Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 150, No. 52
60 Cents
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Oxford Borough Paying it forward a son’s tragic death, a family adopts a $3.3 million After turns to helping the community budget for 2017 There is no tax increase included in the spending plan By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer Oxford Borough Council formally adopted a $3,358,107 general fund budget for 2017 at its meeting on Dec. 19. No tax increase will be required to balance the spending plan. Borough council also approved the Tax Levy Ordinance for 2017, which establishes the borough’s millage rate that is used to calculate the municipal tax bill. “The tax rates are the same as they are in 2016,” said council member Gary Tozzo, who serves on the borough’s Make plans to wel- Finance Committee. Tozzo come 2017, whether in explained that the millage Philadelphia or nearby rate will remain at 12.25 Kennett Square...1B mills for the next year. Overall, projected expenditures are dipping from 2016 to 2017. This is also the second time in three
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years that the borough has passed a budget without a tax increase. There are no increases in water rates. The water fund budget totaling $1,234,850 was also approved by borough council. In other business at the Dec. 19 meeting, borough council approved the advertising of revisions to the borough’s ordinance pertaining to Motor Vehicles and Traffic. The revisions include extending angled parking on Lancaster Avenue and deleting the language that restricted certain larger vehicles from parking in spots on Market Street, as well as other minor changes. After recently securing two grants for over $1 million for a proposed parking garage, the borough is continuing its efforts to obtain funding for the project, which is estimated to cost
about $5.7 million. Borough manager Brian Hoover explained that they are now seeking a Multimodel Transportation Fund Grant in the amount of $429,658. The amount being sought has increased slightly to include road improvements to both Second Street and Octoraro Alley. Council authorized borough officials to seek the grant. Hoover and the members of borough council briefly discussed the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit that state lawmakers recently approved that allows local governments to offer tax credits to fire company and EMS volunteers. The underlying purpose of the tax credit is to encourage more residents to volunteer to serve their communities by joining the fire department. Fire companies across the state are struggling to get Continued on Page 3A
Photo by John Chambless
Kate and John Fecile at their home.
By John Chambless Staff Writer On Feb. 7, 2011, Kate and John Fecile got the news no parent wants to hear. Their son, Michael, had been critically injured in a fall from the balcony of his fourth-floor apartment at Penn State University.
In the dizzying weeks that followed, and the long four years they cared for Michael at home, the Fecile family experienced how the strength of a community can bring light into the darkest situation. And now the Feciles want to give back. Continued on Page 4A
Herr Foods’ Christmas event boosts collections for Salvation Army By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer Avon Grove adopts budget opt-out resolution...2A
INDEX Calendar of Events......6A Opinion........................7A Obituaries....................9A
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The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia expected to deliver more than 30,000 toys to 14,000 children throughout the area for Christmas this year. That large-scale effort received a boost on Dec. 21 when Herr Foods hosted to a Salvation Army toy drive. Hundreds and hundreds of people passed through the Herr’s Visitors Center Photo by Steven Hoffman Aisling Carroll, the events and volunteer services man- during the three hours ager for the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia, of the event to enjoy the was at the collection boxes outside the Herr Foods family-friendly activiVisitors Center. ties—hayrides, a live
reindeer, a visit from Chipper, the Herr’s mascot, a performance of Christmas favorites by five members of the Salvation Army Band, and of course, an appearance by Santa Claus himself. Visitors also enjoyed the Herr’s holiday lights display, a local tradition that featured more than 400,000 lights this year. All the visitors for these free events were encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy that would be donated to the Salvation Army. Representatives of the Salvation Army were on hand throughout the eve-
ning welcoming guests and accepting the donations of toys and money. “This event is wonderful,” said Major A. Philip Ferreira, the director of operations for the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia. “There are so many families here enjoying themselves with all these activities, and they are also donating toys to the Salvation Army.” Ed Herr, the president and CEO of Herr Foods, said that the company has spent this holiday season collecting toys and monetary Continued on Page 5A
Landenberg man Budget and named township tax rates set in volunteer of the year Franklin Township By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer For Stan Lukoff, who lives in Landenberg with his wife Estelle, the decades he spent com-
© 2007 The Chester County Press
Landenberg resident Stan Volunteer of the Year.
By John Chambless still sharp. So when it Staff Writer came time for him to plan his post-career life, Lukoff At their last meeting of settled on New Garden, the year on Dec. 21, the the township where he has Franklin Township Board lived for 23 years. of Supervisors approved a Continued on Page 5A new budget, set tax rates and got some unexpected good news regarding the preservation of a property in the township. By unanimous vote, the board set township tax rates for 2017: The General Fund at 1.225 mills; Emergency Services at .5 mills; Park and Recreation at .27 mills and Open Space at .5 mills, for a total tax rate of 2.495 mills. The fire hydrant tax rate was set at $36 per parcel located within 780 feet of a fire hydrant. The final plan regarding the Gourmet’s Delight development proposal was unanimously approved, with several waivers and conditions. Board chairPhoto by Richard L. Gaw Lukoff was named the 2016 New Garden Township man John Auerbach told the audience that movmuting to DuPont in Wilmington as an information technology consultant were thankfully gone for good when he retired five years ago. But the tools in his career toolbox were
ing forward, the township wants to work together with Gourmet’s Delight and the neighbors. In a discussion of conservation easements for several properties in the township, Auerbach provided a history of the properties. One is adjacent to the Peacedale Preserve and, in the opinion of most of the board members, is not a property that would generate much development. However, the other parcels, which equal 55.3 acres and contain a working farm, would be Continued on Page 3A
No Uncle Irvin this week Uncle Irvin is hibernating. His column will resume early in 2017. Happy holidays.