

This weather often causes the skin to become dry, itchy and irritated. The winter can present an even greater challenge for those with common skin conditions like rosace, eczema and psoriasis. The cold weather can lead to winter flare-ups and worsening skin conditions.

There are many simple ways to combat the causes of dry winter skin and flare ups to help keep your skin feeling moist and supple

all season long. These tips include simple changes to your everyday skin care routine.

Maximize the moisture in your environment Your indoor space starts to lose humidity if the heat is always on. Using a humidifier in your home or office can help to add moisture to the dry winter air. This moisture will help to keep your skin hydrated. Running a humidifier in the rooms that you spend the most time in, including your bedroom should help prevent dry, itchy skin.

Add a winter-friendly moisturizer to your daily routine While you are adding moisture to the air with your humidifier, add a win-

ter friendly moisturizer to your skin. Moisturizers are great against the dehydrating effects of winter. When selecting a moisturizer, select a cream or ointment for the winter time. Creams are thicker in consistency than lotions and provide a barrier that keeps the skin ultra-hydrated. Be sure to add a facial moisturizer to your routine as well, preferably a serum with glycerin or hyaluronic acid which have humectant properties that help retain moisture.

Remember to moisturize daily, especially if you intend to be outside in the winter weather frequently.

Avoid hot showers and baths A nice long soak in a hot bubbly bath or long shower

sounds nice after a long day, right? It sure does; however, it can cause damage to the skin. The heat from the high temperature water tends to dehydrate the skin even further as it breaks down lipid barriers in the skin, which is worse for the skin during the winter months. Try bathing or showering with warm water instead and decreasing the amount of time you spend in the water. A 5-10 lukewarm shower or bath is suggested. Additionally, adding oatmeal or bath oils to your bath can help to add moisture to the skin while you soak.

Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Even on cold winter days, sunscreen is still important.

When the winter days are

bright and the snow is on the ground, the snow reflects the sun’s rays. This sun reflection can increase your risk of exposure. Even when there is no snow on the ground, the sun’s rays can permeate through the clouds and cause damage. Be prepared!

Before you go outside, apply sunscreen with a moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher to all areas of the body (face, neck, chest, and hands) that may be exposed.

Protect your skin with clothing The cold winter weather can cause many people to experience dry skin. The hands are a common to experience dryness. Wearing gloves in cold temperatures can help prevent the skin from drying out.

Keep in mind, while these tips are a good starting point for winter skincare, everyone’s skincare needs are different. When these simple at-home steps do not work, it may be time to see your local dermatologist for some further treatment options.

Dermatology Partners has 22 locations located throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Our dermatologists are experts in treating a full spectrum of diseases of the skin, hair, and nails and specialize in the detection and treatment of skin cancers.

To schedule an appointment including your annual skin cancer screening, contact (888) 895-3376. Visit our website www.dermpartners. com to find the location closest to you.

meeting on Monday, January 3, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.The meeting will be held in the London Grove Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA 19390. The public is invited to attend.

12p-22-1t

Finnen Community Room, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA. The regular January Planning Commission meeting will be held immediately following the reorganizational meeting. Caitlin A. Ianni, Township Secretary 12p-22-1t

Legals ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF Phyllis Lillard, also known as Phyllis K. Lillard, late of Lower Oxford Township, Chester County, Deceased.

Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Phyllis Lillard 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: James Earle Lillard, Executor, c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, 208 E. Locust Street, P.O. Box 381 Oxford, PA 19363 Phone: 610-932-383 12p-8-3t

NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS ACTION

The Family Court of the State of Delaware, New Castle County TO: Adela Zavaleta, Respondent, Alfredo Ayon , Respondent FROM: Clerk of Family Court The Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, Petitioner, has brought a civil action (Petition # 21-23292) against you to terminate your parental rights of your child(ren): Minor Female, DOB: 11/20/14, Minor Male, DOB: 04/08/16,

Minor Female, DOB: 02/22/17, Minor Male, DOB: 09/18/19 A hearing has been scheduled at the Family Court, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, Delaware, on January 11, 2021, at 11:00 am. If you do not participate in the hearing, the Court may terminate your parental rights without your participation. DESPITE THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY, FAMILY COURT WILL HOLD THIS HEARING. Please call 302-255-0077 or email FC_COVID19@delaware.gov for help in participating by phone.

IF YOU WISH TO BE REPRESENTED

BY AN ATTORNEY IN THIS MATTER BUT CANNOT AFFORD ONE, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE COURT APPOINT AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT YOU FOR FREE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY, PLEASE CONTACT THE CLERK AT FAMILY COURT, (302) 255-0300 12p-8-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Dorothy A. Kuntz, Late of Phoenixville, Chester County, PA, LETTERS Testamentary on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to

the decedent to make payment without delay to Debra Kaczmar, 4289 Chestnut Drive, Walnutport, PA 18088, Executor.

12p-8-3t

19026, Or to her Attorney: ANITA M. D’AMICO, D’AMICO LAW, 65 S. Third St., Oxford, PA 19363 12p-15-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

PUBLIC AUCTION NOTICE:

Estate of Helena Madeline Mack, Late of Oxford, East Nottingham Township and Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Veronica Lynn Pidge, 214 Wilson Mill Road, Oxford, Pennsylvania, 19363, Executor.

12p-15-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF MARY ELIZABETH BOWES a/k/a MARY ELIZABETH COLGAN, DECEASED. Late of Lower Oxford Township, Chester County, PA LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to MARY ELIZABETH COLGAN a/k/a MARY BETH COLGAN, EXECUTRIX, 3431 Verner St., Drexel Hill, PA

DEStorage.com Newgarden, located at 710 Newark Rd Landenberg, PA 19350, Will be holding a Public ONLINE Auction at www.ibid4storage.com Closing on January 11th, at 10 AM. The following units will be sold because of nonpayment of rent pursuant to the Pennsylvania Self Service Storage Facilities Act. Auction bidding and additional information about the contents, including photographs, is available on www.ibid4storage.com. Sale and payment will take place at the storage facility. Containing: Furniture, household items, totes, clothing, and boxes Jessica Thompson Unit #1044 Kenneth Church Unit #3300 DEStorage.com Newgarden reserves the right to withdraw any storage unit from sale or cancel the sale without prior notice.

12p-15-2t

NOTICE:

Notice: Notice is hereby given that the London Grove Township Municipal Authority Board will hold their Reorganization Meeting as well as regular monthly

PUBLIC NOTICE

It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors of Penn Township, Chester County, PA, to continue the appointment of Ronald R. Woodworth, Certified Public Accountant to audit the books per Resolution 2000-01 for the year of 2021. BY THE ORDER of the Penn Township Board of Supervisors 260 Lewis Road West Grove, PA. Caitlin A. Ianni, Secretary 12p-22-1t

PUBLIC NOTICE

The reorganization meeting of the Penn Township Supervisors will be held on Monday, January 3, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at the Penn Township Municipal Building, Finnen Community Room, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA. The regular Board of Supervisors meeting will be held immediately following the reorganizational meeting. The agenda for this meeting will close on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021 at 12 p.m.

The reorganization meeting of the Penn Township Planning Commission will be held on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the Penn Township Building,

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Anita C. Merson, Late of Kennett Township, PA, LETTERS Testamentary on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Anita Reilly, 148 W. State Street, Suite 102, Kennett Square, PA 19348, Executrix, Or Attorney: David B. Myers, Esquire, 148 W. State Street, Suite 102, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

12p-22-3t

INCORPORATION NOTICE

R20I INTERNATIONAL, INC. has been incorporated under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988. Berkowitz Klein, LLP, 629B Swedesford Road, Swedesford Corp. Ctr., Malvern, PA 19355 12p-22-1t

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

Trailer Repair Welding

Truck Acces.

Spray Liners

BASHER & SON 610-268-0007 • basherandson.com

Over 40 Years Experience UHAUL

Hitches

See these local businesses and many more on our website Click Directory

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

5B

Chester County Press

Local News Chester County Commissioners sign on to national opioid settlement County will receive $15.5 million to treat and prevent opioid dependency Millions of dollars will soon be coming to Chester County for the prevention and treatment of opioid use disorder. This follows a vote by the Chester County Commissioners to approve the County’s participation in a national opioid lawsuit settlement between Pennsylvania communities, Johnson & Johnson and three pharmaceutical distributors.

The County will receive $15.5 million from the settlement. Permitted uses for the funds range from purchasing Naloxone and other FDA-approved drugs that reverse opioid overdoses, to medication-assisted treatment and prevention programs aimed at stopping opioid abuse before it starts.

“Frankly, for all the lives these companies have destroyed by aggressively marketing drugs they knew were addictive and deadly, the price they are paying is not nearly as high as it should be, but we agree with Attorney General Shapiro that it makes the most sense to accept this settlement so we can start putting these funds to work to further battle this scourge,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz. “I am especially interested in

increasing the County’s support of prevention efforts.”

Those allowable prevention expenditures are largely built around public awareness and education campaigns to ensure the public understands the harm that can come from abusing opioids. Funding can also be used for community anti-drug coalitions that engage in drug prevention as well as collaborating with non-profits and faith-based communities to develop systems to support prevention.

Other allowable uses for the settlement funds are directed at treatment such as training more first responders, schools, community support groups and families on how to administer Naloxone to reverse the effects of an overdose and to increase distribution of Naloxone to individuals who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover the needed service.

The money Chester County will receive is part of Pennsylvania’s $1 billion settlement, which is part of a national $26 billion agreement to resolve about 4,000 lawsuits against these companies. Seventy percent of the funds will go to local governments, 15 percent to a Commonwealth account and

Obituaries Obituaries continued from Page 3B

ELIZABETH (BETTY) D’ORAZIO Betty D’Orazio passed away quietly on Dec. 14. She was 92.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Angelo, and her two brothers, Emedio and Elmo Troiani.

She is survived by her three children and their families. This includes a daughter, Carolyn, and her husband Michael and children, Dan, Angeline and Steve, as well as Dan’s daughter Alyssa; a daughter, Antoinette, and her husband Bill; and a son, Tony, and his wife Connie, and his children, Matt, Kristine and Torrie, and Torrie’s children, Kaelyn and Owen.

Betty was born in Wilmington, Del. where she graduated from Wilmington High School and worked in her family’s specialty grocery store, Valentino’s Market, located on King Street. Valentino’s was well known in the community as a resource for exotic produce and imported gourmet foods, as well as meat and deli items.

At Christmastime Betty helped create the market’s signature customized fruit baskets for its many customers.

A talented artist, Betty applied her skills to woodworking, sculpture, charcoal drawing, and painting with acrylics, oils, and watercolor. She owned her own kiln, and fired pottery at home for her family who still cherish many of her pieces including pottery, paintings, and furniture. Betty loved all of her creative endeavors and more than once won a prize in Kennett Square’s Christmas decorating contest.

Betty was very active and athletic. She helped coach the swim team at the Kennett Square Golf and Country Club and taught all of her children and grandchildren

15 percent to other litigating governmental entities.

The first installment of settlement funds should reach Chester County in late 2022.

“In addition to the funding we will target toward prevention and treatment programs, I was also moved toward agreeing to this settlement by the 10-year sanctions it includes against these companies,” said Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell. “For example, there will now be oversight and safeguards in place to prevent Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen from shipping suspicious opioid orders, and the agree-

ment has effectively put Johnson & Johnson out of the opioid business. These are significant steps in battling the epidemic.”

Through the effective actions of the Chester County Overdose Prevention Task Force – which encompasses leaders in health, drug addiction and law enforcement – the County can claim one of the most comprehensive anti-opioid initiatives in the state.

Two major initiatives to emerge from the task force’s efforts are the County’s COPE program, a 24/7 warm handoff program that helps individuals who have

to swim. She also coached a local girls’ softball team.

Her upbeat, friendly personality made her a perfect fit for her job as hostess at the Three Little Bakers Dinner Theater, and many will remember her as the woman who handed out “Turtle Bread” to contest winners and danced onstage with Baker Nick Immediato. She also volunteered at Longwood Gardens as the greeter at the Pierce DuPont House.

Betty loved the Jersey Shore. She first spent time in Atlantic City with her mother, then in Wildwood, and finally migrating to Cape May where she spent over 30 summers vacationing with her extended family. There was nothing she loved more than a day at the beach with her grandchildren, sitting on the sand, swimming in the ocean, walking the boardwalk and visiting the stores and arcades with them. Betty’s family was always her first priority, and she worked hard to establish traditions that will live on for generations. She was a great teacher, and passed on her skills of cooking, sewing, all kinds of art, and even filmmaking to her family. She loved gardening, live music, light beer on ice, and dancing. She will be missed by her family and a great number of friends.

Services were held on Dec. 21 at the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.

Contributions may be made in Mrs. D’Orazio’s name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 16th floor, New York, N.Y. 10001 or by visiting https://alzfdn.org.

Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.

Please visit the online memorial by going to www. kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

suffered an overdose transition from the emergency room to treatment; and the Chester County Color 5K, an annual event which has helped to raise awareness of the crisis and more than $185,000 over six years to help fund the COPE program. The event also serves to reduce the stigma of being associated with substance use disorder.

“Our actions have shown this is an issue about which we care deeply,” said Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline. “Over the past several years we have devoted a tremendous level of heart, soul,

and resources into helping address the opioid crisis for our citizens. In fact, as early as 2015 we focused on this crisis, increasing our efforts to fight the epidemic, and taking our own legal action against drug manufacturers in 2019.

“Our acceptance today of the terms of the settlement will reinforce those efforts.

We realize that many people have become addicted, and many have died, simply because opioids were prescribed for them.”

As of the end of November, Chester County has recorded 74 accidental fatal drug overdoses.

Fourteen Chester County teens complete STEM internships Fourteen Kennett and Oxford high school students completed an eight-week, paid STEM internship during the summer of 2021.

The Teens Turning Green (TTG) internship program, hosted by The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County, is open to high school students who

have a passion for the environment and love being outdoors.

“I like nature and saw TTG as an opportunity to be outside all summer while also helping the environment and making some money,” said Lily Steffensen, a Kennett High School student. “One of my favorite

parts of the program was working in a small group of like-minded people whom I became friends with and also learning about the natural world around me.”

She added, “I learned so much about the environment, especially about native and invasive plant species in the area. I always

Robotics Club receives donation

Courtesy photo

The Avon Grove Lions presented a check to the Robotics Club at the Avon Grove Middle School. The Lions have been a longtime supporter of this club, which teaches the children to work as a team. Pictured are Eric Robison, Avon Grove Lion President Dave Graham, and John Murray.

felt that we were doing important work, whether it was planting native plants, maintaining trails for other people to enjoy nature or anything in between.”

Steffensen said she applied after seeing a flyer about it from her school counselor and plans to work again in summer 2022.

The Land Conservancy accepts motivated students with career interests in science, technology, engineering, or math. Preference is given to females and students whose parents do not have college degrees since an important goal of the program is to steer students from underrepresented groups toward professional STEM careers.

Rebecca Sharadin, an Oxford Area High School student, said she joined TTG to get paid for experiencing something new and related to the outdoors. She has been rethinking her career path after listening to the career presentations provided by STEM professionals.

“I didn’t join because I ever expected to glean something applicable to myself from the STEM-related aspects of the internship, but I’ve gone back into my high school experience preparing to pursue a career path the STEM meetings presented,” she said.

Interns work up to 20 hours a week over eight weeks of the summer and additional weeks during various school

Courtesy photos

Kennett interns clear trails as part of their work.

The interns in Oxford are pictured working on a new bridge at a new preserve in Elk Township.

breaks throughout the year.

Successful interns are invited to return for the following summers throughout high school.

“This internship trains and engages the next generation of environmental leaders,” said Abbie Kessler, executive director of The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County. “We are grateful for the financial support from the ERM Foundation, which saw the vision for this program and helped us get it off the ground and keep it running.

A grant from the NBC10, Telemundo62, and Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation enabled us to hire more interns and add a new location to increase access to the TTG program.

“Teens Turning Green equips students with knowledge and skills that they can carry to college and their careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.”

Work is predominantly supervised by the TLC land management staff, with additional time spent supporting outdoor environmental education programs as needed. Tasks are varied daily and includes invasive species identification and management, trail maintenance and installation, habitat assessment and data collection, and many other tasks to help teach natural resource management methods.

All interested candidates are asked to volunteer for a three-day trial period over spring break and then apply by providing recommendations and a complete application.

Applications for summer 2022 will open in February and will be posted at www. tlcforscc.org/employment.

For more information, email Barbara MacDonald at getinvolved@tlcforscc. org.

6B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

Kohler Crushed Stone Showers By Home Smart

Project time:

2 weeks

2 DAYS.

Why settle for shower walls that look like plastic?

Home Smart Industries is the areas only Authorized Dealer of Kohler’s LuxStone shower wall system made of 70% real crushed marble and professionally installed at prices comparable to acrylic showers. When you have our Kohler LuxStone Design Consultants to your home for a Design Consultation, you will be given an exact, to the penny price including all labor, materials, removal, haul away, installation and permits. No surprise costs AND we honor that price for 1 year GUARANTEED. All of the design and product selection is done in your home, saving you time and ensuring the choices work perfectly with your space. We offer senior & military discounts as well as other discounts plus financing so a shower remodel is affordable on any budget. Don’t cover your problem up with a tub or shower liner. Design your bathtub or shower replacement with our trained and certified Specialists at a price you can afford.

“Great experience with Home Smart. I collected a couple quotes for a bathtub/surround replacement. Home Smart offered the most aesthetically pleasing option at a competitive price. They also beat the installation lead time estimate by ~4 weeks. Ken and Tony came and efficiently completed the install. My house is old and there were challenges to work with, but they worked through them and in the end, product looks really great. Thanks!”

Read more reviews from our satisfied customers!

4.9 Stars, 374 reviews

INDUSTRIES Bathtubs | Showers | Kohler Walk-In Baths

Authorized Dealer

1,000 OFF

$

plus

0 APR %

Low monthly payment plans

and

FREE ESTIMATES ON BATH

& SHOWER REPLACEMENTS

Call Home Smart today to schedule your free in-home estimate.

Home Smart Industries, Family Owned & Operated

888-670-3731 >Must call this number<

Bathtubs | Walk-In Baths | Showers | Shower Doors | Fixtures | Faucets | Accessories

www.HomeSmartind.com

*Cannot be combined with any other offer. Previous sales excluded. Good at initial presentation only. $1,000 discount is only available to be used towards purchasing Luxstone walls. Additional work is extra and optional. Financing available for qualified buyers. Exp. 09/01/2021 PA:PA013302 * NJ: 13VH 04301900 MD: MD129485 * DE: 2008206060 NO PRICE QUOTES GIVEN VIA PHONE.