PennDOT presentation details planned upgrades for Toughkenamon intersection
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
After several years of dormancy, the projected future of the Baltimore Pike-Newark Road intersection in the Village of Toughkenamon was officially revealed to a public that has for many years been forced to endure a connection of roadways that has created one of the largest transportation eyesores in southern Chester County.
Chaired by PennDOT Project Manager Josefina
Construction is anticipated to begin in May of 2028
Brown and Steve Giampaolo, the regional service lead of design at Bowman, the Dec. 4 virtual presentation spelled out the A-Z specifics of the threephase project, which is currently in the early design stages and is set to begin construction in May of 2028 and be completed in 2031, Giampaolo estimated.
“It will take an entire year for utilities to do their work,” he said. “Once that year is completed, the contractor will probably take another two years to get the
project built.”
Bowman – who will help develop the project with PennDOT - supports transportation infrastructure across Pennsylvania in partnership with PennDOT and local agencies to plan and design improvements to roads, bridges and transit networks.
In his opening remarks, Giampaolo identified the “purpose and need” for the intersection’s upgrade, which includes having to realign all of its connecting roadways to cut
down congestion, respond to incomplete pedestrian walkways, install turn lanes, create better stormwater management practices and reduce the time of delays caused by traffic delays, which for many drivers is as much as one minute or more, he said.
“Based off our analysis, one of the biggest traffic back-ups is in the p.m. hours, when people are coming home from work – the westbound traffic on Baltimore Pike
which is
Residents voice frustrations about unexpected traffic congestion in Oxford
Oxford officials and residents weren’t made aware of emergency repairs to a major bridge in neighboring Lower Oxford Township, and the result was a ‘nightmare’ for local residents
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
At their Dec. 2 council meeting, Oxford Borough officials and the public were questioning why the Borough of Oxford did not receive notice during the recent closure of the bridge on Route 10 after it was struck by a truck, which was over the height limit, that resulted in a two-day construction process by PennDOT.
The situation was made worse since it happened during a holiday weekend with heavy traffic. In an email to Lower Oxford Township, the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation (PennDOT) announced that emergency repairs were underway to reopen the bridge carrying traffic on Route 10 (Limestone Road) over U.S. 1 (Kennett Oxford Bypass) in Lower Oxford Township following a truck’s collision with a bridge on the morning of Nov. 28.
Unfortunately, neither Oxford Borough Council or the Oxford Police Department were notified of the closure, according to a discussion at the council meeting just three days after the incident. What ensued was bumper-to-bumper congestion on borough streets. To make matters worse, drivers unfamiliar with the borough were traveling on
a street that was closed to traffic due to construction.
The PennDOT notice continued by saying, “U.S. 1 North (Kennett Oxford Bypass) is closed between the Route 472 (Lancaster Pike) and Route 10 (Limestone Road) interchanges. Motorists will be directed to exit at Route 472 (Lancaster Pike), turn right onto Route 472 (Lancaster Pike), and turn left onto Route 10 (3rd Street) to access the ramp to U.S. 1 North (Kennett Oxford Bypass).”
Since many out-oftowners traveling for the holidays were on unfamiliar roads in the area, it also made it difficult for people
Kennett Square Borough looks to improve fiscal stability and affordability in 2026
By Winthrop Rodgers Contributing Writer
With a new year now just a few weeks away, the leadership of Kennett Square Borough is looking to the future. As the current council’s work wraps up and a new group will take office, the borough is confronting a range of challenges, including ensuring its fiscal stability and focusing
on affordability. Meeting the needs of a growing and changing community over the long term will be a major task of the next council.
“Kennett Square acts as the downtown for many of the surrounding communities,” Borough Council President Bob Norris told the Chester County Press in an interview at Liberty Market on State Street. “We take on that honor, but also
the responsibility and cost to do that as well.”
Norris said that fiscal security was the number one priority of the borough, arguing that it was on firmer ground than it had been in the past. The borough had avoided tax increases for a number of years by using refinancing and by pushing costs down the line to make the budget work.
While this was politically
palatable, it was causing problems with the budget long term and putting services at risk.
“How do we maintain the level of service [and] not kill our residents with taxes that are so onerous? It’s a balloon. Tell me where you want to squeeze and you’re going to have to deal with the consequences somewhere else,” Norris explained.
“There’s been an awful lot of deferred maintenance, and especially on a pretty and old town like Kennett Square. Those are the expenses, the costs that are so easy to push back.” In 2022, the council began to raise taxes in order to make sure that the revenue was in place to serve residents now and in the future. Between 2022 and
Kennett Township adopts 2026 budget
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
By a vote of 3-0, the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors adopted the township’s 2026 budget at their Dec. 3 meeting, but its passage was eclipsed by the continued voices of
The
Residents continue to press supervisors on necessity for proposed police facility; online petition already has nearly 400 signers opposition to the proposed construction of a new police facility that, if built, would be located beside the Kennett Township Building and cost an estimated $10 million. The township’s 2026 budget forecasts revenues of $8.859 million which will include an anticipated $7.485 million from taxes. On the expense side of the ledger, the township projects that it will spend $8.307 million for salaries and benefits, maintenance and operations, contracted and professional services, community and economic development and $1.963 million in fire and ambulance services - an increase of $131,000 from 2025. The supervisors also signed off on a real estate tax increase of 1/10th of a mill – a 2.8 percent hike –
Photo by Steve Fender Chester County Press photographer Steve Fender captured this picturesque postcard along the Red Clay Creek in nearby Yorklyn, Del. in late November.
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Courtesy photo
A Dec. 4 presentation spelled out the details of PennDOT’s improvement of the Baltimore Pike-Newark Road intersection in the Village of Toughkenamon, which is anticipated to begin in May of 2028 and will create wider lanes, turn lanes, upscaled lighting and pedestrian sidewalks.
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sometimes backed up 1,000 feet,” Giampaolo said.
“Anyone traveling through this corridor knows that it backs up all the way to Kennett Square. Anyone coming down the hill on Newark Road knows that it backs up 300 feet or more.
“If we do no improvements for the project
– which is considered ‘nobuild conditions’ - there will be an increase in traffic delays and back-ups. With these improvements in the future, the overall intersection delay will be reduced from more than a one-minute delay to between 24 and 28 seconds.”
Planned upgrades to the intersection will include:
• Realigning the northern leg of Newark Road to reduce the reverse curve and better align it with the southern leg
• Adding a 500-foot-long left-turn lane on the northern leg
• Moving the intersection with Baltimore Pike westward to align Newark Road’s northern and southern legs
• Improving turning radii
on all four corners of the intersection for better heavy vehicle maneuverability
• Widening the southern Newark Road to include a 100-foot-long left-turn and 150-foot-long right-turn lane
• Widening Baltimore Pike’s western leg to provide a 225-foot-long left-turn lane
• Widening Baltimore Pike’s eastern leg to include a 175-foot-long left-turn lane and a 250-foot-long right-turn lane and
• Installing pedestrian facilities such as curb ramps and sidewalks along all four corners and the four legs of the intersection
Design upgrades to the intersection will also include:
• Drainage network and stormwater improvements such as new roadway inlets and a new storm pipe network; four stormwater basins; four vegetated swales; an infiltration trench; and upgrades to the downstream storm pipe network through the Village of Toughkenamon
• The relocation of utility poles and overhead facilities; the relocation of underground facilities such
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as water, gas electrical, communication and sewer; and the installation of a proposed storm sewer crossing with the East Penn railway crossing at Center Street
• The addition of ADA compliant curb ramps and sidewalks along the east, west and south legs of the intersection; an upgrade of the traffic signal at the intersection; and the inclusion of pedestrian-scale streetlights within the entirety of the area.
The project will be completed in three stages: 1) utility relocations; 2) left and right sides of Baltimore Pike; and 3) the northern leg of Newark Road. Giampaolo added that traffic detour rerouting will be in place during the three stages of the intersection’s reconstruction.
The redesign of the intersection and nearby streets will be at no cost to taxpayers and will be paid for by federal funding. While the anticipated construction cost of the project will be $11.47 million, the total program costs for the project are estimated to be $14.4 million, according to a project report posted on Dec. 9.
Regarding possible loss of income for businesses that are located within the construction zone, Giampaolo anticipated that PennDOT representatives will discuss possible compensation with each business owner in the vicinity.
The history of the project to upgrade the troublesome intersection has long been one of necessity, offset by persistent congestion, a lack of pedestrian accommodations, operational issues, poor drainage and dangerous topography that includes steep downgrades – and all in conjunction with continued development in the area. In 2007, New Garden Township
first began a traffic analysis study that explored the possibility of creating a more modern intersection that included necessary turn lanes and infrastructure to accommodate both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
After design ideas were submitted from the township to PennDOT in 2008, the concept was deemed too complex and not cost effective for the township.
As a result, the project sat dormant for several years until additional funding was secured, and in 2011, a Baltimore Pike study was conducted that offered several recommendations relative to pedestrian and bicycle traffic that
was rolled into the design alternatives. In 2018 – after discussion between New Garden officials and PennDOT – it was decided that the agency would fund the cost of the development, preliminary engineering, construction, right-of-way and utility installation, which led to the final design stage that began in 2023. To learn more about the project, visit www. penndot.pa.gov/regional offices/district-6 or bit.ly/ newark-baltimore. Each site includes comment forms.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Timelines for improvements to the Newark RoadBaltimore Pike intersection
• Design anticipated to be approved in late 2027
• Permitting anticipated to be finalized by the third quarter of 2027;
• Right-of-way design processes are expected to be completed in late 2027;
in the borough to even get out of their driveways on some streets. Resident George Jones, who lives on East Mt. Vernon said, “We couldn’t get out of our driveway. People were flying down the road and someone actually removed a sign that indicated that the road was under construction and only open to local traffic. It was a nightmare for anyone living on that street. One of the drivers, who was speeding down the road, actually hit and killed our cat, which upset us terribly. However, it could have been worse, it could have been a person.”
The bridge in question was located in Lower Oxford Township, but borough residents and council members were left questioning why they received no notice, since Lower Oxford borders on the borough and traffic was being directed to the borough’s streets by PennDOT. This is not the first time that PennDOT seemed to be oblivious to the fact that boundary of Lower Oxford Township ends on one side of N. 3rd Street and the other side of N. 3rd Street is in Oxford Borough. Understanding that fact might have alleviated some of the problems that occurred.
Council member Peggy Russell said, “Had we known, we could have given the police and public works employees a heads up.” Built in 1968, the
150-foot-long, 45-footwide, two-span, pre-stressed concrete I-beam bridge carries approximately 9,000 vehicles per day. U.S. Route 1 North (Kennett Oxford Bypass) in this section carries approximately 8,600 vehicles per day. It is not hard to imagine that dumping that much traffic into the borough’s streets without notice created numerous problems.
PennDOT said their contractor, J.D. Eckman, Inc., worked quickly over the weekend to replace the bridge beam and concrete barrier before re-striping the bridge and reopening both highways. The roadways were reopened on Dec. 1 so the at least he inconveniences were minimized.
In other business at the Dec. 2 meeting, Oxford Borough Council approved the advertising of ordinance changes regarding disorderly conduct and disturbances and fire prevention and protection codes.
Oxford Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen explained that even though the amendment changes were already in the works, some of the changes were moved forward due to the horrific fire in the business district of Oxford more than two years ago.
“The intent of these ordinances is to give the borough the authority to inspect non-residential properties,” Garcia-Allen said. “We already inspect apartments. However, many apartments are located above commercial properties. This will enable us to make sure the commercial properties below them are up to life safety standards. We will now adopt the
International Fire Code.” Garcia-Allen added, “We researched other municipalities to see how they do it. Some of those municipalities have their own fire marshals. Our fire marshal is the chief of the fire company, but he works outside of the area. We will use our code enforcement officer to ensure the life safety of properties. We will require our commercial properties to be inspected every year. We realize some other agencies may also inspect the same items we do. If so, and
Kennett Square Borough...
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2023, there was an increase of 52 percent, with an increase of 12 percent the following year. With that catch-up work done, taxes for the Borough are proposed to rise 3 percent next year, with similar increases expected in the future to keep pace with inflation and growth.
“We’ve worked hard to make sure that we’re looking not just at the current fiscal year budget, but also sort of the longer-term future, especially as it pertains to capital investments or reinvestments,” Norris said.
Another way that the borough has worked to make its budget sustainable is by applying for grant money from county, state, and federal sources. In fact, Kennett Square now brings in more funds from grants than it does from property tax.
Norris praised the current council’s attitude toward the budget and its ability to co-operate as “a really good working group” to balance current and future needs.
property owners provide us with that information, we will not duplicate the inspections. A list of the items that will be inspected will be given to property owners in advance.”
The following motions were also approved by borough council:
• The authorization to advertise an update to the ordinance regarding offstreet metered parking;
• An amendment to the master services agreement between the Borough
“It’s easy to spend money on current programs, especially when you’re an elected official. It’s a lot harder to say, ‘Hey, let me think about beyond my term,’” he said.
What makes this particularly challenging is the diverse and growing nature of Kennett’s population. There are several distinct groups with different expectations, levels of influence, and needs.
Primarily, these groups consist of residents whose families have been in Kennett Square for generations, recent arrivals from larger urban areas who come for the schools and pace of life, and the growing immigrant population, many of whom work in the agricultural industry.
“I think the diversity is a really beautiful part of the community and I think the vast majority of people take it on,” Norris said.
“They’re proud of that. It’s about how we make sure that the economics work for those groups. They bring much different perspectives to what Kennett Square is, was, and should be.”
However, affordability and housing are common
• Utility coordination and clearances are planned to be completed by the end of the second quarter in 2027;
• Construction set to begin in May of 2028 and is estimated to be completed by 2031.
of Oxford and Gannett Fleming, Inc,. which is the borough’s engineer;
• The Enox Land, LP extension request from time to satisfy conditions of approval related to the Moran Farm Development through and including June 21, 2026;
• Sycamore Crossing Phase 3, Escrow Release #8 in the amount of $22,843.13 and Phase 5B, Escrow Release #8 in the amount of 10,951.36;
• An agreement with the County of Chester for prop-
concerns across all three demographics. For long-time residents, rising housing prices mean that they do well when they decide to sell their homes, but face higher property taxes in the meantime. The new imports are facing tough competition for limited housing options amid rising prices, which make it difficult for them to move to the area. The immigrants, upon whom the local economy is highly dependent, are often priced out of the housing market altogether.
Addressing this challenge will be a major priority for the next council, with decisions about the NVF site and other developments around the borough needing to be made. Norris said that the borough called for a significant number of affordable units for the redeveloped NVF site.
This issue came up at the “Conversation with the Candidates” at the Kennett Square Library on Oct. 23 that featured current Mayor Matt Fetick and former Mayor Leon Spencer. During the event, which was organized by the Chester County Press, incumbent Mayor Fetick said the borough was using its leverage and told developers that they would not support their planning application if affordable units were not included.
“We can’t take their word for it,” Fetick said.
In addition to the NVF site, the borough needs to solidify the economic future of State Street and the downtown area.
“What does State Street,
erty tax collection services for 2026;
• A resolution #14092025 authorizing collection of certain municipal taxes by the Chester County treasurer;
• A letter of support for Union Fire Company’s Local Share Account Fund Statewide (SLSA) grant application to support the purchase of a new fire engine;
The next Oxford Borough Council meeting will be held on Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Borough Hall.
2.0 look like?” Norris asked, noting that, while the business district is a major asset for the borough, there are a few areas of concern. Most notably, the council hopes to ensure full occupancy of the Genesis building and Franklin Center, which remain largely empty in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bringing in new tenants will provide nearby businesses with reliable foot traffic and other economic benefits. Talks with interested parties are progressing, the council president reported. The borough also wants to use its own premises to bolster community involvement. It plans to convert parts of the municipal building into condos and sell them to local non-profits as office space to support their work in Kennett Square.
“It’s a $10 million project,” Norris said. “We’ve put it out to bid — the two outer buildings as well as some of the main building — and are hoping that community-facing organizations go in into the process.” Norris said that he is confident that the new council will continue the current group’s efforts to move Kennett Square forward and ensure a financially stable borough that tries to balance the needs of its diverse population.
“When I ask folks, ‘why is it special?’ It is because it is a small town, but there’s this really strong sense of community and neighborhood,” Norris said, “which is hokey, but it is also beautiful.”
Director Amy Heinrich and township Manager Alison Dobbins over the last three months and was advertised at the board’s Nov. 5 meeting.
Perhaps the most discussed bullet point in next year’s budget – and the one that drew the most public ire at the Dec. 3 meeting – was the township’s proposed new police facility, a project that has yet to receive final approval but has been given a $700,000 capital budget investment to pay for engineering and design costs in 2026.
Resident comments against the proposed building were far-ranging. One speaker asked why the township has not folded itself into the Southern Chester County Regional Police, which now includes the former departments in New Garden Township as well as Avondale and West Grove boroughs.
Remaining a separate department, he said, has seen police force operational costs rise steadily over the past few years.
“We have looked at the regional police and also have tentatively explored other potential region [alignments] and didn’t feel it was a good fit for Kennett Township,” said board Chairman Richard Leff. “Usually, when you look at regionalization, it doesn’t save money, but it does give you a large organization to get specialized training and activities. The challenge with that is that
with regional policing, you turn over control of your policing authority to the regional group.”
Another resident directed his complaint at the $10 million estimated price tag for the proposed building.
“Why does it have to be $10 million?” the resident asked the board. “It’s a big nut. It’s a lot of money. Can’t we get it for $5 million? What’s wrong with [the Township Building]?”
Many in the audience expressed their frustration in not being more informed of the proposed new facility, despite the fact that the township has held two public presentations – one on Aug. 6 and an open house on Oct. 22 – as well has had further discussion about the possible expansion that was folded into its budget meetings, and two articles in the Chester County Press.
“We have provided the details of what the budget process looks like in part because we want to make sure that people understand that all of those presentations, all of that information, the time that we have taken to explain [the specifics of the proposed expansion] are still available to the public,” Dobbins said. “This is not something that we decided on Nov. 4 that we were interested in doing.
“When the design phase was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 5, the board made it very clear that they would like to address the size of the building and make sure that it is at the forefront as part of the design phase.”
Leff said that the township will continue to keep its residents informed about the proposed construction through additional meetings and possibly a second open house.
Petition gathers nearly 400 signatures
Public opposition to the proposed new police facility was not relegated to the Dec. 3 meeting. Recently, a resident-led petition was filed on change.org. that has already attracted nearly 400 signatures as of Dec. 9. The needs expressed in the petition is to ask the township to not approve tax dollars for unapproved projects; halt municipal expansion planning until the community is fully informed and consulted; and get “community buy in” to the proposed facility by soliciting additional public feedback using such modes as online surveys and mailers.
Over the past several months - despite proof to the contrary - there has been an unsubstantiated belief shared among several township residents that the Board of Supervisors and the township have already fully committed to the construction of the new police facility.
“Right now, we are still trying to understand how we can make this the right size for our needs, and we are not at the point of understanding what that is just yet,” said supervisor Pat Muller. “We still have a lot more work to do.”
“We haven’t voted on the building, and if we had
to it would be public,” said supervisor Geoffrey Gamble. “Personally, I have been for some kind of accommodation for the police ever since I got on this board and I have said it for three years. My position has never changed, whether that would be the Fussel House or another facility that we have here or that we build a new building, it remains to be seen.”
‘We want to be partners in shaping the future of our township’
During the public comment portion of the meeting, township resident Monica Strauser, reading from a prepared statement, continued to reflect public opinion regarding the township’s exploration of a new police facility – as well as a tax structure that
is projected to continue to rise to pay for added services.
“The Board needs to answer: What new services will we get by having our taxes raised 20 percent?” she said. “How do residents benefit from this plan? Residents need to feel the board is listening to us — not simply preparing to grant whatever the employees of the township are asking for.
“The number one priority for the Board of Supervisors should be to meet the needs expressed by the community and to deliver value for our tax dollars. I support the police, but that does not mean I support giving them a blank check. It’s valid that we are running out of space, but that is not a need expressed by the community. These proposed tax increases place
a burden on the citizens of our township with no appreciable benefit. Right now, many of us do not feel heard.”
Strauser urged the supervisors and the township to adopt a more fiscally conservative method of paying for its continued growth.
“We want to be partners in shaping the future of our township - not just the people who get the bill,” she said.
Michael Bontrager receives Medal of Merit
In other township business, the township awarded its Medal of Merit award to Chatham Financial and Square Roots Collective founder Michael Bontrager for his dedicated service to the local community. Leff thanked Bontrager for his vision, financial backing
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The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors adopted the township’s 2026 budget at their Dec. 3 meeting, one that includes a 2.8 percent real estate tax increase.
Kennett Township Budget...
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and enthusiasm in forming the Kennett Trails Alliance, which continues to develop the Kennett Greenway, “with [Mike’s] goal to link Kennett Township’s open space with our neighbors in the Borough of Kennett Square, using over 14 miles of multi-purpose trails,” Leff said.
“When Mike decided to move Chatham Financial to Kennett Township, that
was a fortunate decision, as it also came with many caring and talented people in our area. When congratulating Mike on anything, his first reaction is always to share the honor with those who actually put in a lot of the long and hard hours of work. Yet, without his vision, his personality, his organizational skills and resources, very little would have been put in place to permit those accomplishments to come alive.
“He’s given us the opportunity time and again to
share, to do things, and thereby live happier, more equitable and enriched lives.”
The township also recognized its volunteers who have completed a full term on several boards and commission this year: David Gunyuzlu of the Environmental Advisory Council; James Guthrie and James Przywitowski of the Planning Commission; Tom Hanton and Diane McGovern of the Trails and Sidewalks Committee; Densie Klein, Karen Marshall, Fredda Pennock
and Lori Stewart of the Historical Commission; and Robert Whipps of the Zoning Hearing Board.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw Mike Bontrager, the founder of Chatham Financial and Square Roots Collective, received Kennett Township’s Medal of Merit from township board Chairman Richard Leff.
Report urges statewide crackdown on illegal THC sales at Pa. smoke shops
County DAs want state lawmakers to approve new smoke shop regulations following grand jury investigation; local stores being cited for violations
There is a public health crisis unfolding in plain sight, according to a grand jury report that was recently released, and law enforcement officials are calling for a statewide crackdown on illegal THC sales at smoke shops throughout Pennsylvania.
The evidence uncovered by a grand jury revealed that retailers are openly selling marijuana and THC products under the guise of hemp or Farm Billcompliant merchandise, exploiting the intended purposes of a federal Farm Bill and a Pennsylvania Farm bill, leaving both adult and minor consumers dangerously uninformed about the products that they are purchasing and using.
Law enforcement officials said that people are being intentionally misled. Products labeled as legal hemp often contain illegal levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and have misleading packaging. This deception, law enforcement officials said, means that adults and children alike are exposed to substances whose potency and risks are concealed from them.
Smoke shops are prevalent here in Chester County and in nearby Montgomery County and Bucks County, and numerous narcotics enforcement detectives and officers from these areas offered testimony during the investigation. The testimony revealed that illegal marijuana is being sold openly at smoke shops, convenience stores and gas stations throughout Pennsylvania communities. These products are marketed with colorful packaging and marijuana strain names with an emphasis on targeting children and are accessible to anyone who walks through the door.
In Montgomery County, there are more smoke shops—240 of them by one estimate—than there are schools. Some of the products that they are selling are more potent and dangerous than products that were available in the past.
Marijuana is a plant with psychoactive properties, primarily due to its content of THC, the compound responsible for intoxication. Experts who testified to the grand jury emphasized that the potency of marijuana that is available today is significantly higher than it was in the past. This observation is supported not only by their clinical
experience, but also by scientific analysis conducted by the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR), which examined the percentage of THC in cannabis samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from 1995 to 2021. The findings reveal a marked increase in THC concentrations over time, emphasizing that modern marijuana products often contain much higher levels of the psychoactive compound than those available in previous decades.
The public health crisis that is playing out is an unintended consequence of farm bills approved at the federal level and at the state level here in Pennsylvania. In an effort to legalize hemp, the federal and Pennsylvania farm bills specifically excluded cannabis with a Delta-9 THC content of less than 0.3 percent by dry weight, from the definition of marijuana in their respective Controlled Substances Acts. The intention behind legalizing hemp was to support farmers, promote new markets, and to allow hemp producers access to federal programs like grants, water rights, and banking services.
Retailers, distributors, and growers have used their provisions to sell a wide range of products, often without regard for legality or consumer safety. As a result, marijuana is now being sold openly in smoke shops, gas stations and convenience stores throughout Pennsylvania.
During testimony to the grand jury, Dr. John O’Brien and Dr. Susan E. Rushing, both highly experienced medical experts, provided detailed accounts of the psychiatric and physical health risks associated with THC products. Their testimony highlighted cases of severe anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, and even violent behavior linked to marijuana use.
Dr. Rushing specifically discussed the dangers posed by high-potency edibles and products with large amounts of THC, noting that adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable to accidental overconsumption and severe psychiatric reactions. She explained that the absence of standardized dosing, clear serving sizes, and warning labels leaves consumers, especially youth, at risk for psychosis, addiction, and long-term cognitive impairment.
Ultimately, Dr. O’Brien and Dr. Rushing called for stronger regulation, comprehensive education, and robust safeguards to protect vulnerable populations and broader community from the escalating dangers of unregulated marijuana use. A central concern uncovered by the grand jury is the deliberate marketing and sale of marijuana and THC products to children and adolescents. Retailers are exploiting the current laws, offering products with high levels of THC disguised as legal hemp, and packaging them in bright colors and candy-like flavors that mimic popular snacks and treats. These tactics make the products highly attractive and accessible to youth, while the absence of mandatory age restrictions and reliable ID checks allows minors to possess and ingest potent THC items with ease. The lack of clear labeling and deceptive packaging further obscures the true nature of these products, making it nearly impossible for parents, educators, and even law enforcement to distinguish them from ordinary candy. There are no markings on the products themselves, unlike other medicines such as Advil or Tylenol, which are clearly labeled for identification and dosing. As a result, children are exposed to significant health risks, including addiction, impaired learning, and dangerous overdoses, all while retailers face little accountability for their role in perpetuating this public health crisis.
Testimony presented to the grand jury also revealed a deeply troubling pattern of children and adolescents ingesting marijuana and THC products, often with serious and immediate health consequences. Law enforcement officials described multiple incidents in which young children, some as young as one-year-old, accidentally consumed THC-infused edibles or vape products, resulting in symptoms such as confusion, lethargy, loss of consciousness, and even hospitalization. This issue is also occurring in schools, where law enforcement reported a troubling increase in the number of THC vapes and related THC products being confiscated from students. Medical experts testified to the unpredictable and severe effects these prod-
ucts can have on developing minds and bodies, including behavioral changes and long-term cognitive impairment. Collectively, these accounts underscore the urgent need to protect children from escalating risks posed by unregulated THC products.
Unlike tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol products, which cannot be legally purchased by anyone under 21 in Pennsylvania, the absence of any law establishing a minimum age for buying THC products has significantly increased youth access. Without such a statute, retailers who sell to individuals as young as 14 years old face no criminal consequences, leaving law enforcement frustrated. This regulatory gap enables inconsistent and often inadequate protection for minors, allowing the problem to persist and grow in schools.
A coordinated investigations conducted across Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester counties revealed a pervasive and deeply troubling pattern in the retail sale of marijuana and THC products.
Law enforcement agencies, responding to community complaints and conducting undercover operations, discovered that retail stores, including smoke shops, gas stations, and convenience stores, were openly selling products labeled as legal hemp that, upon laboratory testing, were found to have massive amounts of THC and were, in fact, marijuana. These investigations exposed widespread deceptive marketing, fraudulent lab reports, and a lack of meaningful oversight, with store owners and distributors often knowingly participating in the illegal distribution of controlled substances, fueled by an unregulated industry.
During the grand jury testimony, a law enforcement official said that in August of 2024, there was an uptick of high school students in Chester County being in possession of THC products on school property. A police officer talked about a 15-year-old who possessed a multicolored THC vape pen on high school property and reported purchasing marijuana and vape pens from a store in West Grove Borough.
A 17-year-old was found with 14 vape pens on school property and told
law enforcement officials that all were purchased from a store in Lower Oxford Township. Another 17-year-old admitted to purchasing marijuana approximately 25 times from a store in West Grove Borough, noting that the store never asked for identification and that many students frequented it—so many, in fact, that there were long lines at the smoke shop after school.
Law enforcement officials attempted to compile a comprehensive list of all stores selling these products in Chester County. However, they quickly realized the sheer number was overwhelming, and many stores were interconnected, operating across multiple counties.
Law enforcement officials conducted numerous investigations into smoke shops and other retailers selling products. At one store in New Garden Township, an investigator discovered a seller who openly marketed the product as marijuana, even claiming it was “better than medical grade.”
The grand jury’s investigation into the retail sale of marijuana and THC products across Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester counties has revealed an urgent need for comprehensive regulatory reform. The recommendations outlined in this report are designed to address the widespread public health and safety risks posed by unregulated and mislabeled THC products, particularly those that are easily accessible to youth and vulnerable populations.
First and foremost, there needs to be robust age restrictions for all THC purchases. Another recommendation is prohibiting the sale and advertising of THC products within a defined distance of schools, playgrounds, and childcare facilities, mirroring Pennsylvania’s existing laws for tobacco and nicotine products. These measures would reduce youth exposure, limit underage access, and help prevent the normalization of marijuana use among children and adolescents.
The report also calls for the establishment of clear definitions of marijuana and its derivatives in Pennsylvania law. The practice of selling marijuana derivatives such as Delta8, Delta-10, and THCA as
“legal hemp,” despite their psychoactive effects and significant health risks, must be brought to an end, officials said.
The report further advocates for a statewide licensing system for retail establishments selling THC products. Licensing would create uniform standards, facilitate regular inspections, and provide mechanisms for enforcement, including fines, license revocation for violations, and criminal liability. This approach would mirror existing regulations for tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol sales, ensuring that only responsible business owners can sell these products to the public.
The report also draws attention to the dangers of high-potency edibles and the lack of standardized serving sizes. It calls for mandatory labeling of milligrams per serving, clear warnings about delayed onset and psychiatric risks, and physical markings on products to prevent confusion with ordinary candy or snacks. Strict limits on dosage and potency, along with comprehensive labeling requirements, are essential to safeguard consumers, especially youth, from accidental overconsumption and adverse health effects.
Another recommendation is for rigorous standards for product testing, labeling, and marketing.
This includes mandatory batch testing by accredited laboratories, transparent reporting of test results, and the creation of a public registry of violating distributors and products. Enhanced oversight and accountability are necessary to ensure that consumers receive accurate information and are protected from dangerous or mislabeled products.
Together, these recommendations form a comprehensive framework for legislative action, robust enforcement, and public education. They are designed to restore accountability, protect public health, and safeguard Pennsylvania’s youth and communities from the escalating dangers of unregulated marijuana and THC products. The evidence underscores the urgent need for robust oversight, accurate labeling, and comprehensive regulation to protect consumers and the community, according to officials.
Praise for park plans
For more than 22 years, the Oxford Area Recreation Authority has worked to provide shared recreation facilities for residents in the member municipalities of East Nottingham Township, Elk Township, Lower Oxford Township, Oxford Borough, and West Nottingham Township. The centerpiece of the Oxford Area Recreation Authority’s work has been the Oxford Area Recreation Authority Park, located at 900 W. Locust Street in Oxford. The park debuted more than a decade ago with walking trails, picnic areas, and sports fields, and since then the improvements have been small but continuous. New amenities have been added, and the park is now the home to community events like the Haunted Park and Hayride and the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce’s Harvest Festival.
The Oxford Area Recreation Authority is now making plans for future improvements to the park. Details about a master plan were shared at a public meeting, and in the future this community gem will provide even more amenities for local residents. There are plans to add pickleball courts, space for skateboarding and golf, and an amphitheater. Parking spaces are being added to accommodate the increased number of visitors.
We applaud these plans and hope this park continues to grow in the future.
Oxford has a need for more park space and a drastic need for more sports fields.
Young people in the area have long needed a place to skateboard. Pickleball is enormously popular. The illeffects of spending too much time inside and tethered to cell phones and Game Boys and iPads has been well-documented. Now more than ever, people need a reason to go outside—and the Oxford Area Recreation Authority Park is a fine one.
Remember, honor, and teach
This coming Saturday is the day when Wreaths Across America will take place—at more than 4,000 locations throughout the U.S., wreaths will be placed on the graves of military veterans. There are numerous locations in Chester County where volunteers will help to honor and remember the sacrifices of veterans who served their country, and one important aspect of the initiative is to teach the younger generations about the need to value and defend our freedoms. Please participate if you can.
Correction
Chester County Press
Published by The Lieberman Family
Steve Hoffman..................................Managing Editor
Richard L. Gaw..................................Associate Editor
Chris Barber................................Contributing Writer
Alan E. Turns...............................Advertising Director
Teri Turns................................Advertising Executive
Helen E. Warren......................Advertising Executive Gabbie Burton............................ Contributing Writer, .......................Digital Marketing and Media Specialist
Privatizing the VA will be a disaster for Pennsylvania’s rural vets
Forcing millions of veterans out of the VA and into our crumbling rural hospitals will hurt both vets and their communities
By Suzanne Gordon and Steve Early
James Jones is a 54-yearold disabled Army veteran. After four years of active duty and four in the reserves, Jones has a multitude of health care problems.
“There’s PTSD, a right arm injury, my right shoulder, chronic rhinitis from toxic exposure during the Gulf War, and dental needs,” he said. That’s why he depends on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, the nation’s largest. Jones, a federal employee from Watauga County, N.C., is also one of the 25 percent of vets who live in rural areas, and care for these rural veterans is now at serious risk as Republicans push to cut rural health care and privatize the VA. Pennsylvania, which has one of the largest veteran populations overall in the country, could be especially impacted.
The VA MISSION Act of 2018, passed under President Trump’s first term, established a parallel private network, the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). The VCCP now sees 60 percent of VA patients and eats up over $30 billion a year that could go to hiring more staff and improving the VA’s aging infrastructure.
This year, VA Secretary Doug Collins asked Congress for a 50 percent increase in VCCP funding and — in an unprecedented
move — a reduction in VA funding. The private sector, backers insist, can provide rural veterans with high quality, convenient care without the delays they may face at the VA. But Jones and other rural veterans say this is a lie.
“I prefer to go to the VA, even if I have to drive longer to get there,” Jones said. But even if he wanted to take advantage of nonVA providers, there are simply not enough near his home — or anywhere else in rural America — to accommodate the needs of the 4.7 million rural veterans like himself.
That’s precisely what the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute (VHPI) found. In a study, which one of us (Suzanne) authored, VHPI discovered that rural veterans seeking care in the private sector face even greater barriers than those in the VA.
While these providers may be well-intentioned, few have enough expertise to recognize veterans’ complex health care problems, much less treat them. This was also the conclusion of not one but two RAND Corporation studies of private sector providers.
Bob Anderson, an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran in Albuquerque, N.M., has been very frustrated by these providers: “When I went to the private sector cancer doctor, my appointment was late in the afternoon on a Friday, and they prescribed pain meds that I had to pick up at the
VA which was all the way across town,” he said. “It was very difficult to get the pain medicine I needed.” Anderson said there was no effort to coordinate or follow up his care. In the VA system, by contrast, “You’d always get a call from a nurse or nurse practitioner the next day to see how you were doing.”
But for many rural veterans, the problem isn’t just finding a provider who understands their needs — it’s finding any provider at all. Of the less than 1,800 rural hospitals remaining, 432 are considered “vulnerable to closure.”
In fact, the majority of rural Americans already live in so-called health deserts. In states with large rural populations like Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas, nearly every rural county — and many urban ones — falls under this designation.
Worse still, President Trump’s new budget will decimate rural hospitals and discourage even more medical and mental health professionals from practic-
ing in rural areas. If millions of veterans are steered out of the VA and into crumbling rural health care institutions, they’ll be forced to compete with their loved ones, friends, and community members for increasingly scarce rural health care resources. That’s bad for all concerned. Fortunately, opposition is forming to the administration’s VA priorities and other efforts to dismantle the federal government. James Jones is part of that opposition. What he and his fellow veterans want is not more costly and unnecessary outsourcing but improvements in the VA itself.
Suzanne Gordon is a journalist, editor, and author of Our Veterans: Winners, Losers, Friends, and Enemies on the New Terrain of Veterans Affairs. Steve Early writes about politics and labor. This op-ed was adapted from a long-form story at Barn Raiser and distributed for syndication by OtherWords.org.
State lawmakers work on gift card fraud prevention bills as holiday
As Pennsylvanians head into the busiest gift card purchasing period of the year, State Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton/ Lehigh) announced she will introduce a two-bill, bipartisan package aimed at preventing the rising wave of “card draining” scams targeting holiday shoppers across the Commonwealth.
Gift card “draining” occurs when thieves record activation numbers from cards on store racks and then wait for unsuspecting shoppers to load funds.
Once the card is activated, scammers immediately
The
shopping season peaks
steal the balance online, long before the customer or recipient ever tries to use it. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has warned that many of these schemes are linked to criminal networks operating from the People’s Republic of China that use the stolen funds to support human trafficking and fentanyl distribution. Pennsylvania has seen an uptick in these incidents, and over two dozen other states have already responded with new laws and proposals to help curb the problem.
“Every year, thousands
of Pennsylvanians give gift cards during the holidays because they’re simple and convenient,” Boscola said.
“But too many families are discovering that their gift was emptied by a scammer before it was ever used. We should not allow criminals to take advantage of this season of generosity.”
Boscola’s forthcoming legislation includes two components:
• The Gift Card Tampering and Data Theft Act, creating a targeted offense for pre-activation tampering and the harvesting or possession of activation data from cards displayed for sale.
• The Gift Card Scam Prevention Warnings and Training Act, requiring retailers that sell third party gift cards to post standardized fraud warnings and provide basic employee training based on model materials supplied by the Attorney General.
Boscola emphasized that
the package reflects bipartisan cooperation already taking shape in the Senate.
“This is a commonsense, bipartisan effort to protect consumers before they are defrauded,” Boscola said.
“Shoppers deserve to know that the gift cards they buy are safe, and retailers deserve clear standards to help stop these schemes before they happen.”
The bill package will be formally introduced in the coming days, and additional co-sponsors are expected to join as the language is finalized. Boscola said she hopes to see action sooner rather than later, so consumers can benefit from stronger protections before next year’s holiday season.
“Pennsylvania should not be behind the curve on this,” she added. “If we act now, we can put real safeguards in place and give shoppers confidence that the gifts they purchase will reach the people they love.”
In the Dec. 3 issue of the Chester County Press, there was a story about the Santa Train that identified Paul Morgan as state representative. He is, in fact, the president of Avondale Borough Council. We apologize for any confusion this error may have caused.
Courtesy photo Suzanne Gordon
Courtesy photo Steve Early
Kennett Square Holiday Village Market draws
The Cecil County Arts Council will be hosting the annual Holiday Art Market that is taking place through Dec. 24, featuring artwork by local artists at reasonable prices perfect for any holiday gift or stocking stuffer.
Visit the gallery, located at 135 E. Main St. in Elkton, to browse the work of more than a dozen artists in a dazzling variety of mediums. This year’s offerings range from shibori silk scarves to hand-lathed bowls and vases made from Cecil County wood, to paper quilled ornaments, photographic earrings, ceramics, paintings and much more.
The Holiday Art Market will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Founded in 1977, the Arts Council is dedicated to presenting, promoting and sustaining the arts in Cecil County. It offers free, family-friendly gallery shows featuring regional artists, weekly and monthly arts programming and special events focused on veterans, students, the elderly and people with disabilities. In 2025, the Arts Council awarded almost $100,000 in grants and scholarships to local artists, businesses and educators. For more information about the Holiday Art Market, visit the Arts Council’s website, follow the event on Facebook or call
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
The annual Kennett Square Holiday Village Market at the Creamery of Kennett Square attracted an overflow of visitors this past weekend.
Shoppers had their pick of handmade items crafted by local artisans.
Children of all ages enjoyed the marshmallow and Smores’ station before the fire.
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STUART DOYLE
Stuart Keith Doyle, a resident of New Castle, Del., passed away peacefully at the Christiana Hospital while he was surrounded by loved ones on Nov. 26, 2025. He was 62. Raised in Broomall, Pa., he was the son of Annette Weddell and the late Robert (Bob) Wayne Doyle. He was known to most as Stu, but to his family he was known as Keith.
At the age of 14, he was profoundly impacted by the premature death of his father.
Throughout the rest of his life, he had a thirst for knowledge. Stuart was intelligent and had a lifelong passion for American history and politics.
After graduating high school, Stuart enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, then became an accomplished chef in New York City, and eventually he married and established First Fruits Catering Company in Oxford.
Following a life-altering heart attack, Stuart embraced the role of stay-at-home dad and instilled in his sons a zeal for following one’s own passions, which for Stuart included gardening, animal husbandry, construction and renovation.
As a Christian, Stuart was incredibly generous with his time, food and money.
Stuart will be remembered and missed as a great father who took immense pride and joy in having had the privilege to raise two sons. He often expressed that his greatest accomplishment was reflected in the adults they had become.
In addition to his mother, Annette Goodsen of Bradenton, Fla., Stuart is survived by his two sons, Robert Caleb Doyle of York, Pa. and Joseph Liam Doyle of Oxford, and his sister, Wendi Doyle Lohmar of Los Angeles.
Arrangements are being handled by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. of Kennett Square.
Heavener named Student of the Month at Avon Grove High School
Aidan Heavener has been named the Avon Grove Lions Student of the Month from Avon Grove High School. He is the son of Jeffrey and Denise Heavener of West Grove. Aidan is involved in many school activities, including track and field, indoor track, cross country, National Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, AMC Math
Club, and the Chess Club. He also participates in the Avon Grove Academic Competition. Aidan is also an active member of his community. He participates in Future Business Leaders of America, and the Boy Scouts of America. Aidan was also selected as a National Merit Scholarship Program-Commended Scholar. He is an AP Scholar with distinction, an FBLA state qualifier and
has received Distinguished Honors for six years straight.
After graduation, Aiden would like to attend a fouryear university to study economics. He would like to either work in finance or in government. The teachers who have influenced him the most are Mr. Kowalski, Mr. Langhorne, Mrs. Polin, Dr. Cahill, Mrs. Brennen and Mrs. O’Neill.
Sullivan honored as a top student at Avon Grove Charter
Chloe Sullivan is the Avon Grove Lions Student of the Month from the Avon Grove Charter School. As a dedicated LEO Club and National Honor Society member, Chloe regularly volunteers at school and community events. She volunteers at everything from Special Olympics and ELC eye screenings to face painting at the ELC carnival or reading
Dr. Seuss to kindergarteners, to helping out at the Holiday Show and Trunk or Treat, to supporting the Luther House. She also manages the club’s social media, helping promote events and celebrate student service.
In October, Chloe co-planned and hosted a “Pink Out” volleyball game for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in support of the Side - Out Foundation’s
Dig Pink program. She organized donations, concessions, team gifts, flyers, and an online donation link, raising about $400 for metastatic breast cancer research. Chloe accomplished this while maintaining a high GPA and taking on a rigorous course load — a clear example of leadership, initiative, and commitment to her school community.
Courtesy photo
Aidan Heavener has been named the Avon Grove Lions Student of the Month from Avon Grove High School. He is pictured with his parents, Jeffrey and Denise, Avon Grove Lions Club President Debbie Bollenbach and Avon Grove High School Assistant Principal Matt Berkheiser.
Courtesy photo
Chloe Sullivan is the Avon Grove Lions Student of the Month from the Avon Grove Charter School. She is pictured with her parents, Richard and Christine Sullivan, Avon Grove Lions Club President Debbie Bollenbach and the school’s Assistant Principal Mark Miller.
Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Mega Adoption Event to find hundreds of dogs and cats homes for the holidays
Hundreds of pets across the region will be looking for homes for the holidays as part of Brandywine Valley SPCA’s (BVSPCA)
December Mega Adoption Event in partnership with national non-profit organization Petco Love. The winter event will be held at all BVSPCA locations, as well as other regional participating shelters
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF STEPHEN LOUIS
RZUCIDLO a/k/a STEPHEN L. RZUCIDLO, DECEASED. Late of Upper Oxford Township, Chester County, PA. LETTERS
TESTAMENTARY on the above
Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to MAKSIM I. PANOV, EXECUTOR, c/o April L. Charleston, Esq., 60 W. Boot Rd., Ste. 201, West Chester, PA 19380, Or to his Attorney: APRIL L. CHARLESTON, THE CHARLESTON LAW FIRM, 60 W. Boot Rd., Ste. 201 West Chester, PA 19380 11p-26-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Franklin Theodore Orne aka Franklin Orne aka Franklin T. Orne, Deceased late of the Borough of Oxford, 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 Tracey Orne, Administratrix, c/o John R. Lundy, Esq., Lundy Beldecos & Milby, PC, 450 N. Narberth Ave., Suite 200, Narberth, PA 19072. 11p-26-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Timothy Charles Tart, Deceased, late of Landenberg, New Garden Township, Chester County, PA. Letters Testamentary 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 Ralph DiRosato, Executor, 212 Penn Green Rd., Oxford, PA,, 19363 11p-26-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF MARY LORETTA McGRAW, DECEASED. Late of Elk Township, Chester County, PA. LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same
throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. on Dec. 13 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens at all participating shelters will be available for adoption for just a $35 fee throughout the event.
“Our Megas provide a lifeline for so many pets who have lost everything. It’s truly inspiring to see these
and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to JESSIE McCARTY, EXECUTRIX, 117 Elgin Avenue, Haddon Township, NJ 08108, Or to her Attorney: KENNETH C. RUSSELL, RUSSELL LAW, P.C., 3500 Reading Way, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 12-3-3t
PENN TOWNSHIP BID NOTICE
INVITATION FOR BIDS FOR THE CONCRETE PACKAGE FOR THE PROPOSED FITNESS CENTER, PENN TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY PARK, 260 LEWIS ROAD, WEST GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA 19390 , PENN TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PA.
PROPOSALS will be received by the Board of Supervisors, Penn Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M., Prevailing Time, Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Penn Township Offices located at 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA 19390, for the following: The Project includes the construction of a concrete pad and walkways associated with the National Fitness Center Project at the Penn Township Community Park, including temporary access road, erosion and sedimentation controls, grading, and restoration.
All Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud by the Township Director of Operations at 6:00 P.M. Prevailing Time, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Penn Township Board of Supervisors meeting held at the Penn Township Building, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA 19390.
Specifications and Forms of Proposal may be obtained From the Director of Operations at the Office of the Penn Township, at the Township Office address above between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. beginning Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. There is no fee for the Project Manual and Bid Package. No Project Manuals and Bid Packages, including the Form of Proposal and Specifications, will be sent out electronically by the Township. Proposals must be upon the forms furnished by the Township and securely sealed in an enve-
pets chosen by families eager to give them a new life full of love,” said Adam Lamb, BVSPCA CEO. “By bringing this Mega Adoption Event into our campuses and into the shelters of our partners, we are looking to save more lives, reach more local adopters, and open space to more pets in need in our region and beyond.”
“December and the holi-
days are a time filled with love, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by opening your heart and home to a shelter pet in need,” said Petco Love president Susanne Kogut. “We’re proud to partner with Brandywine Valley SPCA and local organizations that work tirelessly to find loving homes for pets in their care. These Mega Adoption
Legals/Classifieds
lope marked “ Penn Township Community Park Fitness Center Concrete Package.”
Each Bidder must deposit with his/her bid, security in the form of a bid bond or certified check in the amount of not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid made payable to the order of the Penn Township.
Pennsylvania prevailing wage rates will apply to this project, in addition to any and all other applicable federal, state, and local laws, statutes, ordinance, rules and regulations.
Penn Township reserves the right to accept any or all bids or parts thereof, or to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, for any cause whatsoever, as they deem for the best interest of the Township.
No bidder may withdraw his/her bid within sixty (60) days after the date set for the receiving and opening of bids.
Each bid must be accompanied by a signed commitment of the proposed surety offering to execute a Performance Bond, as well as the Letter of Intent, and Non-Collusion Affidavit, Nondiscrimination/Sexual Harassment Clause, Public Works Employment Verification Form, and Statement of Bidder’s Qualifications.
The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Contractor’s Performance Bond and Labor and Materialmen’s Bond in an amount of 100% of the accepted bid and a Maintenance Bond in the amount 10% of the Contract Amount. The Surety Company and form of surety shall be subject to the approval of Penn Township. The Bond Company should have no less than an “A” rating (Best Rating) and provide documentation of their authority to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, the Bond should be provided without a reinsurer.
Funding assistance for the Fitness Court and Studio® Improvements at the Penn Township Community Park has been provided in part through a grant from Independence Blue Cross (IBX) and National Fitness Campaign (NFC). By Order of the, Penn Township Board of Supervisors, Karen Versuk, MBA PhD, Director of Operations 12p-3-2t
ESTATE NOTICE
Letters Testamentary have been granted in the Estate of PATRICIA F. FISHER, late of East Fallowfield Township. All persons having claims or demands on the Estate are requested to make them known, and all persons indebted to the said decedent are requested to make payment without delay.
TAMMY M. DONOHUE, c/o The Law Firm of Barry S. Rabin, 797 E. Lancaster Avenue Suite 13, Downingtown PA 19335, Personal Representative. Barry S. Rabin, 797 E. Lancaster Avenue Suite 13, Downingtown PA 19335, Attorney.
12p-10-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Clifford Harley Gray, III of Upper Oxford Township, Chester County, Deceased. Letters of Administration c.t.a. on the estate of the above named Clifford Harley Gray, III having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Taylor Bard, Administrator c.t.a. c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire P.O. Box 381 208 E. Locust Street Oxford, PA 19363
12p-10-3t
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
(RFP) will be received by Twin Valley School District, 4851 N. Twin Valley Rd, Elverson, PA 19520, for the following: Network Switches hardware and licensing, and Wireless licensing. This RFP is published through E-Rate Form 470 # 260007971, and complete RFP documentation is available therein. The deadline for vendor questions is Friday, 12/19/2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Proposals must be submitted by Thursday, 1/22/2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Twin Valley School District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals or part of any proposal or waive any irregularities in any proposal. TWIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, Mike Nappi, Director of Technology 12p-10-3t
Events show what’s possible when a community comes together with one shared purpose: saving pet lives.”
Adopters should bring a leash and collar for a dog adoption (also available for purchase), a carrier for a cat (cardboard carriers will be available for purchase), a valid ID, and the adoption fee. BVSPCA campuses will facilitate outdoor meet-and-
BOROUGH of OXFORD NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS
The Oxford Borough Planning Commission has changed the date for their December 2025 meeting. The Planning Commission will now meet on Tuesday, December 16th at 6:30 pm and not on December 23rd as originally scheduled. Planning Commission meetings are open to the public and held at Oxford Borough Hall, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, PA.
If you are a person with a disability wishing to attend the public meeting and require auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodations to observe or participate in the proceedings, or you have questions please contact the Borough Manager at 610-932-2500 to discuss how your needs may be best accommodated. By: Pauline Garcia-Allen, Borough Manager 12p-11t
Classifieds
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greets for folks who bring dogs in their home to meet potential new canine family members.
BVSPCA-led Mega Adoption Events powered by Petco Love since 2016 have found homes for more than 21,000 pets.
Event details, volunteer opportunities, and fast passes can be found at megaadopt.com.
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Pa. Senate approves CROWN Act
The Pennsylvania Senate recently passed the CROWN Act (H.B. 439) by a vote of 44-3, thus ensuring that no one in Pennsylvania will be denied access to professional, educational, or public spaces and opportunities because of their hair type, texture, or hairstyle.
In September 2020, after the CROWN Act was passed in the U.S. House, State Sen. Hughes joined then-Representatives Joanna McClinton and Summer Lee to introduce legislation that would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Most recently, Sen. Hughes has supported the advocacy of Representative La’Tasha Mayes, Speaker Joanna McClinton, and the full coalition of co-sponsors of HB 439 as they worked to advance the CROWN Act through both chambers of the state legislature.
“This law takes discrimination head on,” said Sen. Hughes. “Natural hair is beautiful. This law protects Pennsylvanians by abolishing any notion that natural hairstyles are not appropriate in professional, educational, or public settings.”
The prime sponsor of HB439, Rep. Mayes, explained, “I am so thrilled that my legislation to end race-based hair discrimination has passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support. The CROWN Act has been a long-time fight toward the overall
goal of ending this insidious discrimination in our commonwealth that has impacted the lives and livelihoods of students, workers and Pennsylvania residents simply because of how their hair grows out of their head.
I want to thank Speaker McClinton for her tireless efforts – long before I ever became a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives – to see this bill pass out of the House and Senate which now heads to the Governor’s desk. I also want to thank Senator Hughes for being an advocate early on for this legislation, and a champion in getting it passed in the Senate.”
Sen. Hughes added, “I’d like to thank my constituent, Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah, for her fierce advocacy across the country on this issue. Pennsylvania now joins many other states in adopting this anti-discrimination legislation because Dr. Asamoah has been so deeply committed to this movement.”
“For nearly 8 consecutive years, I have worked tirelessly with leaders across the country to change laws as well as culture, and mitigate the psychological, economic, and physical harm caused by race-based hair discrimination,” said Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah, the two-time Temple graduate who leads the national CROWN Act Coalition.
“Grooming policies that reinforce Eurocentric
standards of beauty and professionalism, perpetuate exclusion and racial inequity. Since deciding a public policy approach was necessary to tackle race-based hair discrimination and subsequently developing
the nationwide legislative, social impact, and coalition building strategies for the movement in 2018, I have been committed to ensuring the CROWN Act becomes law in Pennsylvania.
Senator Hughes has been
my senator and an early supporter of this work, and I am genuinely grateful for his partnership and leadership.”
As of September 2024, 27 states including New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
Tennessee, Arkansas, Nebraska and Texas have bipartisan CROWN Act laws and protections in place. In Pennsylvania, both the City of Philadelphia and the City of Pittsburgh have already enacted the CROWN Act.
Yuletide at Winterthur offers holiday magic and more
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Dazzling decorations and imaginative holiday trees inspired by poems, traditional tales, and children’s books will delight visitors to Yuletide at Winterthur this holiday season. Winterthur offers fun for all ages, including literature-inspired magic, timeless traditions and new experiences, garden displays, a large gingerbread replica of the historic train station on the estate, and extended hours on select Friday and Saturday evenings for tours, workshops, live music, shopping, and dining. For tickets, detailed event schedules, and more, visit winterthur.org/Yuletide. Yuletide at Winterthur is on view through Jan. 4.
A Q & A with John Flynn Singer-songwriter to play benefit for Camp Dreamcatcher on December 18
By Caroline Roosevelt Contributing Writer
On Dec. 18, folk singer-songwriter John Flynn will be hosting a holiday benefit performance for Camp Dreamcatcher at The Kennett Flash. I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Flynn about his upcoming holiday concert, his work with the nonprofit New Beginnings and his recent travels to Norway.
Caroline Roosevelt: You are doing a benefit show for Camp Dreamcatcher next week at The Kennett Flash. Have you had a long association with the organization?
John Flynn: I’ve been performing benefits to raise money for Camp Dreamcatcher for almost 30 years now. It started out as a group of friends and fans who call themselves my fan club. We held a little Christmas gathering. We spent the first few years raising money for Dreamcatcher and then that grew into shows at the Sellersville Theater and The Kennett Flash and a few other venues along the way.
I was listening to your work this morning and I was on your Facebook, which I really enjoyed because you have great posts and I can tell that spirituality and politics are an inspiration for a lot of your work. Tell me a little bit about your new album, The Victim Tree. It didn’t mince words. I really enjoyed it.
I’ve been writing since I was very young as a way of making sense of the world for myself. And I often don’t feel as articulate as I would like to be, so I turned to songwriting to kind of crystallize my thinking and put it in a form where I can convey the questions that I’m wrestling with. I think the songs all kind of come out of that space. I’ve just learned last night that “Victim Tree” was the number one song in folk music in November, but that said, I’m not positive whether I’ll be doing it because I tend to look at this show as a holiday concert.
You’re described by some as a social justice troubadour - bringing people back to sort of that 60s era, that period in recent musical history when music was outspoken and served as a civic duty that brought us all together.
I’m a big Woody Guthrie fan. I’m a big Kris Kristofferson fan. The kind of moral integrity of their music seems to fill a space in the cultural landscape for me. I started out wanting to be a rich and famous singersongwriter, and it turned out that the harder I tried to do that, the more barren my songs became. The more I wrote from a place of honesty about my own life and experience, the richer my works seem to become, at least for me.
You travel up and down the east coast, mostly. Is that right? Mostly, although I just
did a protest show over in Norway.
What does a protest festival in Norway look like compared to what we know around here?
It wasn’t what I expected because it wasn’t largely a music festival, although there were musical artists involved. It hosted these amazing workshops where conservative and liberal and progressive and far right and far left writers would share the stage together and talk about the issues facing the world in the age of Donald Trump. On one particular evening, I was supposed to open the Trump Workshop with a song, and I chose “The Victim Tree.” I learned it the day before that I was supposed to give the keynote speech for the event, but I had no idea what to tell the nations of the world or Norway to do, so I spoke from my heart for about 10 minutes.
Let’s talk a bit more about your Dec. 18 show at The Kennett Flash. You
said it’s going to be sort of a Christmas themed evening, so it’ll be a little bit more light. I wouldn’t want anybody to avoid it because they might not agree with my take on this issue or that issue. I figure if people come to see one of my shows, they kind of suspect what they might get, although I think they’re genuinely surprised that I don’t put down people for what they believe.
Tell me about how you got involved with this particular non-profit organization.
New Beginnings was founded by the Franciscans - an order in the Catholic Church that was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. They used to have a street mission in Wilmington called the Franciscan Center that was run by Brother David, who met with a group of offenders at Gander Hill Prison. When he was transferred in 2005 to Silver Spring, Maryland - where he’s now the chaplain of the Walter Reed Medical Center - he asked me to take over New Beginnings. I turned him down twice because I didn’t feel like my education and my life experience would give me anything to offer the men that I would meet in the prison. Gradually, he convinced me that my main job would be to listen deeply and to keep showing up and by showing up, relationships would begin to form, and they would be the source of the healing journey.
I’m sure coming out of prison is also a huge chal-
lenge, while the common misconception is, ‘Oh, you’re just coming out of prison. The hardest part is over.’
So many people coming out of prison believe that, and then they’re kind of blindsided by how lonely it can be. There’s really a tie in with Camp Dreamcatcher, because what I love about the organization is that most of the kids are struggling with their own situation regarding AIDS or HIV. This is a very isolating thing in their life and it’s not something that the world gives them a whole lot of incentive to talk about.
When they come to Camp Dreamcatcher, however, they begin relationships and they join a common community, which is so healing.
Stop by The Kennett Flash on December 18 to check out John Flynn and support Camp Dreamcatcher. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or online at www.kennettflash. org.
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Singer-songwriter John Flynn will perform at The Kennett Flash on Dec. 18 as a benefit for Camp Dreamcatcher.
