Chester County Press 03-18-2020 Edition

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Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

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

Volume 154, No. 11

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

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As of March 17, the statewide total of confirmed coronavirus cases stood at 76

Six presumptive positive COVID-19 cases recorded in Chester County By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Chester County Health Department officials have announced that six county residents have tested positive for COVID-19, as posted on the website www. chesco.org/coronavirus. The first two cases are identified as a 56-year-old female resident of West Pikeland, who was diagnosed on March 13, and a 30-year-old male who lives in North Coventry, who was confirmed on March 14. Two additional cases

were confirmed on by the Chester County Health Department on March 15, and are identified as a 54-year-old male resident of Goshen, and a 20-yearold female, also of Goshen. Each of these individuals had a history of exposure to a COVID-19 case. The gender, age identifications and the respective towns of the two latest confirmed cases have not been disclosed on the department’s coronavirus website. As of March 17, the number of confirmed

coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania stood at 76. In addition to Chester County, there have been cases detected in the following counties: Allegheny, Bucks, Cumberland, Delaware, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, N o r t h a m p t o n , Philadelphia, Pike, Washington and Wayne. The news that the virus now includes Chester County comes on the heels of a sweeping effort made last week by Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf and many of the state’s top officials to initi-

ate measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus throughout the county and in several other counties in the Commonwealth. They include severe restrictions placed on businesses, public events, travel and the closure of public K-12 schools, including brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, career and technical centers (CTCs), and intermediate units (IUs). All other schools – including private, parochial, and institutions of higher education – should be consulted directly for

the most current closure information. Gov. Wolf was joined by Chrissy Houlahan, U.S. Rep. for Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Continued on Page 2A

Kennett Square David M. Madonna named INSIDE recipient of regional Borough and Kennett Township police’s top award seek funding for micro-transit study By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Big results for Kennett mini-THON...6A

Local students display art...1B

Kennett Community Grocer taking steps forward...3B

INDEX Opinion.......................7A Obituaries.................2B Calendar of Events.....4B

Kennett Square Borough and Kennett Township are working collaboratively to file an application for a grant that could be used to conduct a micro-transit study of the Kennett Square area. The study could lead to the addition of some form of public transportation for residents in the Kennett area. Nate Echeverria, the economic development director, said at the March 2 Kennett Square Borough Council meeting that the township and the borough will be jointly applying for a $100,000 grant. The municipalities are applying for federal funding that has been directed to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, which works to improve the region’s transportation system through a variety of programs and projects. Kennett Square Borough and Kennett Township would utilize the funds to

Continued on Page 4A

Photos by Richard L. Gaw

Joseph Greenwalt, lieutenant for the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department, awarded the department’s 2019 Commissioners Award to Stephen Madonna and Michelle Edwards, the parents of recipient David M. Madonna, who accepted on their son’s behalf. Madonna was absent from the March 12 ceremony, and is currently in Fort Benning, Ga., completing his basic combat training for the Army National Guard.

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer At the annual Southern Chester County Regional Police Department (SCCRPD) awards ceremony on March 12, the recipient of the evening’s most prestigious recognition was missing, but it was for a good reason. Officer David M.

Madonna was off preparing to serve his country. In ceremonies held at the New Garden Township Building, Madonna’s parents Stephen Madonna and Michelle Edwards accepted the prestigious 2019 Commissioners Award for their son, who is currently assigned to the Delta 1-50 Diamondbacks at Fort Benning, Ga., where he is

completing his basic combat training for the Army National Guard. Soon after the SCCRPD expanded its police coverage area to include Avondale Borough last year, Madonna became the borough’s primary officer, where he received high praise for his work with the community in conjunction Continued on Page 2A

Penn Township supervisors discuss the Red Rose Inn, grant opportunities, and school project plans By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer The Penn Township Board

Classifieds.................4B of Supervisors authorized

© 2007 The Chester County Press

retain consultants and to complete a study of microtransit opportunities. “Step one is to do a study,” Echeverria said, explaining that meetings have already been held with the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC), which also works on public transportation issues in the area. The municipalities would be required to put up some matching funds if they receive the grant. The borough’s portion of the matching funds would be approximately $7,500. Borough council member Ethan Cramer said that bringing some sort of additional public transportation to Kennett Square residents has been a clear priority, and a need, for a long time. John Thomas, a borough resident, said that he would like to see a motorized trolley system in Kennett Square because it would fit well with the historic character of the borough.

the release of the final payment of $78,125 for work on the Intersection of Route 796 and Baltimore Pike, alongside the Red Rose Inn, at the township meeting on March 4. No funds are being retained, but there is still a maintenance bond in place to take care of any problems that arise in the first year after the work was

completed. At the Red Rose Inn, plans will be looked at soon for landscaping at the site. Supervisors are also considering the possibility of adding a town clock on the property. Friends of Penn Township last month submitted an application for a Mushroom Festival Grant on behalf of the Township Historical Commission. If received, the funding will be used to purchase technology to display the oral histories the

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Historical Commission has collected. Ultimately, the material would be part of an historical display at the Red Rose Inn. The township has also applied to the Chester County Open Space Municipal Grant Program, requesting $250,000 toward construction of the residents’ portion of the township’s new sports park. This would include the environmental education area, parking areas, playground, and pickle ball

courts. Other grants will be sought to use as matching funds and for development of playing fields at the new park. A brief update on plans for the new Avon Grove High School indicated that a letter has been received from the Chester County Conservation District, with a list of items that it wants to see addressed. The school plan is expected to come back to the board for final approval later this month but addressing the

conditions may need to come first. “That letter is very intense. I don’t know how you put in a final plan without addressing all that stuff in there,” supervisor Victor Mantegna said. Supervisors are asking residents to support Chester Water Authority’s efforts to avoid a forced sale of the water system. “Share as much information as you can on social media to get the word out to more and more people. Continued on Page 4A

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