ChristianaCare’s neighborhood hospital set to open in Penn Township
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the ChristianaCare Hospital's West Grove campus took place last Friday, with local officials saying the facility will fill a void—and save lives
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
medical care during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new hospital on the West Grove campus. The neighborhood hospital is expected to open in August.
State Sen. Carolyn Comitta thanked State Rep. John Lawrence before an enthusiastic crowd of hundreds for the timely phone call he made to ChristianaCare, which was the beginning of bringing emergency care back to the area. A major health care void was created when the Jennersville Hospital closed
A conversation with PECO Vice President Jennifer Hanna
‘Our
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
southern Chester County that have raised concern and drawn the anger of thousands of PECO customers. We recently addressed those concerns in an interview with Jennifer Hanna, PECO’s Vice President of Electric Operations, who
oversees the daily operation of the energy company’s electric distribution system, including management of its distribution system operations and construction and maintenance organization.
Let’s begin by asking a simple question: Why do PECO customers in Chester County continue to endure an inordinate amount of power outages?
Hanna: Let’s start with
3A
photo The ribbon-cutting ceremony at ChristianaCare Hospital at West Grove was well-attended by county, state and local officials and ChristianaCare representatives. All had a generous hand in bringing the health care facility that offers emergency services back to the area.
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
Plans for a warehouse in East Nottingham Township are drawing some questions from bordering municipalities and local residents concerned with possible increased truck traffic.
Oxford Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen said, “We asked to have the borough’s engineer, Pennoni, review the traffic-impact study. Pennoni did, and they issued a letter that I submitted to East Nottingham Township with our request for a review of traffic concerns outside of East Nottingham Township to be considered. The borough and West Nottingham Township have concerns. I believe the developer has contended that all truck traffic coming out of the property would go south toward West Nottingham Township. The Borough of Oxford is concerned about that assumption.”
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of PECO
Jennifer Hanna is PECO’s Vice President of Electric Operations.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The New Garden Township Board of Supervisors recently voted in favor of placing
long-term air quality monitoring facility at the edge of New Garden Park’s parking lot, near the Township Building on Starr Road.
Courtesy
ChristianaCare...
Continued from Page 1A
in 2021. ChristianaCare’s neighborhood hospital will fill that void—and save lives.
“Shortly after the hospital closed, I organized a meeting with key leaders at ChristianaCare and thenSecretary of Health Keara Klinepeter,” Lawrence explained. “We met just down the road from where we are standing today to talk about what it would take to bring hospital care and an ER back to this area.
Air quality...
Continued from Page 1A
township and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the “Landenberg” monitor will be placed at the edge of the New Garden Park’s parking lot, adjacent to the Township Building and strategically near the Landenberg Hunt development off of Starr Road, where over the past several years, residents have unleashed a flurry of complaints about the consistently poor air quality emanating from nearby mushroom farms that has corroded their home’s utilities, led to consistent health problems and diminished their quality of life.
The DEP and Township staff agreed that the new Landenberg monitor should be located in a lower-lying area to address concerns that the previous temporary monitor was at a higher elevation and further away from Landenberg Hunt. Consequently, it will be located between 50 to 60 feet lower in elevation and 620 feet closer to the development, and will require a minimum of two additional poles.
The monitor will include an air monitoring shelter, an H2S sampler, and meteorological equipment (wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, temperature, solar radiation), and the DEP will consider adding fine particulate sampling (PM2.5). Barring delays in leasing or
Warehouse...
Continued from Page 1A
The Borough of Oxford, an urban center serving five townships, is concerned about the possibility of
“Today, we celebrate the fruition of the seeds planted at those early meetings – a state-of-the-art health care facility that will serve our community for the next generation.”
Residents in southern Chester County were very concerned when the hospital shut its doors and put many in the need of a nearby hospital in a state of panic.
Pauline Corso said, “I’d like to thank [ChristianaCare President and CEO] Dr. Janice Nevin. Because of her leadership,
infrastructure contracting, the DEP expects to have the Landenberg monitor operational by the fall. The DEP has already established an air quality monitoring facility at the New Garden Flying Field.
Results of West Chester University study still linger
The echo of similarsounding sentiments of outrage about the poor quality of air influenced by the agricultural industry in New Garden Township has not been confined to those who live in Landenberg Hunt. In response to a rising number of complaints by area residents about the effect that the odors emitted from nearby mushroom composting facilities were having on their health and their household appliances, the township began a partnership with Dr. Lorenzo Cena, Ph.D., M.S., the Director of Environmental Health Program and Associate Professor at West Chester University, in 2022.
The township commissioned Cena to conduct a one-year study - from February 2023 to February 2024 - to measure the air quality near these mushroom farms; specifically, whether ammonia, methane and Hydrogen Sulfide met or exceeded acceptable levels as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
more traffic - particularly from trucks - which cause congestion and create more wear-and-tear on the borough’s streets. Large trucks have damaged fire hydrants, curbing and traf-
we are here today. When ChristianaCare makes a promise, they deliver.”
After years of hard work and determination, Lawrence joined senior leaders from ChristianaCare and other elected officials for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new hospital in Jennersville to celebrate the return of emergency medical care to southern Chester County. Friday’s event saw several hundred attendees, including local business leaders, township officials, and contractors who constructed the new facility.
Using three G7 XO area monitors that were positioned between 100 to 600 feet away from mushroom composting sites in the township, the results of the study – which was shared with township residents on Sept. 4, 2024 - revealed that Hydrogen Sulfide levels were 33 times higher than the recommended levels established by the DEP for the general public, who specifies that concentrations of the gas over the course of one hour should not exceed 0.1 ppm, (parts per million) and that concentrations over a 24-hour period should not exceed 0.005 ppm.
In contrast, the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety recommends occupational levels not to exceed 10 ppm and an exposure time not to exceed 10 minutes. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permits concentrations of up to 20 ppm in the workplace.
During his presentation, Cena provided a summary of what exposure to various levels of Hydrogen Sulfide has on those who are exposed to it. Low concentrations – from 0 ppm to 10 ppm – create a strong odor of rotten eggs and cause irritation of the eyes and the respiratory system. Elevated concentrations –from 10 to 50 ppm – may cause dizziness, nausea and headaches, and for those who are exposed to levels of 50 ppm and higher, they
fic lights in Oxford in the past. Also of concern is the turning radii for trucks and how that will be handled.
Oxford Borough does have regulations on the books regarding the size, weight and type of vehicles permitted on special streets, and the borough has designated “no truck traffic” restrictions on certain streets due to previous damage caused by trucks.
It is apparent, according to the plans for the Herr Farm, that East Penn Railroad will also play a significant part in the proposed warehouse. It is not clear how much rail traffic
When ChristianaCare purchased the hospital complex in June of 2022, it decided to completely build a new hospital and emergency room within the existing hospital’s shell. The result is a new, stateof-the-art facility that is ready to serve the community for several generations.
Local residents waited years living in fear of a long ambulance ride to a hospital for emergency services, but with the opening of the new facility, critical health care will only be minutes away for thousands
may be susceptible to severe respiratory irritation, convulsions, a loss of smell to detect gas, coma and immediate death.
Progress check on AMI research project
In a presentation at the Supervisors’ July 21 meeting, township Manager Christopher Himes said that the township continues to contact representatives from the Avondale-based American Mushroom Institute (AMI) about the progress of an air quality study the agency is conducting on an undisclosed Chester County mushroom farm. On Sept. 4, 2024, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that the AMI and eight other agencies were the recipients of grants totaling $1.5 million that would charge them with the responsibility to develop innovative solutions to agricultural challenges like climate change, air quality, and loss of critical water and soil resources.
To date, there have been no public meetings to bring the public up to date on the progress of the $220,000 grant, but in his presentation, Himes shared the following comment from the AMI:
“The Mushroom Industry is cautiously optimistic about new tools on the market it has assessed to be adaptable to mushroom composting operations,” the statement read. “The
will be increased.
Graves Road is situated between Route 272 and Old Baltimore Pike and as such may also be impacted by the truck traffic, as would the residences along that road.
According to Rachel Greer, the zoning officer for East Nottingham Township, The Herr’s Farm Preliminary Land Development Plan proposes three industrial warehouse distribution buildings on 123 acres located in the I1 (Industrial) District in East Nottingham Township. The three warehouses will total 940,640 square feet and include 941 parking spaces. It will be served by public water and sewer.
Greer explained, “The plan was reviewed at the
of people. Funding for the hospital was made possible by local, state and federal funding.
County Commissioner Josh Maxwell said, “We listened to the residents. We wanted to have a long-standing staff and we wanted to use our investment dollars wisely.”
Comitta knew the first thing they needed was approval for a micro-hospital. “I was confident it would happen and it did,” she said.
The neighborhood hospital will offer fast, effective
and compassionate care 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, which is a comfort to residents throughout southern Chester County. The 20,000-square-foot hospital is expected to open in mid-August and will offer a 10-bed inpatient unit, a 10-room emergency department and imaging services. It will also feature a helipad for easy transport.
The hospital will provide emergency and acute care, with patients needing more advanced treatment being transferred to larger hospitals in the region.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is funding some of the work to assess and pilot required operations adjustments and outcomes. Apart from that, the industry’s own investment in these new tools will total in the millions, including start-up costs as high as $2 million for some farms, and significant ongoing annual expenses across the industry.
“We are working with our state and federal legislators
June 23, 2025 Planning Commission meeting. The minutes from this meeting will be available after the Planning Commission meeting on July 28. The developer was present and will need to revise the plan and then resubmit to the Planning Commission. As of today, a revised plan has not been submitted so I do not know when it will be in front of the Planning Commission.
“The plan was set to expire on August 17, 2025 but a one-month extension was granted so the plan now expires September 18, 2025, which would put it on the September 9, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting agenda. However, an extension can be granted, allowing more time to review the plan, so at
to secure available grant dollars to fill funding gaps and expedite the startup timeline to the extent possible. As we work to identify the most effective solutions, we are grateful for the continued understanding of our townships and communities and remain confident these investments will yield longterm benefits for all.”
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
this time an exact date is unknown.”
Greer also explained that up-to-date information and a copy of the plan layout can be found on East Nottingham Township’s website under “Land Development and Subdivision Plans.”
The engineer review letter from June 17 is also listed on the website. Many questions posed by the public are the same as those posed by East Nottingham Township’s engineer.
The bigger question may be: How can the public continue to increase its demand for home delivery of more and more products without increased truck traffic?
One theory is that problems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic forever increased the number of home deliveries. Families and individuals are increasingly getting more comfortable with home deliveries for a wider variety of things they want to purchase.
One resident said, “If people don’t want more trucks on the road and through their towns, they need to go out and do their own shopping. It’s the people wanting home deliveries that have increased truck deliveries.”
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The new air quality monitor will closely resemble the monitor at the New Garden Flying Field.
Continued from Page 1A
the fact that 73 percent of the outages that Chester County is seeing are due to vegetation. You couple it with the fact that we’re seeing abnormal storm activity, and unfortunately, our customers are seeing the impact of that. In addition, we are doing a lot of reliability work, so in order to upgrade our infrastructure – replace wires and poles – we are doing planned outages, so some of the outages customers are seeing are also intentional so we can safely do this upgrade work. However, the storms that are coming through and the vegetation issues are what our customers are seeing the most.
What do you tell the family of an elderly member who needs access to power in order to have his or her life-saving machines working during a power outage?
Our infrastructure improvement work aims to prevent outages, but if an outage does occur we are focused on safely restoring power as quickly as possible. In the event that there is an unfortunate circumstance where someone is encountering the situation you described, know that we are working quickly and as safely as possible to restore power. In the event that they need support outside of power, they need to rely on 9-1-1 services for support or have a back-up plan.
In a story that appeared in the July 23 edition of the Chester County Press, several PECO customers quoted in the report said they have had difficulty reaching a live person during the power outages, and that the text reports display inaccurate information about when power will be restored. What measures is PECO taking to improve its customer communications, particularly during power outages?
We staff up for storms, in the field, in the back office and in our customer care center and add customer representatives so that we are able to answer phones during a storm. To answer it from a technical perspective, think of a power outage and estimated restoration times like the trunk of a tree and its branches. An outage will come in at the trunk of the tree and some of the branches may have outages associated with this. We call them “nested outages,” so we make the repairs at the trunk of the tree, but there could be outages left on the branches, but you can’t get to those outages until you repair the main trunk. At that point, the estimat-
ed time of restoration could change for those customers who are affected by nested outages. So, we can see multiple times for restoration if you have a nested outage, which is what our customers are seeing in some of those circumstances.
Recently, PECO told Pennsylvania State Sen. John Kane that it has six ongoing projects in Chester County that are “targeting vegetated areas with tree trimming or removals, and approximately two miles of covered primary conductors as well as more than five miles of reframing, reconductoring, and/or converting areas.” Give me a status report on those projects and when customers can expect to see positive outcomes – in other words, fewer power outages.
Reframing is upgrading the voltage of the power lines. We’re rebuilding our infrastructure to support higher voltage to meet evolving customer needs. We’re also reconductoring our tree resistant wires so we will replace aging wire with more modern tree wire. If a tree limb comes down on a tree resistant wire it typically will not cause an outage. We tend to use them in heavily vegetated areas.
There have been a couple of projects that have been in the works since the end of 2024. We began with vegetation removal – making some clearances so that we can then do construction. Some of those projects are scheduled to be completed by the end of August, so customers will begin to feel the impact of that. In addition, we have shortened our vegetation trimming cycles from five years to four years – by 20 percent – and customers will see the impact of that in this year. For context, a trimming cycle means that all circuits will be analyzed, and vegetation will be trimmed on a fouryear basis.
We also have eight projects scheduled for 2026 – to continue to look at the reliability in the area, what we can do to improve it and taking feedback from our customers. Our goal is to make sure that we have safe and reliable power for our customers, and that they are not seeing outages.
State Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) recently introduced H.R. 254, a resolution to get the Commonwealth to look into how the state can better protect its utility infrastructure against future and frequent weather events. What is PECO’s stance on underground wiring, and specifically, what do you feel are the pros
Local
and cons of such a major infrastructure overhaul in Pennsylvania?
There are pros and cons. One, it’s underground and therefore not susceptible to tree outages. That said, the life span of underground cable is less than aerial cable; the life span of underground cable is 40 years, and the life span of aerial cable is 60 years. The other impact of underground cable is that you can’t see it, so when there is an issue, it takes longer to troubleshoot and get power restored. Underground cable is also seven to ten times the cost of aerial cable, so there would be an impact on our customers, cost-wise.
Although underground cable has its benefits, there are some downsides to it, as well.
The PECO 2025 Summer Readiness Report filed with the PUC states that “PECO has several reliability enhancement programs that significantly contribute to the company’s success performance.” What does “success” mean to you and your colleagues at PECO?
First and foremost, it’s the safety of our employees and our customers. From a reliability perspective, we never want to see our customers without power. The enhancements that we are putting into our infrastructure – whether it’s the upgraded equipment or using new technology – are supporting the reliability of our service to our customers.
Success to me is seeing the benefits of those investments in our infrastructure. In 2023, we had one of our best reliability performance years as a company, when 86 percent of our customers did not see an outage – or had one outage and when power was interrupted, we were able to get customers back on within 90 minutes on average. To me, that’s success.
In his address to his constituency on July 2, Kennett Township Supervisor Geoffrey Gamble recommended that a PECO representative serve as a liaison between the company and the township, who will be asked to appear regularly at township meetings and provide updates. Would this be feasible for PECO to do, and not just for one municipality but for several?
We have external affairs representatives that are assigned to each county, which provides a direct line for municipalities to reach us with their comments and their concerns. That has, and continues to be a great mechanism for receiving feedback. We are aware of
Supervisor Gamble’s comments and we have our reliability team looking at some of the issues he raised and will schedule some time to sit down and talk with him.
The modernization of our households and our work environments have changed dramatically over the last decade, as has our reliance on various forms of energy such as internet access. Let’s take a long view. Strictly in terms of technological advancement – decisions made in the science of delivering energy - how is PECO preparing itself to meet the changing face of technology in the home and in the workplace?
To combat the effects of a changing climate and more frequent and severe storms, PECO has invested millions of dollars on storm hardening, which involves physical changes to make equipment less susceptible to the impact of extreme weather conditions. For example, during the last several years we have invested $120 million in advanced devices known as reclosers, which will minimize the number of customers impacted during an outage. It will see an outage, isolate the damage, and restore power to the unaffected customers, so they will not experience
an extended outage. Crews will then be able to make repairs on the section that is actually impacted. Those types of investments minimize impact on our customers. From 20182024, these reclosers have avoided approximately 6.89 million power interruptions for customers. We’re also investing in our new meters, which can automatically detect a power outage and help us
determine who has power and who does not have power so we can efficiently dispatch crews during a storm. We’re also investing in other types of technology, such as drones to assess damage in storms, that will help our crews to make the repairs they need to make in a more efficient manner.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
PECO Investments in Southern Chester County
During the next five years, PECO will be investing nearly $10 billion to complete targeted system enhancement work, install new equipment, inspect and replace aging equipment, and perform vegetation management work to ensure the system is able to meet increased demand, prevent power outages, and reduce the duration of outages that do occur. Multiple projects are occurring throughout Southern Chester County to enhance service for customers.
Current and Ongoing Projects
• Kennett Township: Installation of tree-resistant wire and conducting tree trimming and removals. Vegetation work began in November and will potentially be completed in August 2025
• Birmingham and West Bradford Townships: Installation of tree-resistant wire and tree trimming and removals, which was completed in March
• Franklin Township: Rebuilt wires, installed new aerial cable, added additional devices to isolate damage and reduce the number of customers affected from an outage, and conducted tree trimming and removals, which was completed in April
• Elk Township: Rebuilt lines and added an additional device to isolate damage and reduce the number of customers affected by an outage, and conducted tree trimming and removals, which was completed in June
• London Britain Township: Rebuilding and installing new aerial lines and conducting tree trimming and removals, which is scheduled for completion in December
Future Projects
• In Kennett, London Grove, Pennsbury, New Garden, Newlin, Upper Oxford, West Marlborough townships and West Chester: Rebuilding and installing new aerial lines and conducting tree trimming and removals
• Franklin Township: Installing tree-resistant aerial lines as well as new aerial lines, and extending existing lines in conjunction with additional isolating devices (to isolate damage and reduce the number of customers affected from an outage) along with tree trimming and removals
• Landenberg: Installing an additional device to isolate damage and reduce the number of customers affected by an outage and conducting tree trimming and removals
• Pocopson Township: Rebuilding aerial lines, installing new aerial lines and tree-resistant lines and conducting tree trimming and removals
• Pennsbury Township: Replacing aging wire with newer, more tree-resistant construction and conducting tree trimming/removals
• Unionville: Extending a new set of aerial lines to create more resiliency and allow for faster customer restoration should outages occur.
Honey Brook man charged with child rape
The Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Chester County Detectives announced the arrest of Drake Lease, 18, of Honey Brook, for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old child victim on July 19. Lease faces charges of Rape of a Child, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child, and other related offenses. Magisterial District Judge J. Timothy Arndt arraigned the defen-
dant on July 21. Lease is currently being held at Chester County Prison with a cash bail of $750,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 11.
The criminal complaint filed by the Chester County Detectives indicates that on July 20 officers from the City of Coatesville Police Department received a report that a child had been sexually assaulted. The child victim was transport-
ed to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for immediate care and a sexual assault examination by medical personnel. Chester County Detectives spoke with the child victim who disclosed that while she was sleeping at a relative’s house in West Brandywine Township, the defendant woke her, pulled off her underwear, and anally raped her.
Chester County District Attorney Christopher de
Barrena-Sarobe said,“The facts of this case are gutwrenching. No child should be sexually assaulted in the middle of the night at a relative’s house. We will continue to work side by side with local law enforcement to swiftly apprehend defendants who prey on children.”
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Chester County Detectives are the lead investigating agency
and received assistance from the City of Coatesville Police Department and the West Brandywine Township Police Department. This is an ongoing investigation, and if anyone has information about Drake Lease or this offense, they should contact the Chester County Detectives at 610-3446866. Assistant District Attorney Zachary Yurick is the assigned prosecutor in this case.
Photo courtesy of PECO
During the next five years, PECO will be investing nearly $10 billion to complete targeted system enhancement work, install new equipment, and inspect and replace aging equipment.
Courtesy photo Drake Lease
Chester County Commissioners approve $5 million in Community Revitalization Program grants
Funds will provide infrastructure improvements for 15 urban centers and City of Coatesville
Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe
unanimously approved $5 million in 2025-2026 Community Revitalization Program (CRP) grants at their recent meeting. The CRP grants will fund 12 projects in urban centers across Chester County.
Maxwell said, “Our community revitalization grants help our 15 boroughs and the City of Coatesville ensure that critical infrastructures are maintained and improved, which encourages new development and redevelopment.
Since 2002, Chester County has approved nearly $85 million in CRP grant funding that has helped make our downtown communities better and safer places to live.”
“CRP funds are investments in urban centers,” added Moskowitz. “These grants help them accommodate new growth through water and sewer system upgrades, stormwater management, roadway improvements, and
streetscaping. That, in turn, creates an increased taxable assessment for the boroughs and Coatesville.” Chester County’s 2025-2026 Community Revitalization Program grant distributions include the following:
• $600,000 to the Borough of Spring City for improvements to Boat Launch Park.
• $550,000 to the Borough of Phoenixville for the installation of a solar panel array at Phoenixville Recreation Center.
• $540,000 to the Borough of Atglen for pedestrian safety and roadway improvements to the downtown.
• $490,000 to the Borough of Honey Brook for infrastructure improvements to James Street.
• $460,000 to the City of Coatesville for continued flood mitigation efforts.
• $425,000 to the Borough of West Chester for Phase 2 of safety and accessibility improvements to the Gay Street Open Air Marketplace.
• $425,000 to the Borough
of West Grove for improvements to Memorial Park.
• $395,000 to the Borough of Oxford to expand the Niblock Alley redevelopment project.
• $350,000 to the Borough of Kennett Square to replace the water main on Race Street.
• $310,000 to the Borough of Avondale for Phase 2 of surveying and mapping of water systems.
• $300,000 to the Borough of Downingtown for a Comprehensive Boroughwide Stormwater Flood Study to begin flood mitigation work throughout the Borough.
• $155,000 to the Borough of Parkesburg for road repairs to First Avenue.
Roe said, “By being laser-focused on projects that make improvements to communities today and in the future, community revitalization funds give a powerful boost to our urban centers. But ultimately, it’s the residents who are the real winners because they can enjoy better infrastructure,
improved public facilities, more recreation opportunities, and a climate-friendly community.”
Dolores Colligan, director of the Chester County Department of Community Development, the department that administers the CRP funds, noted the several project types that are eligible for CRP funding.
“Activities that support Chester County’s Climate Action Plan are eligible for CRP grant money,” said Colligan, “as well as those that make improvements to streetscapes, parking facilities, parks and trails, and eliminate urban blight. Projects may also be related to sewer and water mains or stormwater drainage.
“More recently, we added bonus points in the application process for any projects submitted by our boroughs and the City of Coatesville that promote affordable housing infrastructure, such as sewer and stormwater improvements, utility hookups, and the construction of streets and sidewalks.”
County names a new Chief Experience Officer
Megan Moser, M.P.A., has been named as the new Chief Experience Officer for Chester County government, following the approval by the Chester County Commissioners during a public meeting.
In a move signaling a shift toward a more innovative and responsive style of leadership, the Chester County Commissioners last year rebranded the role of County Administrator as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – a title more common in the private sector.
This change reflected the Commissioners’ intent to bring a fresh, entrepreneurial energy to the highest executive role.
Expanding on the Commissioners’ vision,
Chester County CEO David Byerman renamed the deputy administrator role to Chief Experience Officer (CXO). The new position reflects a renewed focus on constituent engagement and public service excellence. Under this new structure, the county’s executive team, beyond the CEO, consists of the Chief Operating Officer (COO), responsible for internal service delivery and departmental support, and the Chief Experience Officer, tasked with enhancing external engagement and community-facing services.
“In appointing a Chief Experience Officer – possibly the first in the nation at the county level – we are
Additional Obituaries on Page 2B
BARBARA ANN FETTY
Barbara Ann (Maine) Fetty, a resident of Lincoln University, Pa., passed away on July 19, 2025 at Twin Pines Health Care Center in West Grove. She was 71. Barbara was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
She is the loving wife of Sandy Michael Fetty, with whom she shared 49 years of marriage on this earth and is now spending Eternity together in health, peace and happiness.
Barbara was employed by Dansko in West Grove for 12 years until she retired.
She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, doing crafts, thrifting, listening to the ocean’s waves, and anything to do with Christmas.
She is survived by her five children, Misty Newell (David) of Justin, Tex., Amanda Jackson (Phil) of Nottingham, Kara Fetty of Oxford, Kayce Brown (Chris) of Oxford and Jason Fetty (Lauryn) of Asheville, N.C., 22 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and one brother, Richard (Lucretia) Maine.
Barbara was preceded in death by her soulmate, and love of her life, Sandy Michael Fetty.
Funeral services were held on July 24 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Interment was in Nottingham Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
sending a clear message that constituent experience is central to our mission,” Byerman said. “Our residents deserve outstanding service, and we are so fortunate to have someone with Megan’s talents to help us raise the bar for how we serve Chester County.”
In this new role, Moser will focus on how Chester County Government engages with constituents and other external audiences, and will oversee those county departments that have that focus. Moser’s department portfolio will include Health, Human Services, Libraries, Open Space Preservation, Voter Services, Water Resources, Workforce Development,
and Pocopson Home, the county’s long-term healthcare facility. Moser brings a wealth of qualifications and skills in customer experience and engagement as well as strategic design acquired at the federal and municipal government levels, and in the higher education sector.
She joins the county after having served as a director of customer experience for the federal government’s General Services Administration’s Technology Transformation Services Centers of Excellence. In that role, she partnered with federal agencies to address complex challenges impacting the experiences of their customers and to improve
service delivery. Recent agency partners include the U.S. Department of State and the Office of Management and Budget.
Prior to her work with the General Services Administration, Moser served in customer- and constituent-focused roles with both the City of Philadelphia and the Wharton School of Business.
Moser is a graduate of the Fels Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received her master of public administration degree. She also completed post-baccalaureate studies at Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences and holds a bachelor of arts in human services from Chestnut
MARTHA SUSAN STARKEY
Martha Susan Starkey, of Kennett Square, died on July 1, 2025. She was 85.
Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of Charles Shearer and Dorothy Swimley.
She served as a kitchen worker for the Friends Home in Kennett Square for over 30 years.
Sue attended Willowdale Chapel in Kennett Square for years. She enjoyed the simple things in life – family, traveling with her mother, and the welfare of others. She was a hardworking and faithful wife to the late Tony Starkey.
Sue and her mother Dorothy shared wonderful memories together in their later years in traveling abroad and blessing others however they could. Sue is survived by her brother, Gary Shearer of West Chester, as well as two sons, Bobby and David. She was extremely proud of her five grandchildren, Nathan, Joseph, Daniel, Amanda, and Marlene Starkey.
A graveside memorial service will be held for Sue at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30 at Longwood Cemetery in Kennett Square.
Arrangements are being handled by Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square.
ALBERT B. JORDAN, III
Albert B. Jordan III, known to his loved ones as AJ, was born on Feb. 23, 1991 in Mannheim Germany, and passed away on July 17, 2025 in Oxford.
He graduated from Central Bucks High School West in 2009, where he was a proud member of the swimming team. AJ then pursued his passion for technology, studying computer science and programming at Penn State Abington and later at West Chester University.
AJ was the sweetest, kindest, most gentle, caring soul who would do anything for his family and friends. He found immense joy in hiking and nature, especially stargazing and planet gazing. He truly loved the great outdoors. He also had a vibrant spirit for anime, online gaming, and Dungeons & Dragons, enjoying countless adventures with his friends.
He is survived by his loving parents, Albert B. Jordan Jr. and Ann Marie (Dudas) Jordan; his cherished sisters, Katherine (Jordan) Deegan and Abigail Jordan; his sisterin-law, Jaclyn Deegan; his grandmother, Geraldine Dudas; his aunts and uncles, Roberta Dudas, Christine (Dudas) Barsel and Barry Barsel, Pamela Dudas, Lynda and Glenn Paige, Lynette Jordan, Leon and Phaedra Jordan, Tim Hudson; and many loving cousins and friends.
A memorial walk to celebrate AJ’s life and his love for nature is being planned for the fall. Details about the walk and information on memorial contributions will be shared at a later date.
AJ will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Courtesy photo
Atglen Borough Park, completed in 2024, is one of the projects that received
Chester County Community Revitalization Program funding.
Obituaries
Courtesy photo Megan Moser has been named as the new Chief Experience Officer for Chester County government.
Hill College. Moser will begin her new position on Aug. 11.
A plea that must be answered
“When University of the Arts closed, people said, ‘If only I had known, I would have donated.’ Well, now we do know. And this is our moment —together— to make sure we don’t look back with regret.”
~ Jennifer Kriesel, executive director of the Oxford Arts Alliance
The Oxford Arts Alliance is at risk of losing its home at 38 South Third Street in downtown Oxford.
The building is soon being sold, and the Oxford Arts Alliance recently issued a plea for help—urgent help.
“Without swift community support to raise the funds necessary for [the building’s] purchase, the Alliance could lose more than just space — it could lose its role at the heart of Oxford’s cultural life,” the press release stated.
The Oxford Arts Alliance is launching an urgent campaign to secure its building and its future, and the community has a critical role to play.
Jennifer Kriesel, the executive director of the Oxford Arts Alliance, explained, “When University of the Arts closed, people said, ‘If only I had known, I would have donated.’ Well, now we do know. And this is our moment —together — to make sure we don’t look back with regret.”
The Oxford Arts Alliance outlined some of the positive contributions that it has made on the Oxford community since it was founded in 2008.
• Over 100 gallery exhibitions have given local and regional artists a platform to shine.
• More than 5,000 art and music lessons have nurtured creativity in students of all ages.
• Scholarships and sliding-scale tuition have made sure no student is turned away due to cost.
But the real story is told through the people it’s touched — a child who finds their voice through a paintbrush, a teen discovering the piano, a shy college student feeling seen for the first time at a gallery opening.
“The Oxford Arts Alliance has been instrumental in both of my daughters’ creative journeys,” said Shannon Boutilier-Hall, a parent of two Oxford Arts Alliance students. “It helped launch their confidence and their careers. This organization matters—deeply.”
That sentiment is echoed by community leaders.
“The Arts Alliance is more than a gallery—it’s an important part of Oxford’s identity,” said Leslie Sleesman, the interim executive director of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. “It brings people together, promotes a creative community, and inspires future generations.”
The Oxford Arts Alliance has been a place where burgeoning artists have found a creative spark and a place where neighbors could gather to not just experience art, but to become part of it.
The Oxford Arts Alliance has been a leading center for arts education and community engagement, and has brought many visitors to downtown Oxford.
To preserve this vibrant creative space, the Oxford Arts Alliance must raise $250,000 in the coming months. “This is the immediate goal — to raise enough funding to secure the building,” the press release stated. “But the long-term vision is larger: with full community support, the Oxford Arts Alliance hopes to raise $625,000 to purchase the building outright and make essential repairs.
The Oxford Arts Alliance emphasized in its plea for help that, “This is more than a fundraiser. It’s a chance to preserve a home where creativity thrives and community grows. You’re not just helping save a building. You’re preserving a place where the arts live and belong.”
Contributions to help save the Oxford Arts Alliance can be made online at www.oxfordart.org/donate, by phone at (610) 467-0301, or by mail at Oxford Arts Alliance, 38 S. Third Street, Oxford, Pa. 19363.
“We believe in the power of community,” said Kriesel. “If every person who has ever stepped through our doors gave just a little — we wouldn’t just save a building. We’d secure something much bigger: a future filled with music, creativity, and connection.”
The loss of the Oxford Arts Alliance would be devastating for the Oxford community.
The Oxford Arts Alliance’s plea is one that must be answered.
Chester County officials recognize value of local food in advance of Farmers Market Week
Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz and Eric Roe officially proclaimed August 3-9 as Farmers Market Week, celebrating the essential contributions of local markets to the county’s economy, food system, and sense of community.
Chester County is home to 10 active farmers markets offering an array of agricultural and handcrafted goods, including fresh produce, meats, dairy, baked treats, flowers, pantry staples, wines, and more. These markets serve as vital channels for distributing locally made and grown products while fostering economic growth and providing consumers with fresh, nutritious food.
“Farmers markets help sustain family farms, create jobs, and strengthen community connections,” the County Commissioners
said in a joint statement.
“We encourage everyone to experience these markets and support the dedicated producers behind them.”
The proclamation also recognizes the work of AgConnect, a countysupported initiative that offers funding, training, and promotional tools to strengthen local agriculture. Programs like AgConnect support direct-to-consumer sales and help cultivate a thriving, resilient farming community.
“We are grateful to the Chester County Commissioners for their continued commitment to agriculture,” said AgConnect Executive Advisory Committee Chair Greg Newell. “Farmers markets are a critical link between growers and the public, and this recognition highlights their role in expanding access to fresh, local food across our region.”
Farmers Market Week honors the farmers, artisans, and organizers who make these markets possible and encourages residents to celebrate and support them.
For more information
about AgConnect’s programs for producers, youth and consumers, and to access the interactive Chester County Farm Guide, visit www.goagconnect.org, or follow AgConnect on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Chester County Sheriff’s Office notes early success of Shear Hope domestic violence awareness program
Salon professionals encouraged to become Shear Hope partners
Since its launch in April 2025, Shear Hope — a collaborative training program led by the Chester County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC) — has successfully trained three salons across Chester County.
The Shear Hope initiative empowers salon professionals with the tools and knowledge to recognize signs of domestic abuse and connect clients to potentially life-saving resources.
Given the unique position of cosmetologists and barbers as trusted confidants, the program equips participants with information on red flags, supportive communication techniques, and how to safely guide someone toward help without putting them at further risk.
Trainings are held on Mondays — a day many salons are closed — and feature presentations from the Sheriff’s Office, Domestic Violence advocates, and representatives from the District Attorney’s Office. Participants receive a comprehensive resource packet
that includes contact information for county-based services, legal assistance, and survivor support.
UCFSD accepting nominations for the next Wall of Honor class
The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District’s (UCFSD) Wall of Honor Program recognizes its alumni biannually for their extraordinary suc-
cess and contributions to society. The school district recently announced that nominations for the Class of 2025-26 are now being accepted. Anyone can nom-
Chester County Press
inate a candidate they know by completing the form on or before Friday, Aug. 15. Nominees must be Unionville High School graduates, must have graduated five or more years before their nomination, and modeled high standards of excellence, including achievements in at least one of the following areas: personal and/or professional life, contributions to society and lifelong commitment to educational excellence.
A nominating commit-
tee will bring forward all finalists to a selection committee of representatives from across the UCFSD community. Inductees will be celebrated at a ceremony during Homecoming Weekend and will appear on a special installation at UHS. For more information about the UCFSD Wall of Honor Program, including a list of past inductees, visit the UCFSD website and contact ucfsdcommunications@ucfsd.net.
Courtesy photo
The Chester County Commissioners recognized Farmers Market Week at the public meeting. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Melissa Harrop, AgConnect communications coordinator, Abby Wisely, AgConnect program coordinator, Christy Campli, owner at Growing Roots Partners and accepting the award on behalf of the ten Farmers Markets in Chester County, and County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz and (back row) Eric Roe and Josh Maxwell.
Salons and barbershops interested in hosting a Shear Hope training can register at https://bit.ly/shear-hope.
Courtesy photo
The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is now accepting nominations for the Wall of Honor Program.
Second annual Roots & Blues Festival comes to Anson B. Nixon Park on Aug. 9
By Caroline Roosevelt Contributing Writer
Back by popular demand, the Second Annual Roots & Blues Festival is returning to Anson B. Nixon Park on Aug. 9 with a full line up of musical acts and headlined by harmonica genius Mikey Junior.
Junior has been wowing the blues circuit for the past several years and has become a staple in the Mid Atlantic summer blues scene. Junior just released his latest album, Traveling South, which showcases his
storytelling prowess and also delights with selected covers. Junior’s passion for blues developed in high school where he taught himself the basics and more from his growing collection of vinyls. From there, he made his way to VizzTone
Label Group, where Dave Gross produced his most recent album.
Dukes of Destiny, a Philly favorite, will also be gracing the stage at this year’s festival. This six-piece band was founded in 1985 and has over 200 years of experience combined, featuring an impressive local resume that includes regular gigs at the Mermaid Inn, the Chestnut Hill Garden Fest, the Pastoruius Park Concert Series, the Commerce Square Concert Series and the AIDS Walk, all in Philadelphia. They
have also performed at the Pennsylvania State Arts Fair in Harrisburg, the Yo Philadelphia Festival and River Blues at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens, the State Street Blues Stroll in Media, and The Spring Garden Fair and Fall Arts Fairs in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia and at the renowned World Cafe Live. Their motto, “Everyone has a dancing good time!” is fitting for the Roots and Blues Festival.
The event will also fea-
ture performances by Brother John, Johnny Never & John ColganDavis, James Day & the Fish Fry and Stevie and the Bluescasters. The concert pavilion at Anson B. Nixon Park hosts a variety of popular events throughout the year from the Trout Run to the Summer Music Series, and in addition to the music, those who attend will be able to enjoy food trucks and beverages, an artisan corner and a music
merchandise booth. The event, which begins at 11 a.m., will be held rain or shine, so plan accordingly with some lawn chairs and an umbrella in the car just in case.
Tickets to the Second Annual Roots & Blues Festival are on sale now ($45 online, $40 flash sale!), through the park: https://www. ansonbnixonpark.org/ events/2nd-annual-rootsblues-festival.
By the people, for the people: Kennett
Decides initiative to develop residents’ ideas
Project is a collaboration of Square Roots Collective, Chatham Financial, Casa Guanajuato, Kennett Collaborative and Kennett Borough
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
From the time Mike Bontrager founded Square Roots Collective in 2021, the organization has served as an incubator of placemaking – a Johnny Appleseed-like initiative that has planted the collaborative seeds of community-based projects throughout Kennett Square and beyond.
The Creamery. Voices Underground. The Birch Street Project. The Kennett Trails Alliance. The Artelo Hotel.
Recently, Square Roots Collective (SRC), together with community partners Chatham Financial, Casa Guanajuato, Kennett Collaborative, and Kennett Borough, introduced a new concept – Kennett Decides – that places future community investment directly into the hands of area residents who live in the community, giving everyone an opportunity to propose and vote on projects that improve their towns and neighborhoods. To help them with the project, SRC is working with Civic Trust, a nationwide participatory budgeting company founded in 2019 by Matt
Harder that provides technology infrastructure, communications, and process methodology to help residents participate in their governments’ budgeting process. To date, the organization has already helped develop community projects in Denver and Atlanta. Matt’s experience began when he managed New York City’s participatory budgeting program.
“I asked Matt if he could imagine doing something like this for a small town like Kennett Square, and he said that this concept would work well here, for the same reason it works well in a big city,” said SRC chief of staff Luke Zubrod. “One of my delights in this project is that our small town gets to do something that is typically only available in big cities.
“This is an opportunity to raise up the voices of community members and get them involved. Not a lot of people have the time to attend a borough council meeting and make their voice known, but anyone can go on a website and say, ‘I have an idea.’”
From the day the initiative launched on May 1 to the July 18 deadline, Kennett Decides attracted
41 ideas, with 71 percent coming from Kennett Square Borough residents, and 20 percent from those who work in the borough.
Concepts ranged from the addition of pedestrian crosswalks and traffic calming concepts to murals, new playground equipment and monarch butterfly gardens. While residents have the opportunity to formally cast votes in the fall, they were invited to “like” ideas that others submitted, offering an informal view into what ideas seem popular, including:
• Converting the Genesis Walkway to an outdoor public dining courtyard featuring public eating areas that will create a new social gathering place just off State Steet;
• Adding mural art to traffic control boxes throughout the Kennett Square Borough, as part of an effort to beautify the borough through artistic expression;
• Creating a versatile and accessible skate park in the Kennett Square Borough that will attract skateboards, scooters and bikes;
• Developing a new pedestrian gateway at the intersection of South
and Union streets, that will allow better allow pedestrians to access destinations like the Police station, Borough Hall, the KSQ Farmers Market, and the new home for Kennett Area Community Service, and social events like Winterfest and the Kennett Brewfest; and
• Building a gateway entrance to Anson B. Nixon Park that welcomes visitors entering the park from State Street near the Kennett Y and the Kennett Library – that would serve
as a visual and symbolic “front door” to the borough’s largest public green space.
Now that idea collection has closed, a project steering committee from the community will work with the borough to estimate the project costs. That process will lead to the creation of a ballot that will allow residents to choose the winning projects – a voting process that will likely conclude at the end of November. Once the winning initiatives are decided, groundbreaking will hopefully begin in the spring of 2026.
Kennett Decides has a budget of $100,000 and is being funded by SRC and Chatham Financial.
“Multiple ideas can win, and people will have the opportunity to fill in the basket of projects that total
$100,000, so it is likely that several projects could be funded,” Zubrod said. Zubrod said that the Kennett Decides program generously overlaps with SRC’s big-picture mission.
“At the highest level, it comes down to a thriving community, where the people work together toward the greater good, in the sense that everyone has the opportunity to define what ‘the greater good’ looks like,” he said. “Voting on it is indicative of our view that it takes everyone to raise up a community. Our partners in this project are helping to embody that by helping to implement this initiative.”
To learn more about Kennett Decides, visit kennettdecides.com.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Another popular idea generated by residents is the construction of a gateway entrance to Anson B. Nixon Park that welcomes visitors entering the park from State Street near the Kennett Y and the Kennett Library.
John Colgan-Davis of The Dukes of Destiny will bring his vocal talents to the festival.
Courtesy photos
Mikey Junior will headline the second annual Roots & Blues Festival, which comes to Anson B. Nixon Park on Aug. 9.
Philly favorites The Dukes of Destiny will also appear on the festival’s bill.
Courtesy images
A skate park facility was among the popular ideas in Kennett Decides, a new initiative being developed by Square Roots Collective – in partnership with other area entities – that is empowering area residents to determine what new projects will be created in Kennett Square Borough.
EVA A. BOND
Eva
home while surrounded by her loved ones. She will be missed by her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service was held on July 19 at Shiloh Presbyterian Church in Oxford. If you are led to do so, please make all contributions to Bayada Hospice. Please send to Nicole Fullmer at 4250 Lancaster Pike, Suite 308, Wilmington, Del. 19085. Thank you.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com) in Oxford.
JOHN ARTHUR SALASIN
John Arthur Salasin, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully in Richmond, Virginia on July 5, 2025. He was 79. Born and raised in New Jersey, John lived a life marked by curiosity, integrity, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. He earned two master’s degrees—a testament to his lifelong commitment to learning and personal growth. He began his professional career with DuPont, where he worked for many years, contributing his skills and leadership in a variety of roles. Later in life, John transitioned into a successful second career in real estate, serving clients in Pennsylvania and Delaware as a trusted realtor.
John made his home in several places throughout his life, including Landenberg, where he has a street named in his honor - Salasin Drive in Avondale. In every community he touched, John was known for his warmth, his wit, and his quiet strength. Whether offering practical advice, sharing a story, or simply lending an ear, he had a way of making people feel seen and heard.
He is survived by wife, Roseann Salasin; daughters, Beverly Zook (Dan), Terri Gallagher (Jason), Rian Chrobocinski (Dalton), and Devon Salasin; and only son, John Robert Salasin (Liz). He had five grandchildren, Quinn, Ethan, Casey, Emory and James, and one great-grandchild, Aria.
John enjoyed gingerbread cookies, Kit Kats, chicken and dumplings, piña coladas, and long walks on the beach. The family asks that any donations be made in John’s name to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in his memory. https://www.lbda.org/donors.
The family also thanked everyone for the support during this time. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful
www.stgabrielavondalepa.org
KENNETT SQUARE
Bethel AME Church
300 E. Linden Street
610.444.2974
www.bethelameckennsq.org
Bible Evangelical Church of Kennett Square
500 E. Cypress Street 610.467.1081
www.bibleevangelicalchurch.org
Episcopal Church of the Advent 401 N. Union Street
610.444.4624 www.adventks.org
First Baptist Church of Kennett Square 415 W. State Street 610.444.5320
www.firstbaptistkennettsquare.com
Greater Works Ministries 553 Rosedale Road 610.444.5581
www.gwministries.net
Kennett Square Missionary Church 408 Bayard Road 610.444.0867
www.kennettsquarebaptist.com
Kennett Square Presbyterian Church
211 S. Broad Street 610.444.5255 www.pcks.org
New Garden Memorial U.A.M.E 309 E. Linden Street 610.444.3357 www.uamechurch.org
Second
KENNETH G. STIER, JR.
Kenneth (Kenny) G. Stier, Jr., 95, of Landenberg, passed away at his home on July 6, 2025. He was the spouse of Sally (Pannell) Stier for 52 years. Born in Bethlehem, Pa., he was the son of the late Kenneth G. Stier, Sr. and the late Cornelia (Campbell) Stier.
Kenny grew up in Altoona, Pa., and went to Temple University in Philadelphia. He worked for General Motors on Boxwood Road for over 30 years.
Kenny will be remembered for his sense of humor, many friendships, and his talent in the arts which included watercolor painting, photography, and his incredible piano playing. He was a man with many interests which he would pursue with a passion. He also found clever ways to combine his passions. For example, he enrolled in art courses and workshops that were held in places he found interesting—including, for example, Australia and South America. He was gaining skills in painting while satisfying his desire to travel as well as forging new friendships. His passion for Westerns evolved into a book he co-wrote about Western film locations, many of which he visited. His passion for jazz was expressed through his piano playing, and he spent many years doing local gigs with fellow musicians.
He is survived by his wife, Sally, his daughters, Judi and Jacque, and his granddaughter, Sophie. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved son, Stephen. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484) 734-8100 of Kennett Square.
To view Kenny’s online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.
Unionville Presbyterian Church 815 Wollaston Road 610.347.2327
205 Penn Green Road, Landenberg 610.274.8384 www.landenbergchurch.com
Christian Life Center 125 Saginaw Road, New London 610.869.2140 www.CLCFamily.church
TheChesterCountyPressfeaturesadedicatedchurch/religious pagethatcanhelpyouadvertiseyourhouseofworshipand/or business.Thepageisupdatedweeklywithnewscripture.Only$10 Weeklyforthisspace. Weareofferingaspecialdiscountof25%offeachandeveryhelp wanted/classifiedadvertisementtoanybusinessthatadvertiseson thePRESSchurchpage. For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10
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 FATHER
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 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 7p-16-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF KARENE CRUZ, DECEASED. Late of Lower Oxford Township, Chester County, PA
LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the dece-
Legals/Classifieds
dent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to KRISTOPHER CRUZ, ADMINISTRATOR, c/o Carol R. Livingood, Esq., 130 W. Lancaster Ave., P.O. Box 191, Wayne, PA 19087-0191, Or to his Attorney: CAROL R. LIVINGOOD, TIMONEY KNOX LLP, 130 W. Lancaster Ave., P.O. Box 191, Wayne, PA 19087-0191 7p-23-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Wise, Anne S., dec’d. , late of, Honey Brook Township, 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 Executor: Kent M. Wise, c/o Good Law Firm, 132 West Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557 7p-23-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of James Bruce Holmgreen aka James B. Holmgreen aka James Holmgreen, Deceased late of the Borough of South Coatesville, Chester County, PA. Letters of Administration on the above estate have been granted to the undersigned. All persons having claims against or indebted to the estate should make claims known or forward payment to Susan S. Holmgreen and John R. Lundy, Esq., Administrators, c/o Lundy Beldecos & Milby, PC, 450 N. Narberth Ave., Suite 200, Narberth, PA 19072.
7p-30-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF RICHARD J. WEAVER, DECEASED. Late of Oxford Borough, Chester County, PA LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION 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 BARBARA WEAVER, ADMINISTRATRIX, 2109 Laurel Ln., Oxford, PA 19363, Or to her Attorney: DAVID E. SCHWAGER, 183 Market St., Ste. 100 Kingston, PA 18704-5444 7p-30-3t
ADVERTISEMENT FOR GRANT OF LETTERS
ESTATE OF Albert Loveland, deceased. LATE OF Upper Oxford Township, Chester County LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION 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 Executor: Andrea Loveland c/o Attorney: Ira D. Binder, 227 Cullen Rd, Oxford, PA 19363 7p-30-3t
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 online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, August 21st , 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, September 22nd, 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. 25-8-214
Writ of Execution No. 2025-00931
DEBT $447,433.45
Property situate in the KENNETT TOWNSHIP, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania, being BLR # 62-09-0001.02B
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC VS DEFENDANT: JOHN E. PERRONE & LAUREN E. PERRONE
SALE ADDRESS: 9165 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale, PA 19311
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.
7-23-3t
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 online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, August 21st , 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, September 22nd, 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. 25-8-227
Writ of Execution No. 2024-03706
DEBT $321,285.07
ALL THOSE CERTAIN LOTS OR PIECES OF GROUND SITUATE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LONDON BRITAIN, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA:
Tax Parcel # 73-05-0041
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential property
PLAINTIFF: CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES LLC VS DEFENDANT: JOE DANIEL BIALK, IN HIS CAPACITY AS HEIR OF GEORGIANNE BIALK; ARTEMIS MOLLY A/K/A MOLLY BLACK, IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF GEORGIANNE BIALK; DIMTRI D. BIALK, IN HIS CAPACITY AS HEIR OF GEORGIANNE BIALK; ANDREW D. BIALK, IN HIS CAPACITY AS HEIR OF GEORGIANNE BIALK; DANIEL R. BIALK II, IN HIS CAPACITY AS HEIR OF GEORGIANNA BIALK; UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS, CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER GEORGIANNA BIALK
SALE ADDRESS: 1255 New London Road, Landenberg, PA 19350
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.
7-23-3t
NOTICE TO OWNERS OF TAX SALE FOR UNPAID TAXES
TO OWNERS OF PROPERTIES DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE AND TO ALL PERSONS HAVING LIENS, JUDGMENTS, MUNICIPAL CLAIMS OR OTHER CLAIMS AGAINST SUCH PROPERTIES.
On September 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), the Chester County Tax Claim Bureau will hold its public sale of Chester County properties for the purpose of satisfying unpaid tax claims thereon. The sale will be held at 313 W. Market Street, Room 5102, West Chester, Pennsylvania. The properties to be sold are listed below including a brief description of each property, the names of the owners or reputed owners of such properties, except in case of unknown owners, together with the approximate amount of the Upset Price of such property.
THE UPSET PRICE includes the sum of: (1) any tax liens in favor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; (2) the amount of the claim absolute and interest thereon on which the sale is being held; (3) amounts of any other tax claims or judgments due on such property together with interest on the judgment to the date of sale; (4) the total amount of all accrued taxes including taxes levied against the property for the current year, whether or not returned; (5) the amount of municipal claims on such property; and, (6) the record costs and costs of sale including pro rata costs of the publication of notice and costs of mail and posted notices in connection with the return of claim and mail and posted notices of sale.
After confirmation of the sale by the Court and payment of the Upset Price by the purchaser, a deed will be recorded in the name of the purchaser at the cost of the purchaser, which costs shall include any transfer taxes demanded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or other
amounts appearing to be due in connection with the property being sold.
Prior to the actual sale, any owner or lien creditor of record against a property may, at the option of the Tax Claim Bureau: (1) cause a property to be removed from the sale by payment in full of taxes which have become absolute and of all charges and interest due on such taxes up to the time of payment or (2) cause the sale against such property to be stayed by entering into a written installment agreement with the Tax Claim Bureau providing for immediate payment of twenty five (25%) percent of the amount due on all tax claims and tax judgments filed or entered against such property, together with interest and costs on the tax returned to date, which agreement shall provide for not more than three (3) installments for the balance due, all to be paid within one (1) year of the date of said agreement and which agreement shall meet the other requirements of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law.
TERMS OF SALE
The Purchaser of any property at the Upset Sale shall pay to the Tax Claim Bureau the entire purchase money on the date of sale, no later than 3:30 p.m.; and in case said amount is not paid, the sale shall be voided and the property put up for sale again.
All sales are subject to confirmation by the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County. All sales are under and subject to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax Sale Law Act of July 7, 1947, P.L. 1368, No. 542 as amended and to such conditions as may be announced at the sale.
The Bureau makes no warranty, guarantee or representation with respect to the accuracy of descriptions or ownership of any property or with respect to procedural irregularities. The Bureau makes no warranty whatsoever regarding the condition of property sold at tax sale.
Section 607(g) of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax Sale Law provides that there shall be no period of redemption after the sale.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS: Pursuant to provisions of Act 33 of 2021, bidders are REQUIRED to register at the Tax Claim Bureau no later than close of business on September 5, 2025.
NOTICE: Delinquent tax payments are requested by Friday, September 12, 2025 no later than 3:30 p.m.
Please check the Tax Claim Bureau website at chesco.org/162/ tax-claim-bureau closer to the sale date for further information regarding registration and the sale.
Jonathan B. Schuck, Director Chester County Tax Claim Bureau
WEST CHESTER
1-2-63 DEANGELO JAMES CHRISTOPHER WS OF HILLSIDE DR LOT 56 & DWG
$6,388.26
1-5-469 BARBATI GINO GOODRIDGE DEBRA SEISS JAMES C JR NS OF E MINER ST LOT & DWG $5,508.29 1-5-507 BUTCHER GREGORY WAYNE BUTCHER LOIS I NS OF E BARNARD ST LOT & DWG
$5,042.52 1-6-55 DENNIS CYNTHIA
Rodriquez and Kellerman honored as Oxford Rotary Students of the Month
The Oxford Rotary honored Oxford Area High School seniors Olivia Rodriquez and Eric Kellerman as Rotary Students of the Month late in the 2024-2025 school year. Olivia Rodriguez was in the marching band, stage crew, Tri-M Music Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, FBLA, and the Academic
Team. Her hobbies include reading and watching movies when she is not working at the Nottingham Creamery. Eric Kellerman ran cross country and track for all four years. He swam for the Oxford High School and the YMCA for all four years of high school as well. For his Eagle Scout project, Eric designed and
built a pavilion for Glenroy Preserve. He was in the National Honor Society, English National Honor Society, and the FBLA. He is attending the United States Air Force Academy and will study aeronautical engineering with a goal of becoming a pilot. He received his nomination for the academy from U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan.
Legals/Classifieds
22-8-7701.155-T TINGLEY MATTHEW LOT 155 DBL WD MBL HM $6,059.82
22-8-7711.017-T FORD JENNIFER LOT 1017 DBL WD MBL HM $3,526.79
WD MBL HM $1,925.69 EAST VINCENT MOBILE HOMES
21-5-4108.87A-T GUARINO DAVID GUARINO MARY W LOT 887A DBL WD MBL HM $2,560.42 HONEY BROOK TOWNSHIP MOBILE HOMES
22-3-9.090-T KNOTT BRIAN LOC ON DBL WD MBL HM $5,664.77
22-8-6.750-T TOLAND ROBERT J WALTERS DOROTHY LOT 3 SGL WD MBL HM $4,076.29
22-8-7711.105-T ENGLE DAVID ENGLE KAREN LOT 1105 DBL WD MBL HM $4,457.76
22-8-7711.139-T MCCLAINMONROE CAROLYN Y LOT 1139 DBL WD MBL HM $2,036.88 WEST BRANDYWINE MOBILE HOMES
29-4-15.100-T MALVAEZ RUTH A SANTOS REYNALDO JR LOT M-17 SGL WD MBL HM $2,839.15
SADSBURY MOBILE HOMES
37-2-4800.105-T RODRIQUEZ MARILU LOT 105 SGL WD MBL
HM $11,214.97
37-2-4800.426-T DEAN IDA DEAN JAMES LOT 426 SGL WD MBL HM $3,450.70 EAST CALN MOBILE HOMES
40-2-52.046-T FINDLEY WAYNE E LOT 46 DBL WD MBL HM $3,240.02 WEST FALLOWFIELD MOBILE HOMES
44-4-1.200-T PEACE GARRY LOT 102 SGL WD MBL HM $2,038.48 44-7-0.600-T AYALA LEOVIGILDO AYALA PATRICIA LOT 19 DBL WD MBL HM $3,042.26 44-7-2.600-T SAVINO MICHAEL P LOT 10 DBL WD MBL HM $3,910.39
WEST BRADFORD MOBILE HOMES
50-5-10.950-T LEDGISTER URICH LOT 1052 DBL WD MBL HM $3,172.51 LONDON GROVE MOBILE HOMES
59-5-1140.086-T DEVAKOW STEPHEN LOT 86 DBL WD MBL HM $3,308.50 59-8-3.975-T MILLER DENISE LOC ON DBL WD MBL HM $4,460.41
59-11-3.500-T MALLARD RUTH LOC ON DBL WD MBL HM $3,824.88 NEW GARDEN MOBILE HOMES
60-1-82.001-T AGUILAR CARMEN LOT 1 SGL WD MBL HM $5,173.70 60-1-83.009-T FLORES GUSTAVO AYLLON RODRIGUEZ AYLEEN LOT 9 SGL
Courtesy photo Olivia Rodriquez and Eric Kellerman were honored by the Oxford Rotary as Students of the Month late in the 2024-2025 school year. Pictured, from left to right, are Connie Winchester, program coordinator; Daniel Rodriguez, Jessica
Rodriguez, and Olivia Rodriguez; Eric Kellerman, Debbie Kellerman, and Marcus Kellerman; and Jahan Sheikholeslami, Oxford Rotary President.
