New Garden holds first public hearing on zoning ordinance plans
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
New Garden Township took another step forward in determining its future on June 25 when its Planning Commission hosted the first of four public hearings regarding the update of the township’s zoning districts.
The hearing was moderated by Samantha McLean, a project manager for Michael Baker International – a consulting firm hired
The Chesco Pops celebrates 20 years...1B
by the township in 2024 –which provided an overview of the multi-tiered process that began last year and has included four public outreach meetings and led to the establishment of a zoning task force made up of township residents and other key stakeholders.
Echoing the company’s previous presentations at the township, McLean said that the purpose of updating the township’s zoning map – last put into motion in 1987 -
is to meet the objectives set down in the township’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan that call for development and redevelopment opportunities along the Route 41 and Baltimore Pike corridors, incorporating “missing middle” housing standards and the incorporation of mixed-use districts.
Updating these rules and regulations in the township is also intended to streamline the zoning process, which has led to excessive amounts of non-conforming land uses,
Kennett
Symphony
gets a new name
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
The Kennett Symphony Orchestra, founded by a group of local music lovers in 1941, just received a new name.
Board President Tim Blair announced at the concert on June 26 the name has been changed to the Brandywine Valley Symphony.
Blair spoke to the audience in the Unionville High School auditorium, explaining that the orchestra had grown in both expertise and support in recent years, and that it’s clear the latest popularity and esteem had to be recognized.
“We are all very excited about this. It will be the same orchestra and the same wonderful musicians. …It is
a new way for a new day,” he said.
As he spoke he held up a new logo that showed the “B” in Brandywine appeared as a half-vertical cutout of a stringed instrument.
Blair said the support and attention through the years had extended far beyond the original name of “Kennett.”
He said attendance at the concerts had been attracting increased audiences from as far away as New Jersey, Maryland and beyond.
“It has actually been a Brandywine group for decades,” he said.
In a statement in the evening’s written program, Blair is quoted as saying the orchestra remans rooted in Kennett Square – “with our home office and cultural
“by right” use of agricultural facilities and a reliance on conditional use hearings to make final land use determinations – all of which has led to zoning misalignment of existing infrastructure, an undefined agricultural district and a shortage of mixed-use, planned-use, and other blended-use zoning districts that do not permit developers to implement innovative approaches to modern revitalization.
‘An overwhelming and disappointing blow’ Currie Hair Skin Nails closes
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Currie Hair Skin Nails, the venerable institution of style and fashion with five locations in Pennsylvania and Delaware, announced last week that it was closing. The company operated stores in Glen Mills, Kennett Square, Wayne, and at Justison Landing and the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Del.
On June 27 at 7 p.m., owner Randy Currie issued the following statement, which was posted on the company’s social media and sent via text to its customers and to its staff, who did not receive prior notice of the store's closing:
“I want to take a moment to share something very personal and important with all of you. These salons and spas have been my life, and I have
poured my heart and efforts into making them successful.
The journey hasn’t always been easy — especially during the pandemic, which challenged us in ways we never expected.
“Thanks to the support of government assistance, we managed to navigate those difficult times. However, as that aid diminished, we faced increasing financial struggles, including overdue
rent. I worked tirelessly with our landlords to find better terms, and I am grateful to have reached agreements that gave us more time to catch up.
By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer
The premiere of Invisible No More, a new short documentary that will grace the screen of Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester on July 24, has a far from typical filmmaking crew.
The auteurs of the upcoming film are not professionals in the industry, or students completing a class project. In contrast, they are teenagers on probation. The film is a culmination of three years of work from Artists Holding Hands and Hearts’(AHHAH) Restorative Justice Filmmaking Program,
“Unfortunately, our longstanding relationship with Glen Eagle Square, where we’ve been operating since 1990—35 years—took a difficult turn. They offered us a plan to pay back what we owed but required a personal guarantee. Without it, they threatened to seize the contents of our location. I felt I had little choice but to agree, trusting that as long as we stayed current on our rent, everything would be okay.
“I diligently made payments from January through June 2025, believing that
Revitalized Oxford Square Mall set to get a
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
The Oxford Square Mall has enjoyed a good comeback since it was purchased by Westover Properties in the mid-2000s. Now, the Oxford Square Mall is about to receive a facelift to continue its’ revitalization.
“Oxford
Greenville & Hockessin Life
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
This herd of cows greeted vehicles, bicyclists, hikers and other passers-by on a scorching day this past Sunday at the edge of a Landenberg farm on Newark Road. Southern Chester County residents can look forward to slightly cooler temperatures and mostly sunny skies at Fourth of July celebrations scheduled throughout the area.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Zoning...
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McLean said that the township must comply with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code that outlines what townships have the authority to do in terms of land use regulation.
“Zoning has changed a lot since the township’s zoning laws were last enacted,” McLean said. “There are a lot of tried-and-true practices from other municipalities regarding some of these challenges that the township has identified. Applying some of these lessons learned has been part of the township’s goal.”
The ‘Enterprise District’
McLean’s presentation centered much of its focus on three of the ten districts that are being proposed for the updated zoning map, each of which have yielded the most amount of public comment over the past year. One of those districts discussed in McLean’s presentation was the “Enterprise District,” which is proposed to be located within the boundaries of Penn Green Road, Starr
Road and Route 41 and is designed to become a dynamic and thriving business environment that encourages economic growth, innovation, and job creation and support a diverse range of commercial activities, including agricultural, offices, retail, light manufacturing, and technology-based enterprises.
Michael Baker International’s recommendation said that by designating a specific district to agriculture, “the township is able to minimize future disturbance and use-based nuisances on residential areas which is consistent with the comprehensive plan and promotes strategies that attempt to reduce or avoid conflicts between new development and existing farm operations.”
While there are a few mushroom facilities located within the proposed zone, McLean said that public feedback in previous outreach sessions yielded concern for the future of mushroom operations that are located outside of the proposed district. She said that the consultant is considering adding a definition for “mushroom service providers to permit their inclusion in
the district.”
“A concern we heard [from residents and representatives from the local mushroom industry] is that there are a lot of different uses that are ancillary to the mushroom industry that are not covered by the existing uses that we have, so there is an offer to propose a mushroom service provider use and definition that would be permitted within the Enterprise District that would serve as a catch-all for those unique industries,” McLean added.
Members of the Planning Commission and residents in the audience expressed concern that by limiting agricultural use to a specific region of the township could lead to a complete redefinition of an area that has been defined by the mushroom industry for several generations.
“This area is linked to the mushroom industry, and I wouldn’t want to see that limited and hope that these challenges that have been created will get addressed over time, in terms of nuisances
Kennett Symphony...
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partnership with the Kennett Library.”
In the early years, the orchestra, performed at the Kennett High School auditorium or other local locations, including the Unionville High School auditorium.
In fact, the concert on June 26, which was scheduled to be held at Longwood Gardens “under the stars” was moved inside because of inclement weather.
Those
that happen when residences are next to mushroom farms and plants,” said Planning Commission member Sam Stanton. “I don’t want to see some of the families that have been here [in the mushroom industry] zoned out of what they have and their existing operations.”
Discussion and disagreement
During the public comment portion of the hearing,
In other symphony news:
In a surprise announcement last Dec. 3, Blair told the concert audience the orchestra had been invited to play at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 18, 2025. In order to help defray frequent expenses, the symphony offered a raffle at that time with several orchestra-related prizes. At last week’s concert, Blair announced the four winners: C. Dargitz, Norman Christ, Alex Polidoro and Paul Larson.
First Prize Winner C.
attorney Brian L. Nagle of MacElree Harvey, representing Laurel Valley Farms, referred to a June 24 letter submitted to the Planning Commission from his colleague, J. Charles Gerbron, Jr., expressing their client’s opposition to the proposal that does not include “mushroom composting operations” in the “Enterprise District.”
In the letter, Gerbron asked that the ordinance amendment be revised – before it reaches the Board of Supervisors for
Dargitz will receive an overnight stay in New York City, two tickets to the Carnegie Hall concert, and dinner for two at Trattoria Dell’Arte, an Italian restaurant across the street from the hall.
Christ, earning second prize, will receive a tour of the Steinway piano factory in Astoria, Queens, followed by a tour of a Steinway showroom in midtown Manhattan.
Polidoro, earning third place, will dinner for two with Kennett Symphony Conductor Michael Hall,
adoption - to include language specifying that “mushroom composting operations” be permitted within the district or extend beyond the boundaries of the district.
“You’re setting up an administrative problem and a legal problem because agriculture is protected by Pennsylvania law, so you’re putting the township and the landowner in a difficult position that will be an ongoing problem for the township and the landowner,” Nagle said.
followed by an instrumental recital by Hall.
Larson, earning a fourth prize, will receive $500 and a ride in a 1923 Franklin automobile owned by Dave Ventura.
Hall, who has offered a recital for the third-place winner, competed his 10th year as conductor at Kennett Symphony and has been popularly received by his audience. He is also in his seventh year as music director of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia, Canada.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
skeptical of the township’s proposed zoning changes have said in public output meetings that they would alter the “rural” landscape of the municipality to make way for added residential growth.
“Ultimately, you’re not going to change what’s there, but create a problem that is not grounded in sound land use planning.”
Township resident and former supervisor Barclay Hoopes – who has owned a “legacy” farm in the township since 1972 that is located just outside of the “Enterprise District,” took exception to his farm being recategorized as “Residential Low Density.” Although McLean told Hoopes that his farm would continue to operate under the categorization of “non-confirming use,” Hoopes continued to object to the new classification.
“When I was on the board, we dealt with a lot of qualityof-life issues and why people came to this township,” he told the Commission. “I’ve had people tell me, ‘You’re the reason we came and the reason we stayed.’ Now you’re pushing me out.
“I understand a lot of what you want to do, but don’t put me in a straitjacket I’ve never been in, because it’s wrong.”
“If the zoning map went
The Kennett Symphony was founded in 1941 by Kennett Square general practitioner Dr. Duer Reynolds and musician Ray Ott. They decided to form a musical group and performed the first concert in 1942. Reynolds was the president and Ott was the conductor.
According to a historical report in the Kennett Square history book, Kennett Square, Yesterday and Today, Ott was honored at the opening for the 40th anniversary of the symphony. Proceeds from those early
into effect tomorrow, you would still be farming,” Commission Chairman Jeff Hazelwood told Hoopes.
“But I don’t like my hands tied back here, and that’s what you want me to do,” Hoopes replied.
Limestone Road and Route 41
The second district discussed during McLean’s presentation was the future vision for the southeast corner of the township near the interchange of Route 41, Route 7 (Limestone Road) and Southwood Road. She then presented two potential scenarios for the corridor: one that focuses on the mixeduse corridor district to create a mixed-use greenway to the township; and a second option that imagines maintaining the area for a variety of uses including industrial, commercial and some residential through the development of an “Innovation District” that creates a large-scale, campus-like facility that provides employment opportunities
concerts were given for music scholarships to students at the local schools.
The Kennett Symphony had its roots with local residents who served in other professions but played music as an interest or hobby.
In the early years, late symphony members included Unionville High School Principal Wilber Reese, Unionville music teacher and composer Karl Forssmark, Kennett Square physician Dr. Robert McKinstry and Kennett Square barber John Dettori, among many others.
and business to the township.
McLean said that at public outreach meetings, residents expressed concern that either scenario would create traffic congestion, but they also said the plan for the corridor may answer the need for easy access to services within state boundaries.
After weighing these components, McLean said that Michael Baker International recommended that the township choose the second option, one that maintains the existing zoning map’s flexibility of uses and brings services and employment opportunities.
Residential Flex District
McLean then presented recommendations for the proposed “Residential Flex District” – projected to make up a majority of the township that is intended to achieve a balance between residential growth that allows for a diversity of lot sizes while promoting the conservation and preservation of vital areas of green space, steep
In the years since the founding, the orchestra has become totally professional and the audiences, and the leadership as well as concerts have extended far beyond the original Borough of Kennett Square.
Currently, a vast majority of the board members live outside the Kennett Square area, according to the list published online. Additionally, of the seven concerts and abbreviated events scheduled for the coming season, one is in Malvern, one is in West Chester, one is
slopes, wildlife habitats, and other natural areas. The consulting firm’s recommendation said that creating such a district in the township will address Chester County’s changing demographic trends that include a projected population increase in the county and increased demand for housing, particularly for lower median households, while at the same time allowing for new development to seamlessly fit the current environment and minimizing its impact on the rural look of the township.
McLean said that the district would be primarily residential - single unit detached, single unit semidetached and townhouses - but would also permit schools, houses of worship, mixed use buildings, day care facilities, lower-impact retail stores, schools, libraries, places of worship and community services.
McLean said that some of the residents who attended public outreach meetings said that developing this housing model would impact the
in Longwood Gardens, and one is in Mendenhall. The orchestra’s varied quintets will perform at West Chester, Winterthur (Wilmington) and the Kennett Library.
Gathering after last week’s concert to display the new symphony logo are, from left, second place raffle winner Norman Christ, Symphony Board President Tim Blair, Conductor Michael Hall and fourth place raffle winner Paul Larson.
mostly “rural” character of the township and affect property values, infrastructure and natural resources. On the positive side, the proposal would broaden the availability of housing in the township.
McLean urged the township’s primary stakeholders to weigh the considerations for adopting a new zoning program against the anticipated changes regarding land use and housing forecasts that may happen as near as a decade from now.
“You’re balancing existing reality with future opportunity,” she said.
Toward the end of the public comment section, township resident Beverly Geller told the Commission that she and her family moved to the township 25 years ago.
“I think we need to look carefully at what New Garden has been, what it is now, and ask, ‘What are we really trying to accomplish by opening this kind of land to higher density housing development, mixed-use development and small medical facility development and
does that fit with what the township is and why we came here, and why we are still here?’” she said. “If some of those things happen, I think a lot of us may find it’s not where we want to stay.”
The next public hearings about the township’s zoning ordinances and map will be at the Board of Supervisors meeting in July; at the Zoning Task Force’s meeting on July 23; at a presentation of the updated zoning ordinance and map in August; and at a Planning Commission public hearing in August, which will be followed by a 45-day public comment period. The updated zoning ordinance and township zoning map is expected to be agreed upon at a Board of Supervisors meeting in the Fall.
To learn more about New Garden Township’s zoning map update, visit “Zoning Ordinance and Map Update” on the township’s website: www.newgarden.org.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Photo by Chris Barber
Documentary...
Continued from Page 1A
the third annual Restorative Justice Open House and the screening is just part one of a documentary series that will continue to grow through the program.
“Using restorative justice in the documentary provides an alternative, as most of community service is physical labor,” said Alyssa Brown, senior peer support and restorative justice coordinator for AHHAH. “I believe one of our kids described it perfectly: that most community service is almost like negative reinforcement, but our filmmaking provides a positive reinforcement. Consequently, we are able to see a lot of positive change in the kids.”
AHHAH’s founder Jan Michener added that though the project fulfills probation community service requirements for the teens involved, AHHAH is “not there to fix anyone” but rather, they are there to “create a safe space” for participants to grow and thrive through a creative outlet.
While having a healthy outlet of any kind is beneficial to the kids in the program, Michener and Brown feel that the benefits of a creative outlet, such as filmmaking, are especially powerful.
“We’re all born to be creative, we’re meant to create, and the beauty and the gift of filmmaking and photography is hearing each other’s stories and seeing things through new eyes,” Michener said. “You should see the kids when they’re interviewing and photographing. They are listening so intently to each other. We’re meant to be heard and to be seen, and
they’re seeing each other, and they know that they’re being heard.”
Unleashing new creative passions
Brown emphasized that the program is connecting the film’s student filmmakers to newfound passions they would have never previously had the opportunity to connect with.
“We have a kid who came in this year, and I don’t think he had ever really touched a camera in his life, but he’s an amazing photographer, and he absolutely lights up when he picks up the camera,” Brown said. “We have another girl who is one of the most caring people on this planet, and she’s found her passion through interviewing others and talking to others.”
Part one of Invisible No
More highlights the creative passions of its creators while also providing an introduction to each individual’s unique stories. One participant involved, Khalil, explained his feelings on the project in a recent AHHAH press release.
“This program has been a game changer in my life by allowing me to tell stories and connect with others on a deeper level,” he said. “It has helped me develop a new perspective, appreciate the beauty in life, and express myself in ways I never thought was possible. I’m grateful for the opportunities it has brought me and look forward to continuing to explore and grow through photography and videography.”
More than anything, the biggest takeaway that AHHAH programs and Invisible No More return to is the practice of growth. For Michener and
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Brown, seeing that evolution in the kids never gets old.
“We had a kid who came this year who on their very first day didn’t want to talk to anybody, and was completely closed off from every single person,” Brown said.
“By the end of the program, they were coming in with a smile on their face, opening up to everybody, and is also one of the best photographers we’ve ever had.”
“On that same story,” Michener added, “one day at the check-in, our filmmaking team came in and we asked them, ‘What’s your energy level? How full is your fuel tank?’ At the start of the day, they said that it was at zero, but by the end of the session, they said it was at 1,000.”
Michener and Brown explained how the program is designed to keep the kids involved for as long as they are willing with opportunities to mentor and take on more responsibilities as they progress. While the documentary is “totally the students’ project,” they receive help from professionals in photogra-
McManus shared a few details about the planned facelift for the shopping center that is situated on the edge of Oxford Borough.
“We are trying to give the mall a more country look so it fits in with the surroundings,” McManus said.
Renovation work is being completed by AT Construction. The architect of the design is Clemente Ivins.
“We have one opening now where the flower shop used to be,” McManus said.
phy and filmmaking to help teach and guide the process. Sandrien De Bruijn of Sandrien B. Photography, Sean Taylor of Visual Jedi and Shelly Hoffman – a fivetime Emmy Award winning documentary filmmaker - are some of the experts helping on the project.
Premiere screening
Michener hopes the Restorative Justice Open House and screening on July 24 will not only highlight the work of the kids, but hopefully attract more support from local photographers, videographers and filmmakers to support the project moving forward. Throughout the event, a live digital interaction will invite audience members to reflect on the film and share their emotional responses in real time. Certificates and gifts will be presented to the student filmmakers, and the community will be invited to help sponsor the next phase of the program, including the creation of Invisible No
“That property is 12,065 square feet.”
Plans are also underway to install planters in front of the stores to encourage trucks to deliver in the rear of the property. Because so many delivery trucks currently use the front of the buildings for deliveries, the front of the stores are often blocked.
McManus explained, “There will be substantial planters made of concrete and block. Hopefully, it will give the front area an uninterrupted view.”
For questions or to lease a property, contact Dave McManus at (610) 337-3004.
Restorative Justice
gives Chester County youth on probation the ability and freedom to create a documentary film to fulfill community service requirements and learn new skills. More: Part 2.
The event’s sponsors include Presence Bank, MacElree Harvey, Greg and Lauren Sarian, Richard and Kay Dowgun, the YoQi Class at Kennett Library, Roy Smith, Lou Baccaria and C-Money Consulting.
While the upcoming event marks a celebration and milestone in the kids’ filmmaking journey, the work is still far from over. Michener, Brown, the kids and the rest of the team at AHHAH still have a larger purpose to fulfill pushing them forward.
Invisible No More will premiere at the AHHAH Restorative Justice Open House on July 24 from 5:307:30 p.m. at the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N. High Street in West Chester. To learn more about AHHAH, visit www.AHHAH.org.
To contact Contributing Writer Gabbie Burton, email gburton@chestercounty.com.
“We want to close the cradle to prison pipeline and get kids out of the system,” Michener said. “Instead of them surviving, we want them to thrive and fly.”
Courtesy photo
Oxford Square Mall is getting a facelift. Dave McManus, the vice president of Westover Management Company, is excited about the new look and is hopeful the community will be also.
Courtesy photo AHHAH’s
Filmmaking Program
Celebrating 250! And 200!
On July 4, we’ll celebrate our Independence Day—and the countdown officially begins to the big anniversary—next year will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. There will be many festivities surrounding the United States Semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026.
A lot of important history took place right here in this region. If you’re already looking forward to the celebrations of our history, an upcoming event in the area will be of interest.
The national Lafayette Bicentennial celebration comes to West Chester and Chadds Ford on Saturday, July 26.
Approximately 200 years ago, in 1824 and 1825, Lafayette, a Frenchman who was also a Revolutionary War American hero, returned to the United States as the “Nation’s Guest.”
For 13 months, Lafayette toured all 24 states and received grand welcomes from each city and hamlet he visited. On July 26, 1825, Lafayette visited the Brandywine Battlefield, where he was wounded on September 11, 1777, and later in the day he visited West Chester, where he was given a grand dinner.
The upcoming event is taking place on the anniversary of the day that Lafayette visited the Brandywine Battlefield and West Chester. The program begins at 10 a.m. at Thornbury Farm at 1256 Thornbury Road in West Chester—this location was part of the Brandywine Battlefield. The program includes an appearance by Lafayette and a heritage walk to the location where Lafayette was wounded on September 11, 1777, and there are other related activities in the area that day, too.
Information on the West Chester and Chadds Ford celebrations can be found on Facebook at the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee page. Information on the county’s plans for America’s 250th anniversary can be found at www.america250chesco. org.
Zealous educators
Several students from local high schools were among those who recently pledged to participate in a West Chester University program that aims to train the next generation of zealous educators.
Through this program, West Chester University partners with school districts in the area as a way to address the teacher shortage.
Faith Bullen of Avon Grove High School, Faith Constein of Antietam High School, Imanni Barrett of Kennett High School, and Marissa Herring of Kennett High School took part in a “signing ceremony” that signifies their commitment to pursue academic journeys that will lead them to careers in education.
West Chester University launched the PRIZE Program in 2023, and since then there have been 69 high school dual-enrollment participants. To date, the following school districts have partnered with West Chester University for the PRIZE Program: Avon Grove School District, Chester-Upland School District, Coatesville Area School District, Colonial School District, Commonwealth Charter Academy, Kennett Consolidated School District, New HopeSolebury School District, Oxford Area School District, Rose Tree Media School District, School District of Philadelphia, and Susquehanna Township School District.
West Chester University also offers the PRIZE Summer Teacher Academy, a one-week on-campus experience for high school students interested in the teaching profession.
In our Kennett Square Life magazine, we recently profiled Court Dunn, a popular teacher and coach at Upland Country Day School who has had a positive impact on so many students during a five-decade career.
The world can never have enough zealous teachers. We applaud West Chester University and the local school districts that are encouraging and supporting the next generation of teachers. Lee Iacocca, the successful automobile executive, once said, “In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else.” Indeed. We celebrate athletes and actors and beautiful people who have influence in social media—wouldn’t we be a more rational society if we celebrated teachers above the rest of us?
SEPTA also impacts mass transit in Chester County
Letter to the Editor:
In the debate over how to fund Pennsylvania’s roads, bridges and transit systems, one counterproductive misconception persists: that mass transit, and specifically SEPTA, is a “Philadelphia problem.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
From Pike County to Erie County, Westmoreland County to Lehigh County, Pennsylvania’s businesses rely on a robust network of roads, bridges and transit systems to bring employees to work and attract customers. What every Pennsylvania county shares is public transportation that connects people and communities to work, school and essential services.
Here in Chester County, and the Greater Philadelphia region, our economic growth has been undergirded by this system, with SEPTA mass transit at its foundation.
SEPTA is an essential cog in the economic engine of Southeastern Pennsylvania — an engine that generates billions in economic output and tax revenue for the entire state. A weakened SEPTA means a weakened regional economy, and that
ripples out to the rest of Pennsylvania in real dollars. The income, business, and sales taxes generated here help fund state programs and services that benefit all 67 counties. When our region suffers due to impaired transit, the state’s ability to reinvest equitably across Pennsylvania suffers too.
Counties across Pennsylvania also benefit directly from SEPTA’s operations every day — not just through travel, but through jobs, procurement, and commerce. Over the past five years, SEPTA has awarded over $1.14 billion in contracts to Pennsylvania-based companies in 39 counties, with an average annual investment of $228 million. That’s not just rail cars and bus routes in the southeast — that’s steel, rubber, electronics, parts, safety equipment, and professional services supporting jobs across the Commonwealth.
If SEPTA is forced to cut service or delay infrastructure upgrades due to unstable state funding, it’s not just riders in the southeast who are directly impacted. It’s those employers and the Pennsylvanians they employ who will also feel the impact. SEPTA
is one of the largest transit systems in the country and one of Pennsylvania’s largest purchasers of goods and services — and when funding cannot fully support operations, economic activity across the entire Commonwealth is also reduced.
This is proof of a fundamental truth: mass transit is regional infrastructure with statewide economic impact. We fully support statewide transit funding to address SEPTA’s shortfall this year to avoid devastating cuts.
But we also recognize the need for a long-term, sustainable solution that ensures our public transit systems — not just in Philadelphia, but across the state — are viable for the future. We are not suggesting a blank check or permanent patchwork. We are advocating for a smart, stable, and transparent approach that recognizes the shared value of a functioning, modern transit system. Now is not the time to retreat. With major global events like America 250, the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game, the PGA Championship and the NFL Draft all coming to Pennsylvania in the next year, our transit infrastructure must be ready to move
Guest Column
tens of millions of visitors efficiently and safely. Without it, the region — and the state — will miss out on untold economic opportunity and global visibility. Pennsylvania must now rise to meet this moment — and not just to “save” transit, but to invest in what it already delivers: regional economic impact, workforce access, and job creation.
This isn’t about urban vs. rural or east vs. west. It’s about building a statewide economy that moves — powered by a mass transit system that serves millions of Pennsylvanians in all 67 counties.
If you’re a business owner or policymaker outside of southeastern Pennsylvania, don’t think of SEPTA as someone else’s concern. Think of it as your next contract, your next job posting, your next opportunity. It’s time we fund transit operations across all of Pennsylvania like the statewide engine it is.
Laura Manion President & CEO, Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry Mike Grigalonis President & COO, Chester County Economic Development Council
Encourage your U.S. Senators to support legislation that maintains or increases funding for scientific research
By Hannah Frank
“I grew up in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania” is my most impressive credential. I work in agricultural research, at the intersection of fungi and plants, so being from the Mushroom Capital of the World–and the home of the nation’s best public garden–carries some weight. More importantly, growing up here taught me what strong community looks like and instilled in me a sense of obligation to my neighbors and society at large. I bring these values to my work, which is focused on helping farmers achieve better output with fewer inputs, and helping them stay resilient in the face of uncertain weather patterns.
These days, I’m anxious for these farmers, and for everyone who depends on the food that they produce. This is because the systems we have in place to ensure a safe, reliable, and resilient food supply in this country are being destroyed.
I am three years into my doctorate program in Horticulture at Cornell University, studying beneficial soil fungi in vineyards. They are called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, or AMF, and they grow in the
soil and into the roots of around 80 percent of plants on earth. No, they do not produce mushrooms like the ones we are known for in Kennett, but they are critical for plant growth. They deliver nutrients from the soil to the roots of the plant in exchange for the sugars the plant has produced through photosynthesis.
This mutually beneficial relationship, or symbiosis, has evolved over millions of years and is an unseen but fundamental aspect of food (or in the case of my research, wine) production. One of the goals of my work is to assess whether or not the commercial products sold to boost these fungi in the soil actually benefit the vines, and therefore if they are worthwhile investments for farmers to make.
My research, like most other agricultural science, is funded by the USDA. I am trying to build my career around helping farmers rely on fewer inputs, which means I am more focused on management practices than profit-driven product development.There is no alternative to federal funds.
efficiency, as well as a generation’s worth of scientists who will be needed to train the next, and farmers will lose resources they depend on.
Here’s just one example of many: In the Finger Lakes, grape growers are bracing for their introduction to the spotted lanternfly, something we southeastern Pennsylvanians are all too familiar with.
While this invasive pest decimated vineyards in Berks County a decade ago, the overall impact on the wine industry in PA (and its inevitable spread to other states) has been far less catastrophic than it could have been. This is thanks to the impressive public awareness campaign as well as research into the lanternfly’s biology and how effective pesticides are in controlling populations. Much of this work was funded by the USDA. We will not be able to help handle the next invasive pest with the drastic reductions in USDA research spending.
about.
I know there are frustrations with how our government is run and I share many of those. I have worked as a laborer at the USDA two separate times, including during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history in 2019, but the cuts we are seeing to our scientific institutions today terrify me. Not only will research like mine be cut, but the impact this will have on our farmers and our food supply will be disastrous. The scientific community will lose years of work to improve agricultural
I am not asking you to pick a side; quite the opposite. I am asking you to actively support investments in people and projects that benefit us all. There should not be sides to this.
For our part, the scientific community is realizing that we must be better at communicating how our research leads to real-world improvements. For me, I’m starting this work by writing to you, and for anyone who has questions about what I am saying, please reach out— franklyfungal@ gmail.com. I by no means think I have all the answers, but I can speak on what I know and care about to the community I know and care
Join me in this effort. Call Senators Fetterman and McCormick and tell them to pass legislation that maintains or increases funding for scientific research. Tell them you demand support for medical innovation so that it continues to move forward. I was lucky to go to Mary D. Lang Elementary through Kennett High School and, until starting my Ph.D, had only attended public schools. Demand that the government funds public education and research institutions. Our investment in one another benefits us all and instills in us the sense of care for and obligation to our society that makes a town like Kennett a place to brag about.
Hannah Frank is a member of the Kennett High School class of 2013 and a recipient of the American Mushroom Institute scholarship. She is the youngest of the four Frank kids. This piece is part of a larger effort to improve communication around federally funded research outside of academic institutions. More general feedback regarding the state of scientific funding is welcomed at http:// tiny.cc/sciencepledge.
Courtesy photo Hannah Frank
Chesco Pops to celebrate 20th anniversary with July 20 performance
By JP Phillips Contributing Writer
July 20 marks a milestone for the Chesco Pops, Chester County’s own semi-professional orchestra. They are celebrating 20 years with a special anniversary concert featuring crowd favorites and an original composition written just for the occasion.
The concert will be held at 3 p.m. in Alumnae Hall on the Immaculata University campus. Selections highlight Broadway and film hits in addition to the world premiere of “Soar,” written by the Pops’ composer-inresidence Joseph Lorini.
Recurring performers soprano Lyndsay Varsaci Spaziani and bassist Michael Spaziani will join to sing a few of the show tunes. Mark O’Donnell will play bagpipes on a selection from the film The Last of the Mohicans.
Pops orchestras differ from symphony orchestras.
“Symphony orchestras typically play large classical works, standard repertoire,” Music Director Joseph Gehring said. “The
Pops provides another outlet for audiences to hear more popular music [such as] show tunes and some jazz.” The upcoming concert will include selections from the musicals Cabaret, Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, Guys and Dolls, Wicked, Strike up the Band, and West Side Story. Other movie selections include pieces from Jurassic Park and The Prince of Egypt.
Gehring has been with the Pops since its inception in 2005, first as an assistant conductor, and then conductor for the past 12 years. The orchestra consists of 65 musicians from all parts of Chester County. The orchestra only has two or three rehearsals before each show, so it’s clear the musicians are highly skilled.
Many of the musicians are local music educators in Chester County school districts—Ryan Maule, Brittany Hassler, and Erin Kauppila from Oxford Area School District; Ryan Fegley and Paula Eichman from Unionville-Chadds Ford School District; Scott Cullen and Drew Reynolds
Immaculata University’s Alumnae Hall.
from Octorara Area School District; Danielle Cullen and Heather Donnell from Downingtown Area School District; Liz Shafman, Donna Cooper, and Riley McGowan from West Chester Area School District; Robert Frazier from Westtown School; and Adam Search from Great Valley School District. Search also serves as assistant conductor and director of operations for the Chesco Pops.
Gehring graduated from West Chester University with a music education degree, and has been spreading his love of music to young people and adults
alike for the past 25 years.
“Music education is really important to me,” he said. “When I took over it as music director, I started the Halloween concert to get more kids to come. [They] dress up in costumes and we do a parade across the stage,” he said. “It’s really trying to reach out to families of all ages. Sometimes there’s a magic show. Recently, we did a movie concert where we had a screen in the back of the stage and we were showing movie clips and so we played along with that. That was really engaging for the orchestra and the audience. They really enjoyed that.”
Chesco Pops’ commitment to families and young people is evident. Concert ticket prices for adults are always very reasonable, and tickets for children as well as students are free.
A family of four can attend a live Pops concert for around the same price as going to the movies.
They typically perform three or four concerts a year—in the summer, the Halloween concert, and a Holiday show. They have performed at Immaculata, Collegium Charter School Performing Arts Center in Exton, Unionville, and Phoenixville High Schools.
The Pops is a non-profit organization and depends on community support.
Maryanne Smart is a board member who chairs the gala committee and is co-chair of the marketing committee. She is currently busy organizing the Pops Gala to be held on September 21 at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern. The gala is seeking sponsors and donation items for the auctions. Besides featuring delicious food and excellent company, of course, there will be music.
Smart also has played bass for the Pops since the beginning. When asked about performing, “Oh, I just love it,” she said. “It’s
the audience. I mean, they really make it, and it’s just so exciting to play.” The Chesco Pops mission is to provide the citizens of Chester County and beyond with the musical, cultural, educational, and entertainment benefits that derive from a resident pops orchestra. It is a 501(C) charitable organization (EIN 20-2515353). Contact Maryanne Smart at smartmax@comcast. net for more information about sponsoring or donating auction items to the Gala and purchase tickets for the Chesco Pops Anniversary Concert at the website www.Chescopops. org.
Exhibit celebrating senior artists opens at Presbyterian Senior Living Ware Presbyterian Village
Presbyterian Senior Living (PSL) Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford held a reception on May 27 to commemorate the opening of a new traveling art exhibit. On loan from LeadingAge PA, the Ageless Art and Timeless Treasures exhibition features nearly 50 art pieces submitted by more than 100 senior artists residing at LeadingAge PA member communities across Pennsylvania.
Residents, artists and guests from PSL Ware
Presbyterian Village gathered to enjoy refreshments and take in the artwork, which includes paintings, prints, sculptures, photography, and works created in fiber, wood, glass, mixed media and more. In addition to showcasing the beautiful artwork, the exhibit seeks to dispel myths of ageism by showcasing the depth of talent and creativity that exists in Pennsylvania’s senior communities.
The exhibition was coordinated by a committee of PSL Ware Presbyterian Village residents who oversee the community’s Vista Ridge Pavilion Gallery. While the traveling LeadingAge PA exhibition features pieces from senior artists across Pennsylvania, PSL Ware Presbyterian Village is home to many passionate and gifted artists.
“We have talented artists of all different stripes here, and we are one of the few senior living communities that have an art gallery,” said Barbara Tinsman, committee chair. “This is an eclectic exhibit that shows
the vibrancy of senior artists. It demonstrates that just because we’re old, it doesn’t mean we’ve given up the art we’ve pursued most of our lives. There is still plenty of reason to be creative after retirement.”
Ageless Art and Timeless Treasures will be on display at the Vista Ridge Pavilion Gallery at PSL Ware Presbyterian Village at 7 East Locust St. in Oxford until July 13. Visitors are welcome to view the exhibit on Wednesday, July 9 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 610-998-2400
for more information.
To learn more about PSL Ware Presbyterian Village, please visit https://www.presbyterianseniorliving.org/
Bassist and board member Maryanne Smart and Music Director Joseph Gehring in
Courtesy Photo
The Chesco Pops will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special concert on July 20.
Photo by JP Phillips Bassist and board member Maryanne Smart with her family at last year's Halloween concert.
Photos by JP Phillips
The Pops have three to four different programs per year.
Courtesy photos
Barbara Tinsman, Ware Presbyterian Village resident and chair of the Vista Ridge Pavilion Gallery committee, speaks at the exhibition opening reception.
Presbyterian Senior Living Ware Presbyterian Village residents gathered at the art exhibition opening reception.
Ware Presbyterian Village resident Terri Slider is one of the artists featured in the exhibit.
DAVID R. WOERNER
David R. Woerner, age 79, of Nottingham, passed away at Chester County Hospital in West Chester on June 21, 2025.
He was the spouse of Peggy (Hinckle) Woerner, with whom he shared 56 years of marriage. Born in Lancaster, Pa., he was a son of the late Frank Woerner and the late Eva (Trimble) Woerner.
Dave and his wife, Peggy, met when they were both students at Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Del.
He worked for 35 years for the DuPont Company in Wilmington, Del.
In their spare time, Dave and Peggy were members of the National Railroad Historical Society in Lancaster, Pa., and often traveled with that group on train trips all over the country. Dave also volunteered his time with the Toy Train Museum and enjoyed doing cross stitch as a pastime.
Dave and Peggy also enjoyed the beach and owned a condo in Ocean City, Md. for 10 years. Traveling was a big part of their life together and they took cruises to many different parts of the world. As NASCAR fans, the husband and wife traveled to eight different tracks on the circuit over the years.
For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10
the Vietnam War. He was a communications specialist and participated in the exchange of messages when the North Koreans took the USS Pueblo Navy Intelligence ship and its 83 crewmen.
Most of all, Dave will be remembered for being a hard worker, for his generosity in helping others, and for being “up for anything” if invited for an outing or excursion. Not one for sitting around, Dave remained active throughout his retirement. Though somewhat reserved by nature, if he let you in as a friend, you were a friend for life.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his brother, Robert Woerner (JoAnn); his sister-in-law, Vicki Woerner; and his grandson, Aidan Kelly.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his daughter, Suzanne Kelly, and his brother, Frank Woerner, Jr.
A memorial service took place at the Christian Life Center in New London Township on July 1.
Interment was at New London Presbyterian Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dave’s memory may be made to Cross Culture Ministries/Mercy Music at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form.
Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory of Kennett Square, (484) 734-8100.
To view David’s online obituary and offer condolences, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.
NANCY R. AGEE
Nancy Robertson Agee, a resident of West Chester and formerly of Chestertown, Md. and Basking Ridge, N.J., passed away on June 17, 2025 at the Jenners Pond Retirement Community in West Grove. She was 93. She was the beloved wife of the late John P. Agee, with whom she shared 62 years of marriage. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Harold E. Robertson and the late Leona Eagle Robertson.
Nancy attended William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y. and was a longtime member of Christ United Methodist Church in Chestertown, Md.
In her early years, she worked at the DuPont Experimental Station and later as a sales associate at Epstein’s Department Store in Morristown, N.J.
Nancy loved her dogs, her children, and her grandchildren dearly.
She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Jones and her husband Ron of West Chester, Pa.; her son, Graham Agee (Stephanie Perell) of Bedford, N.Y.; her brother, Glenn Robertson, and his wife Dottie of Clermont, Fla.; and three grandchildren, Taylor, Graham Jr., and Avery.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her parents.
Services and interment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Animal Care Shelter for Kent County at https://acskc.org/support/. Arrangements are being handled by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory of Kennett Square, (484) 734-8100.
To view her online obituary or share a memory with the family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.
JOHN SCARLETT HALSTED
John Scarlett Halsted, 91, passed away peacefully in the company of his family at home on June 10, 2025. He was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1933 to Mary Scarlett Gawthrop and John Oswald Halsted. A lifelong resident of Kennett Square, he was a graduate of St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Del. and Amherst College in Amherst, Mass.
After serving as an Army medic in Korea, John returned to Pennsylvania where he married Elizabeth Barnes in 1957 and attended law school at the University of Pennsylvania. John was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 1961, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1962, and the United States Supreme Court in 1965. After passing the bar, he joined his family’s firm of Gawthrop and Greenwood where he worked for more than 40 years. He was a mentor to many. While there, John served as an assistant District Attorney and was Chester County solicitor from 1971 to 2007. He was a past president of the Chester County Bar Association, a past president and director of the Chester County Historical Society and a director of the Chester County Hospital. John Halsted was also a director of the former First National Bank of Chester County. John was a part of the fabric of the Kennett community, serving on many local boards, including Bayard Taylor Memorial Library and Upland Country Day School in addition to being a longtime solicitor for Kennett Township. His greatest fulfillment and happiest moments, however, came from time spent with his family and friends. He was a patriarch to the last. Fiercely principled and endowed with a deep sense of duty, it was fitting that he should pass away in the care of his loving family, for whom he had so devotedly cared. He was known for his kindness, generosity, integrity, intellect and dry humor—qualities that were on full display until the end.
His legacy will live on through the countless stories and memories shared by those who had the pleasure to know him. John was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Betsy and his sister Mary “Bitsy” Gawthrop Melody. He is survived by children, Beth Halsted of Kennett Square; Scarlett Carey and husband Bill of Lincoln, Mass.; John S. “Jock” Halsted, Jr. and wife, Denise of Columbus, Ohio; and Tom Halsted of Kennett Square; and eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be held on Aug. 2 at 1 p.m. at The Church of the Advent in Kennett Square.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Chester County Hospital or Upland Country Day School, both causes close to his heart.
Arrangements are being handled by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. (www.DellaFH. com) of West Chester, (610) 696-1181.
LUCILLE EUNICE DELANEY RASH SEBOLD
Lucille Rash Sebold, also known as Eunice Lucille Delaney Rash Sebold, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on June 24, 2025 in Rising Sun, Md.
While her birth certificate said “Eunice,” she made it clear to everyone she met: “Call me Lucille.” To say she disliked the name “Eunice” would be an understatement.
Born on April 5, 1929, in Buchanan, Virginia, to Frank and Ethel Delaney, Lucille was one of many siblings in a close-knit Appalachian family. She inherited her strong will and feisty spirit from her mother, Ethel and father Frank, along with a deep and abiding Christian faith that shaped every chapter of her life.
Lucille married James Franklin Rash, Sr. Together they built a home filled with love. She was a devoted mother to her two boys, Jim and Terry. Her family always came first.
After Jim’s passing in 1969, Lucille remained the steady heart of the family. She also stepped in as caregiver to her father-in-law, Millard Rash, tending to him faithfully until his passing.
In 1984, Lucille found love again and married Richard Sebold. They shared a joyful decade together until Richard’s passing in 1992. During those years, the two loved nothing more than Sunday morning church and dinner at Red Lobster.
Lucille worked at Alger Oil in Rising Sun, Md. for over 30 years as a dedicated service manager and bookkeeper until she retired. She made it her business to know all customers by their first names.
She was a longtime and devoted member of Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Pennsylvania, attending faithfully for more than 50 years. Her love for Christ was deep and enduring, and she enjoyed singing the old mountain gospel songs that spoke to her soul.
Lucille had a wit as sharp as a tack, a heart as big as the mountains she came from, and a presence that
could never be ignored. She was spirited, unwavering in her ways, and always—always—there when you needed a boost, whether it was a hug, a prayer, or a plate of something hot. If you visited her, you were guaranteed to leave with a bag of something delicious—and a reminder to bring her bowl back.
She loved road trips back to her hometown of Grundy, Virginia, especially with her grandson, Jamie. She cherished every extended stay with family there especially with her sister in-law, Sue Delaney, who was her lifelong friend.
She made the best biscuits and sausage gravy at home but loved breakfast in Lancaster. She loved her word search puzzles and could crochet just about anything.
Lucille spent her final years filled with laughter, game shows, warm company, and the deep satisfaction of knowing her family was her greatest legacy.
Lucille is preceded in death by her parents, Ethel and Frank Delaney; both of her husbands, James Rash and Richard Sebold; her sons, James Jr. and Terry; and many dear siblings. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Denise Rash; her stepdaughters, Kimberly Sebold and Robin Sebold; her grandchildren, Jamie Rash, Joshua Rash, and Julie Ellen Miles, along with their loving spouses; as well as a growing legacy of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family who will carry her spirit with them always. She was everyone’s MomMom or Aunt Lucille.
Per her wishes, no services will be held, and cremation will be private.
The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Wrightsdale Baptist Church.
Lucille Rash lived a life marked by faith, grit, and— at times—sorrow, but always with relentless love. No one ever worked harder to make others happy. She leaves behind a family that will never forget her laugh, her strength, her ornery smirks, her soft hugs. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com) in Oxford.
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
5 p.m. 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.
Call for volunteers at the Chester County Food Bank's Pennsylvania Day on July 18
The Chester County Food Bank will offer a variety of volunteer opportunities for Pennsylvania Day on Friday, July 18 in partnership with America250 PA Chester County.
Volunteers can help prep and package colorful and nutritious prepared meals, sort, clean, and pack fresh produce for distribution, or help in the warehouse packing senior food boxes or other distribution tasks. For those who would rather get outside, help harvest fresh vegetables at either Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore or Two Gander Farm in Downgingtown, register at https://vhub.at/
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Robert Burnell
Bortner, late of the Borough of Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 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 Betsy Bryce, Executrix, C/O Attorney: Allen H. Tollen, Esquire, 41 East Front St., Media, PA 19063 6p-18-3t
NOTICE TO UN-NAMED FATHER
STATE OF INDIANA, COUNTY OF BOONE IN THE, BOONE SUPERIOR COURT 1, CASE NO._ 06D01-2506-AD-000015
IN RE: THE ADOPTION OF, CALEB DRAVEN SNYDER, Minor, WAYNE H. SNYDER, Petitioner.
NOTICE TO UNNAMED FA -
THER
The unnamed putative father of the child born to COLLEEN ELIZABETH SNYDER on the 20th day of November 2008, or the person who claims to be the father of the child born to COLLEEN ELIZABETH SNYDER on the 20th day of November 2008, is notified that a Petition for Adoption of the child was filed in the office of the Clerk of the Boone Superior Court I, Boone County Courthouse, 307 Courthouse Square, Lebanon, IN 46052.
If the unnamed putative father seeks to contest the adoption of the child, the unnamed putative father must file a motion to contest the adoption in accordance with IC 31-19-10-1 in the abovenamed Court within thirty (30) days after the date of service of this notice. This notice may be served by publication.
If the unnamed putative father does not file a motion to contest the adoption within thirty (30) days after service of this notice, the above-named Court shall hear and determine the
america250pa.
National Pennsylvania Day is an annual observance to honor Pennsylvania as the second state to join the Union after adopting the U.S. Constitution. America 250 PA and America 250 PA Chester County both mark this annual observance leading up to America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026 by encouraging volunteer efforts at local food banks and other initiatives.
The America 250 PA Chester County Commission aims to “inspire and engage all our communities in commemoration of America’s founding, connecting our county’s stories to the
Petition for Adoption. The unnamed putative father’s consent is irrevocably implied, and the unnamed putative father loses the right to contest the adoption or the validity of the unnamed putative father’s implied consent to the adoption. The unnamed putative father loses the right to establish paternity of the child under IC 31-14,:
Nothing COLLEEN ELIZABETH SNYDER or anyone else says to the unnamed putative father of the child relieves the unnamed putative father of his obligations under this notice. Under Indiana law, a putative father is a person who is named as or claims that he may be the father of a child born out of wedlock but who has not yet been legally proven to be the child’s father.
This notice complies with IC 3119-4-4 but does not exhaustively set forth the unnamed putative father’s legal obligations under the Indiana adoption statutes.
A person being served with this notice should consult the Indiana adoption statutes. LISA BRUDER, CLERK, BOONE SUPERIOR COURT I ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER. Chris L. Shelby, #123-06, SHELBY LAW PC, 116 N. West street, P.O. Box 743, Lebanon, IN 46052, Telephone: (765) 4821370, Facsimile: (765) 482-9065 07-02-1t
NOTICE OF FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION
Notice is Hereby Given pursuant to the provisions of Act of Assembly, No. 295 Office of the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, an application for the conduct of a business in Chester County, Pennsylvania under the assumed or fictitious name, style or designation of Qualicare Home Care King of Prussia, West Chester & Media, with its principal place of business at 1515 Montana Drive, Downingtown, PA 1935. The names and addresses of the persons
The Chester County Food Bank
of volunteer opportunities for Pennsylvania Day on Friday, July 18 in partnership with America250 PA Chester County.
nation’s past, present, and future throughout 2026.”
The Chester County Food Bank mobilizes and educates the community to ensure access to nutritious and familiar food. The Food Bank secures, manages, and
owning or interested in said business is/are Ryan Igbanol and Shady Pines Ma! Inc. both of 1515 Montana Drive, Downingtown, PA 19335. 07-02-1t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Patricia A. Cairns,
late of Atglen, Chester County, Pennsylvania. LETTERS Testamentary on the above Estate have been granted to Mark McWilliams and Paul McWilliams, Co- Executors, 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 Estate of Patricia A. Cairns, C/O Daniel Fallon, Esquire, 1100 Bondsville Rd., Downingtown, PA 19335 7p-2-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, July 17th, 2025 at 11AM.
Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, August 18th, 2025. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.
Sale No: 25-7-200
Writ of Execution No. 2025-00430
DEBT $522,661.98
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or parcel of land situated in the Township of Kennett, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, being more fully described in Deed dated September 17, 2018 and recorded in the Office of the Chester County Recorder of Deeds on November 20, 2018, in Deed Book Volume 9846 at Page 1372, as Instrument No. 201811640239.
distributes food to those in need with more than 100 Community Partners in the county through their network of food cupboards, hot meal sites, shelters, and other social service organizations, distributing
Tax Parcel # 62-6-40.15
PLAINTIFF: US Bank Trust
National Association, Not In Its Individual Capacity But Solely As Owner Trustee for VRMTG Asset Trust
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets.
KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 6p-25-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, July 17th, 2025 at 11AM.
Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, August 18th, 2025. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.
Sale: 25-7-203 Writ of Execution No. 2024-04229
DEBT $294,722.71
Property situate in the LOWER OXFORD TOWNSHIP, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania, being BLR # 56-9-25.16
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: Citibank, N.A., Not In Its Individual Capacity
nearly 3.5 million pounds to neighbors with limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
But Solely as Owner Trustee of Bravo Residential Funding Trust 2023-NQM7 VS DEFENDANT: Jill A Dawson
SALE ADDRESS: 200 College Circle, Lincoln University, PA 19352
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets.
KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 6p-25-3t
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For more information on Chester County Food Bank programs, visit chestercountyfoodbank.org.
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Photo courtesy Brandi Levine
will offer a variety
Photo courtesy Brandi Levine Volunteers can help prep and package colorful and nutritious prepared meals, sort, clean, and pack fresh produce for distribution, or help in the warehouse packing Senior Food Boxes or other distribution tasks.
Continued from Page 1A
However, today I learned from my bank that my account has been seized, and I truly do not know what will happen next.”
Currie also apologized for the inconvenience that the closing of the company will have on its customers and staff:
“This has been an overwhelming and disappointing
blow, and I am truly sorry for the uncertainty and loss this may cause.
“Please know that I take full responsibility for this situation. I am doing everything I can to address it and to find the best way forward. My commitment to you and our team remains steadfast, and I will keep you updated as I learn more.
Thank you for your loyalty, support, and understanding.”
Established in 1978, Currie Hair Skin Nails quickly
became a leader in the local beauty industry and offered its customers a full-service salon and spa, offering luxury spa and hair services that included massages, facial, manicures, pedicures and waxing. Known for its commitment to creating the “Currie Luxury Experience,” the company earned its reputation by delivering “an exceptional experience to our guests through education, outstanding amenities, and a desire to be the best,” it wrote on its website. “We are a
Project sees planting of 11,200 native species Peacedale Preserve is recipient of Natural Lands’ reforestation effort
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
The continuing imprint of one of the area’s most prestigious centers of land preservation was recently graced again by the magic wand of its latest efforts.
Natural Lands – the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization – recently completed a massive tree-planting effort at the organization’s Peacedale Preserve in Landenberg. The project saw the planting of 11,020 native species along waterways and across 36 acres of former fields.
Over time, the seedlings will mature to a diverse forest, offering habitat for
wildlife and improve water quality.
The seedlings consist of a variety of native species, including red maple, silver maple, hornbeam, redbud, tuliptree, blackgum, sycamore, white oak, swamp white oak, pin oak, chestnut oak, elderberry and flowering dogwood. Planted at a density of 303 trees per acre, the seedlings are protected from deer by fivefoot-tall tree shelters that photodegrade over time.
The trees and shrubs were planted in 12-foot rows, wide enough to allow preserve stewardship staff to mow between them, reducing competition from other vegetation until the seedlings have matured.
In addition to improving water quality, the planting project at Peacedale Preserve will re-establish forest cover and improve wildlife habitat. In particular, woodlands are essential for migratory songbirds— such as Scarlet Tanager and Wood Thrush—that rely on the dense forest for food and protection from the weather and predators.
Planting has impact on water quality
“It’s really quite remarkable how much of a positive impact planting trees along streams has on water quality,” said Gary Gimbert, vice president of stewardship for Natural Lands. “The
salon and spa of distinctive
design, staffed by professionals with an unwavering commitment to service and detail.”
Since the posting of its closures, comments from customers at all locations have continued to flood in, the vast majority of which have expressed sadness and offered encouragement to Currie and his staff.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
creeks that travel through
Peacedale Preserve flow to Big Elk Creek, onward to Elk River, and empty into Chesapeake Bay, whose estuary contains about 2,700 plant and animal species live, and where area fishermen harvest around 500 million pounds of seafood.
“We are committed to creating and maintaining a minimum 100-foot buffer along all waterways that run through our nature preserves. As they mature, the native trees we’ve planted at Peacedale will help filter out sediment and other pollutants, reduce erosion, and slow stormwater to prevent flooding.”
Funding for this project was provided by the E. Kneale
Dockstader Foundation, the Conservancy Grant Program, the Chester County Commissioners and donors to Natural Lands’ preserve restoration fund.
In 1973, the estate of Charles Foote donated his Landenberg farm to Natural Lands, but due to limited access and funding, it was an isolated parcel with no trails. In 2009, Natural Lands purchased an adjoining 133-acres from a developer that had received approval for subdivision but due to the economic downturn, the developer decided to sell the land instead.
Later that same year, and again in 2011, the organization acquired additional neighboring
properties, bringing the preserve to its present size of 222 acres. Today, the agency cares for over 40 nature preserves and one public garden that total more than 23,000 acres and 122 miles of trails and pathways.
In 2025, Natural Lands is projected to plant 22,540 trees and shrubs on 75.5 acres, and is planning additional large-scale reforestation projects at several other Pennsylvania nature preserves under their care, including the Diabase Farm Preserve in New Hope, the Sadsbury Woods Preserve in Parkesburg and the Stroud Preserve in West Chester. To learn more about Natural Lands and its projects, visit www.natlands.org.
Photo by Mark Williams
Natural Lands recently completed a massive tree-planting effort at the organization’s Peacedale Preserve in Landenberg.
Courtesy photo
Currie Hair Skin Nails announced on June 27 that it was closing all five of its locations, including its salon in Kennett Square.
