Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce Magazine supporting the Oxford Area and the Surrounding Community Businesses
Q&A with Dick & Connie Winchester Elk Creek Veterinary Services
Lola’s: Lots of Lovely Apparel
Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director’s Message
As of press time, our business community is experiencing challenging times as COVID-19 spreads the world. Social distancing, closed schools, events cancelled and businesses required to be closed or to alter their services. These business owners, our friends and neighbors, are having to work through ever changing recommendations, restrictions and guidelines. It has been asked, how can we support our businesses during these uncertain times. Please continue to support small business with take out or delivery orders, gift card purchases, online shopping, sharing social media, writing Yelp, Google and Facebook reviews, and reaching out to our business owners to let them know you care. For those essential business that are fully operating, be patient, supply chains are also being impacted. And when
we are back to “normal”, SHOP, DINE and SUPPORT LOCAL!
We are working with local and state officials to ensure the business community voice is being heard (and it is!). We are collaborating with regional, state and national chamber of commerces, and of course our local partners, Oxford Borough and Oxford Mainstreet.
Local events will be altered. We are in the process of rescheduling our Awards Dinner Dance, originally scheduled for April 18. In this issue, you will see photos of last year’s event. It is a wonderful evening of celebrating Oxford! We can’t wait until we get back to “business as usual” and can truly celebrate our Citizen, Organization and Business of the Year. With the goal of helping to tell not only our story, but the story of our members and community a bit better, we’ve upped
our game with this issue of the Oxfordian. Led by photographer Jim Coarse of Moonloop Photography and the creative staff at AdPro, our committee got to work spotlighting members and stories in the greater Oxford community.
From meeting with the Winchesters and their incredible commitment to service and the Oxford community to catching up with Nick Lang and his innovative use of drone photography, we have quite the story to tell. You’ll recognize familiar faces and maybe some new ones also. What I find most interesting is the sense of community that is a common thread with all those that we talked with. These members see the bigger picture, the important sense of community.
Community isn’t just a physical location in our corner of Chester County. Whether you are born and raised here or a
transplant from near or far, Oxfordians are proud of our community. It is the sense of place. The fabric is woven from the businesses, organizations and people that create Oxford.
I am very grateful for an engaged Board of Directors that continue to move forward the mission of the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce, our business and organization members that see value in our efforts to support, and our community partners that work in tandem for the greater good. It is our sense of community that will help us weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sit back and enjoy the Spring 2020 Oxfordian and the stories we are delighted to tell.
Christine Grove Executive Director
VETERINARY SERVICES
Elk Creek Veterinary Services brings loving medical care to Oxford’s pet population
SHELTON’S PALLET COMPANY
Shelton’s Pallet Company builds on a tradition of hard work
EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY
Early College Academy offers numerous benefits for Oxford students
PICKLED PICKLES
Pickled Pickles: An artists’ haven and a shoppers’ paradise
DICK AND CONNIE WINCHESTER
Oxfordian Q & A: Dick and Connie Winchester
Crystal Messaros
Eric Maholmes
Elk Creek Vets bring loving medical care to Oxford’s pet population
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
For Justin Yesilonis, all his years of professional experience, training and work came together when he opened his own veterinary practice, Elk Creek Veterinary Services, in 2015. This dedicated lover of animals had worked locally as a veterinarian for many years, but when a big old stone farmhouse at the corner of Baltimore Pike and Waterway Road in East Nottingham became available, he and his wife, Jane,
took the leap, bought the building, and set about to adapt it for their own Elk Creek Veterinary Services.
He said that involved plenty of effort and financial investments—purchasing the building, changing walls around, and bringing in equipment, but it was worth it.
Jane Yesilonis, who also serves as a receptionist, said recently that ever since he set up his own practice, he has been happy all the time.
Today, that center houses three veterinarians and a support staff, amounting to a total roster of 14 people
and a cat named Hazel.
Currently, Juistin Yesilonis, 48, carries on his practice with veterinary associates, doctors Kristie Olsen and Alison DiRenzo. Justin grew up in Baltimore. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Towson State University and his doctorate in veterinary medicine at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (Virginia Tech).
According to his online resume, he has a special love for ophthalmology, soft tissue surgery, and acupuncture. He enjoys bonding with clients and always gets a kick
out of the relationship between pets and their owners.
When he was growing up, he said he always wanted to be a veterinarian, and usually the family had a dog and several cats.
Kristina Olsen grew up in Radnor and earned her bachelor’s degree at Wake Forest University with a major in biology and French. She earned her master’s degree at Penn State in large-animal reproductive physiology and went to veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in Oxford
and in Delaware. Her professional interests are internal medicine, ultrasound, and behavior. She also works as a foster volunteer with a senior dog rescue group and is a volunteer driver for the Oxford chapter of Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to home-bound local senior citizens.
Olsen said she never imagined herself being anything other than a veterinarian. Allison DiRenzo is a 2013 graduate of Western University of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her bachelor’s degree in animal science from Rutgers University
and her master’s degree in biology from West Chester University. She is an avid equestrian. She states she is excited to help her animal patients continue to maintain happy, healthy lives with their families.
Staffing the office also are practice manager Kelley Zimmers and vet techs Alysha Barber, Ashley D’Avico, Becky Marshall, Jamie Guiberson, Jessica Dymond, Leah Pugh and Suse Martin as well as receptionists Courtney Rozek, Joan Mashura and Jane Yesilonis, and Hazel. Hazel is Justin Yesilonis’s cat who came Continued on Page 10
Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
Elk Creek Veterinary Services
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to the veterinary center after she was not getting along with the other cats in the house. She now lives happily downstairs at the office, much happier being loved and appreciated as the alpha pet there. These staff members are engaged in a host of activities and treatments geared to the rescue and recovery of local pets. The office is open six days a week (not Sunday). It usually limits its services to dogs and cats, although the staff admitted to having seen a few goats. The doors open for surgeries at 7:30 a.m. and then for regular patients at 8:30 a.m. But, as Justin Yesilonis said, sometimes emergencies prompt them to serve outside the standard
operating hours.
In the course of a year they are challenged by animals who need treatment – or even surgery – for such maladies as removal of bladder stones, infected eyes, cancer and amputation of limbs as well as routine neutering. They recalled
having had to perform surgery on a dog that had swallowed a sock and a C-section on another that was giving birth but was unable to expel the last two pups. In those cases, they had to perform emergency surgery.
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Elk Creek Veterinary Services
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When Justin Yesilonis was asked what a “normal” day is, he laughed.
“You never know when it’s an easy or hard day. Emergencies comes up. It’s nothing or unexpected.”
The staff operates with the knowledge that in the community and beyond there are ordinances and laws that apply to animals. Some of them are as simple as the instruction to keep animals under control or clean up after them when they are out on walks. But there are more serious issues as well.
Justin Yesilonis said there is the very real problem of rabies, especially in southern Chester County. Mandating that pets must be inoculated is a matter of safety, both for the animals and the humans with whom they come in contact.
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Elk Creek Veterinary Services
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They mentioned a kitten that had tested positive as well as a Jack Russell dog that they treated that had been involved in a serious tussle with a rabid raccoon. Although the treatment with shots is not as painful as it used to be, Jane Yesilonis explained, it is still not pleasant and involves multiple inoculations.
On the subject of legislation, Justin Yesilonis added, “I think there should be some legislation written to address the crisis of feral cat populations. It is an animal welfare issue with environmental and public health ramifications that gets ignored. This situation obviously requires a cooperative approach from the community, township level and up to the state level. And, of course, it involves resources and money.”
The Yesilonises and the staff are delighted to be located at the edge of Oxford Borough.
“It means a lot to be in a small town,”
Justin Yesilonis said.
In addition to being a friendly town, it is a town with an agricultural background where lots of people have pets, he added.
“I don’t even know any people who don’t have pets,” he said.
At last count, they had approximately 3,000 clients on their list and admitted to being very popular in town. They have customers from as far away as Lancaster, Middletown, Delaware, and Maryland. There is even one family that brings their dogs down from New England when they visit their relatives in Oxford.
“Oxford is nice because it has a large presence of the arts, parades and First Fridays,” Justin Yesilonis said.
“One of the charms of living in a small town is when we drive through town people flash their lights and wave,” he added. “People are really nice and laid back here. Yes! We do have the nicest clients we have ever worked with!”
A Word from The Mayor
While I had initially hoped to use this platform as a means of introduction to the community at large, circumstances beyond my control have certainly changed the narrative. Today our community is hurting and many of our residents are struggling to stay afloat. The uncertainties related to the expanding threat of COVID19, coupled with the state and county mandates, has caused the closure of most of our businesses, rendering many underemployed or unemployed. As I write this today, we still face the uncertainty of the furloughs end. My family, like many of yours is not immune from these unknowns and we have collectively done our best to prepare.
Our Police, Fire and EMS have created their plans of action and continue their dedicated service to our community and our Emergency Management Coordinator is keeping us updated as the
virus spreads. As Mayor, I feel a sense of responsibility to fight for every business owner and employee alike. To fight for each family and resident, retired or young. Working with the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce and Borough Management, with the daily assistance of State Representative, John Lawrence, we have compiled a list of useful links for debt forgiveness, loss prevention, unemployment access, utility waivers, health information resources, jobs and the like. This list will be available on the Oxford Borough website (OxfordBoro. org), Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce (OxfordPA.org) and Oxford Mainstreet (DowntownOxfordPA.org). This is just one of the many initiatives that are in the works.
While I hope this finds you all well, undoubtably many of us will remain vulnerable or in need. Utilizing all means of safety and distancing, please continue to keep an eye on neighbors and friends. In closing, I remain proud of the incredible spirit and resolve within our community. I continue to be humbled by the outreach provided by the nameless many. This collective good will surely be our guide as we navigate through the coming days. Please contact me if I can provide any assistance at: (pharris@oxfordboro.org)
Philip Harris, Mayor 57 N. 4th Street Oxford PA 19363
Phone: (610) 998-0032 Ext. 228 pharris@oxfordboro.org follow on Facebook: @mayorofoxford
Shelton’s Pallet Company of hard work
Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer
Shelton’s Pallet Company is a family-owned and operated business that was originally established in 1974. The company’s tradition is that of hard work, service to the community, restoring wooden pallets for reuse, and producing recycled landscape mulch that discourages mold production. The business was founded by Charles D. Shelton (Dave) and his wife Helen. Initially, the idea was to grow mushrooms. Until 1993, there was a mushroom house where the current pallet shop is today. It was quite by chance that the pallet sales fell into place. After many years of hard work and sacrifice, the company finally started to get its feet on the ground. Dave and Helen came from very humble backgrounds and were extremely hard-working, honest people. Dave had a special feel for business and was very successful in most everything that he took on. Helen maintained an impeccable record keeping system that is still the base of the accounting operations today.
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Company builds on a tradition
Shelton Pallet Company
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Dave Shelton cared about the success of his business and his community. He served on the East Nottingham Township Board of Supervisors for 16 years and was a supporter of the Oxford Area Recreation Authority. Shelton Field at the Oxford Area Regional Park is named in his honor for his many years of dedication and service to this community.
“He truly was an amazing human being. He was a really good man,” said Lisa Shelton.
Dave passed away in 2010, leaving the company in the hands of his wife Helen, with Chuck taking on his father’s role. After Helen’s death in 2015, the company passed to Chuck and his wife Lisa, who modernized the operation while keeping the integrity of the firm. The transition for Lisa was not an easy one. She credits her success to several people. First and fore most to Helen’s sister, Linda Weaver. Linda has been an employee at Shelton’s for 25 years and plays an intricate role in the day-to-day operations of the office. Chuck and Lisa’s son Aaron also plays an important role in the family business as a mechanic.
Currently, there are more than 25 people employed through Shelton’s Pallet Company at two locations— one in Oxford and the other at
Terminal Avenue in New Castle, Del. The pallet business has many facets to succeed and Shelton’s has a wonderful team of loyal and dedicated employees. Everyone at Shelton’s is prepared to go above and beyond to provide a good product and excellent service. Concentrating on customer service is a priority.
“When you get into some of these bigger companies, you lose that personal aspect,” Lisa Shelton said. “We’ve always been a family oriented, customer service business.”
The business fills an important niche in the marketplace. Every manufacturer who ships products by truck, train, and
ship and every retailer who receives bulk inventory uses pallets to safely store and move heavy loads. As pallets are reused repeatedly, they can break or become damaged. At that point, instead of being discarded, they are taken to Shelton’s Pallet Co. for repair so that they can be
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Amidst the scenic farmland of Lancaster County, enjoy the views at Britain Hill. With seating for 185, we can accommodate your next function.
• Weddings
• Anniversary Parties
• Baby/Bridal Showers
• Birthday Parties
• Retirement Parties
• Reunions
• Bereavements
• Corporate Events
Serving Britain Hill wines and a creative selection of craft beers.
www.britainhillvenueandvineyard.com
Shelton Pallet Company
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used again and again.
Pallet cores come to Shelton’s Pallet Co. from large warehouses, distribution centers and through their satellite location in New Castle, Del. near the Port of Wilmington. After the pallets have been purchased, they are sorted and repaired at either location, and then shipped back out to customers.
In addition to repairing the typical 48 x 40 pallet, Shelton’s makes special-sized pallets that are not readily available, giving customers exactly what they need to get their product moved safely. They also assemble plant racks for nurseries and top frames for stacking inventory. If a homeowner needs a pallet or two for a project, they may also purchase small quantities directly from the company.
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Shelton Pallet Company
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Shelton’s Pallet Co. also produces recycled Black and Brown mulch at the Oxford location. Many of the local homeowners in the area are unaware of this. Mulch is one of the newer ventures for Shelton’s Pallet Co. The product grew out of the need to dispose of the broken unusable pallets and waste wood. Pallets are primarily made out of pine. Up until last year, mulch was mostly sold wholesale to Landscapers.
“2019 was the first year that we really targeted the local homeowner,” Shelton said.
A Toro tub grinder is what is used to grind the pallets into mulch. An original magnet at the base of the tub grinder’s conveyor captures all of the nails. Chuck Shelton learned at the start of mulch production that T.H. Glennon supplied a colorant containing a mold and fungus inhibitor. This colorant also keeps the colors bright for longer periods. Shelton’s has been exclusively using this colorant for 19 years.
Shelton’s mulch is not available in retail stores. Local delivery is available in the Oxford, Rising Sun, and Kennett Square areas, or customers can stop in during regular business hours to purchase mulch and load it onto their own truck, saving even more on the costs.
Shelton’s believe that conserving trees and using recycled materials to produce mulch is a much greener way to make improvements to your yard and home.
For anyone who is unsure of how much mulch they will need for a project, there is a convenient mulch calculator on the Shelton’s website. If you know your dimensions, the calculator will tell you how many yards you will need to complete your project.
Mulch can only be purchased at the Oxford location.
Shelton Pallet Company 102 Oaks Road, Oxford, PA 19363 and 525 Terminal Avenue, in New Castle Del. 610-932-3182
SheltonsPallet.com
Break Away Farm Fitness
The typical gym environment is not for everyone. For those who prefer a quiet, stress-free atmosphere for their exercise routine, classes at Break Away Farm Fitness may be the perfect alternative.
Owner and instructor Wendy Kinnamon provides regular pilates classes, SHRED classes and the high cardio kickboxing of RIPPED classes, as well as the soothing stretch of yoga. “I teach all the classes myself, except the yoga,” she said.
Kinnamon began the business as an extra endeavor at the Kirkwood Thoroughbred race horse stable she runs with her husband Travis. They have two sons –Macaulay, age 25, and Marshall, age 19.
“One of the main hay barns we weren’t really using, so we decided to have a second business here,” Kinnamon said. Five and a half years ago, she got her license as a personal trainer, and they converted the barn into a 2,400-squarefoot gym.
The large bank barn proved to be a perfect setting for the exercise classes. Refinished to offer a bright, airy environment, students enjoy the classes and flourish in the country setting.
“It’s great for everybody to get out and take care of themselves and exercise. This is a place where you don’t have to feel self-conscious about your fitness level or age. It’s not your typical gym.
It’s fun for any age to come out and get a great workout in a great space out in the country,” Kinnamon said.
Promoting fitness was a natural choice, since both Wendy and Travis run marathons and triathalons. “People are always asking, ‘how do you get fit?’” She said.
The entire feeling of Break Away Farm Fitness in the Lancaster county
countryside, yet just five miles from Oxford, is a breath of fresh air.
Kinnamon leads evening classes that average 10 students or less, providing personalized attention as needed, while encouraging students to go at the pace that suits them best. This is not the kind of gym where you feel you have to get in shape before you come to your first class.
“It’s a very laid back gym,” Kinnamon
Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
said, noting that everyone can benefit from regular exercise classes. “I have all ages and sizes - everybody can do it. I try to tell everybody that those things don’t matter. When they come here, they understand. We’re friendly here. It’s like your backyard gym.”
Kinnamon also offers individual training, using an assortment of exercise equipment. The sessions are perfect for the person who needs help in a specific area, and the level of attention that cannot be provided in a group setting. A series of personal training sessions can help you get ready for weddings, vacations, special occasions, or even help you prepare for running a 5K, half marathon or full marathon.
For the individual training sessions there is a wide range of exercise machines. For those taking classes
anything that might be needed such as hand weights and mats are provided, or you can bring your own mat if you wish.
One big difference with Break Away Farm Fitness is the positive attitude that Kinnamon shares with her students.
“I have a bubbly personality, I talk a lot and I’m fun,” Kinnamon said. “The people that come here like it better because it’s a lively atmosphere.”
The barn is also available for rental for baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties and other special occasions.
Several times each year, there are popular “wine and paint” nights that are creative as well as fun.
You never know what surprises you may find at Break Away Farm Fitness. Recently, “Dancing With the Stars” celebrity Louis Van Amstel made a special visit to be a guest teacher for a class.
“The greatest reward of training people
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is seeing the differences you make in people’s lives - how their confidence is boosted and their self-esteem rises and the satisfaction they get in achieving their goals,” Kinnamon said. “I’ve had people come to me who couldn’t run a quarter of a mile and their goal was to run a 5k. Now they are running half marathons and finishing in the top three in their age group. Helping people meet their weight loss goals, getting a client ready for a big ski trip and having her come back and tell me she was the fittest of all her friends... I love that stuff.”
Break Away Farm Fitness is located at 1 Woodside Drive, Kirkwood. For more information, contact Wendy Kinnamon by email at breakawayfarmfitness@gmail.com or call 485-459-7968.
Early College Academy offers numerous benefits for Oxford students
By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Staff Writer
Students in the Oxford Area School District can get an early start on their college education and reap significant financial savings through the Early College Academy, a partnership between the school district and Cecil College that allows a student to graduate from Oxford with both their high school diploma and an Associate Degree in general studies.
The program is appropriate for students of many types who plan to attend college – the key is to explore this opportunity early in middle school to prepare to start the program in 9th grade.
“The way it’s structured, it’s very developmentally oriented,” High School Principal Jamie Canaday said. “We start off with courses that we would require for high school graduation.”
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Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
Early College Academy
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David Woods, the superintendent of the Oxford Area School District, explained, “We need to start making those decisions earlier about post-secondary education. For this program, it’s essential that parents and students make that decision in 8th grade. They need to really start thinking about that in their course selection in 7th grade.”
One factor is for students to have completed math courses in middle school
to be prepared for college-level math.
“We want the students to have those higher level math courses,” Woods said. “We would wish them to have as a minimum of algebra before starting the program, but with Cecil, we can work together in their freshman year. They can take algebra here at Oxford or over the summer.”
There are only 25 spaces available for Early College Academy each year. Woods
hopes to see all slots filled. “It’s desire and merit, the first being desire. If students want to participate in the Early College Academy they need to know what it’s all about and that they want to do it.” Woods said.
“Both the parents and the students have to be on board because they are getting college-level rigor in terms of course work in 9th grade,” Canaday said.
As freshmen and sophomores, the
students take two Academy courses each semester starting with two physical education courses, a health class, career course and freshman seminar in 9th grade. The second year includes introduction to sociology, a computer class, public speaking and a music course that counts as an elective for the college degree.
As high school juniors, the students spend most of their day at Cecil College, returning to the high school for two afternoon classes. “Still the focus is on organization and time management but they start to add courses that are related to that general studies associate degree,” Canaday said. For the senior year, their entire day is at Cecil. By the time they graduate, the students will have fulfilled the requirements for an Associate Degree and have about 60 fully transferable credits. Early College Academy courses satisfy basic course requirements that all incoming college students must complete,
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Early College Academy
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as well as electives. Credits earned are almost always fully transferrable to any college or university, giving students a twoyear start on their way to a bachelor’s degree in the field of their choice.
“These are general education credits. You can never take that Associate degree away from a child,” Woods said. “We’re giving them an education that no one can ever take away from them in General Studies.”
If parents have any questions about the transferability of credits to a particular college or course of study Woods suggest that they contact Cecil College for information before beginning the Early College Academy program.
“If there is a program specifically indicated in 8th grade, they can tailor the senior elective courses so that they will flow more readily into what that child wants to do,” Woods said. “The parent should not call the college the child wants to go to. They’re going to get someone who may or may not know about the program.”
By earning college credits, students can save thousands of dollars on tuition and college living costs on their path to a fouryear college degree.
“It’s a different venue. It’s starting college early, and if the child can handle starting college early it’s going to be a financial benefit for the parents of the child,” Woods said.
The fee to attend all four years of the Early College Academy is just $11,500, a significant savings over the cost of two years of a college education. The program qualifies for payment through a family’s 529 savings plan. The Oxford Area Chamber
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Early College Academy
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of Commerce and Oxford Education Foundation help keep this amount low by providing scholarship money to bring down the out-of-state costs of Cecil College tuition.
In addition, students in the Early College Academy learn what to expect in college, so that they are prepared with time management and study skills. They are better-equipped to make the transition to a four-year school. Students in the program have counselors available from both the high school and the college, helping them work through any problems.
The Early College Academy is not for every student, but the retention rate is high at 85 percent to 90 percent per cohort. “The biggest hurdle students need to overcome is the social aspect of it,” Canaday said. “They are still students of the Oxford Area High School, they still can play sports, they still can participate in the band. We’ve made a lot of accommodations to get those students back here to be able
to participate in those things, so that they know 100 percent that they are still part of the school here.”
Participation in the Early College Academy does not impact NCAA athletic eligibility. High school athletes in the program will still have four years of college sports eligibility ahead of them. Most students seem to flourish in the early college environment, which leads to an easier transition to college life.
“These kids have been living in a college environment for a year and a half or two
years,” Canaday said. “It builds confidence for our high school students. They’re also growing and maturing and proving to themselves that they can do college-level work. They’re used to college-level work and what the expectation is.”
The success rate for this program has been so good that Woods would like more families to be aware of this option, and seriously consider it for their students.
“We would like to see it so there’s more demand than there is capacity,” he said. “These students are very competitive,
moving on at any of the schools they go to. The universities that our kids are going to nationally are amazing.”
Statistically, early college programs nationwide have been shown to promote a higher post-secondary graduation rate and a higher rate of post-secondary students who graduate on time.
While the majority of students in the program are planning on going forward into a four-year college or university, the program is also appropriate for students
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Early College Academy
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going into the military, business or technical fields after graduation. “The feedback is tremendous,” Woods said.
Information is available to families during middle school. “That pre-planning needs to happen early,” Woods explained. “We want people to start making that decision as early as they can. By 10th grade, it’s too late to get into this cohort-driven program.”
For more information, families can contact Jennifer Williams, a Oxford Area High School counselor; a Penn’s Grove school counselor; Ms. Tami Motes, Penn’s Grove Principal; or Jamie Canaday, Oxford Area High School Principal. April Stern, Cecil College Assistant Director of Advising/ECA Coordinator
Early College Academy Oxford Area School District OxfordASD.org & Cecil College Cecil.edu
EarlyACADEMYCollege
CECIL COLLEGE & OXFORD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Earn Your Associate Degree While in High School
• Start in 9th grade and graduate high school with your diploma and an associate degree
• Receive support by mentors and advisors from both Oxford High School and Cecil College
Reduced tuition through scholarships • Conveniently located just 20 minutes from Oxford, PA • Bus transportation provided by OASD
cecil.edu/eca
For more information, contact April Stern at astern@cecil.edu or 410-287-1045.
Oxford Area Recreation Authority
The following article was written prior to the park’s closing due to COVID-19, but offers a glimpse of activities “usually” held at the park. Please follow them on social media to be updated when the park reopens and events are rescheduled.
With the coming of spring, it is time to enjoy the Oxford Area Regional Park at 900 West Locust Street. The park is operated by the Oxford Area Recreation Authority, a multi-municipal authority composed of representatives from Elk, East Nottingham, West Nottingham, and Lower Oxford Townships as well as Oxford Borough. Spring brings two major free events to the park.
Pitch Hit and Run will be held at the park on Sat., April 18th for young baseball and softball players ages 7 to 14. A free event sponsored by Major League Baseball, boys and girls participate in batting from a tee, throwing at a target and running the bases. Top scorers in each category and overall qualify to go on to sectional level competition. Winners there move on to the regional level event held at the Philadelphia Phillies stadium.
Kids to Park Day will be held on Sat., May 16th from 9 a.m. to noon. A nation-wide event, the day is designed to encourage youngsters to get outside and play. There will be kick ball, kites, games, and crafts. Baseball and softball teams use the ball field by reservation for practices games and tournaments. The large multipurpose field is also available for team sport by reservation. Reservations are also suggested for anyone who would like to use the park pavilion for a special event. All facilities are open to the general public from dawn to dusk if they are not otherwise reserved. A complete schedule and reservation contact information and fee schedule is available on the OARA website https://oarapark.wixsite.com/ oxfordrecreation.
The popular dog park is available during park hours. Users are reminded to clean up after their dogs in the dog park and throughout the park. Outside the dog park, all animals MUST be leashed at all times. Please follow these rules. If violations continue to increase, it is possible the dog
A second round of personalized bricks sales for the dog park is now underway.
All photos courtesy
park will be closed, or dogs could be prohibited from using any part of the park.
A second round of personalized bricks sales for the dog park is now underway. Bricks can be ordered with up to three lines of message. Bricks are a great way to memorialize a favorite pet, recognize a special event, or promote your favorite team or business. When enough brick orders are received, the group of bricks will be created, and installed in the dog park vestibule. Standard size bricks cost $50. Double size brick, which may include a graphic logo, are $200. Mark your calendar for the 4th annual Haunted Park and Hayride set for Fri., Oct. 9th and Sat., Oct. 10th.
Keep up with all events at the park on Facebook by searching @RecAuthority. On Facebook, you can find a link to take an online survey, to let us know what you want to see in our next park parcel.
Oxford Area Rec Authority 900 W Locust St, Oxford, PA 19363 610-932-8447
The Oxford Area Regional Park is a great place to enjoy being outdoors. The park is open to the public and numerous special events are planned throughout the year.
New London Counseling
New London Counseling Center is filling a need in the Oxford region with a wide range of counseling services for individuals, families, couples and children ages five and up. They are available to help when dealing with issues such as depression, grief, abuse, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, addiction, eating disorders, stress, marital struggles, PTSD, parenting challenges or child and adolescent issues.
“The reason we got started is that we live in a historically underserved area in terms of access to mental health services. We realized that our community faces several obstacles such as driving really long distances, paying high costs for services or facing really long wait lists for mental health providers,” Executive Director Dr. Katie Bowman explained. “We decided we would open something here in Southern Chester County so we could remove some of those barriers for our community. Since that time, we have been flooded with clients, which speaks to the need in this area.”
The center opened in April of last year. In 2019 the organization provided 1,072 treatment hours to a total of 170 clients; offered four online clinical workshops, two support groups and ten in-person psychoeducational classes on topics such as parenting, communication, stress reduction, mindfulness, special needs family support, and teen anxiety and depression. “Our philosophy is that we
want to support our entire community, even if a person never steps through our physical doors,” Bowman said.
The center is dedicated to expanding their free, online video library on a variety of topics that anyone can benefit from.
New London Counseling Center operates out of the Christian Life Center, 125 Saginaw Road, Lincoln University, Pa.
“The pastoral staff at the Christian Life
Center decided they wanted to financially support a counseling center in the area, so they raised money for the startup and provided office space for us to use,” Bowman said. “CLC is an important partner for us, but the New London Counseling Center is not officially affiliated with any religion. We do offer faith-based counseling if people would like that, but we are also here to serve everyone
Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
from the community, regardless of their religious or spiritual background.”
There are six counselors available to address any need. “Everybody has a different specialty which is how we are able to serve the complete age range,” Bowman said.
You do not need a doctor’s referral to arrange an appointment at the Center. Although the organization does not take insurance payments, insurance reimbursement may be available.
“Our model is we are non-profit. We don’t turn anybody away for financial reasons. We offer a sliding scale fee so everybody can access it no matter what their income,” Bowman said.
In addition to individual and group counseling, the Center is active in the community.
“The other big piece of what we do is community outreach—going to events, trying to create awareness around mental
health issues and to destigmatize mental health treatment. Last year, in 8 months, we did 55 community events,” Bowman said. “Underlying our core value is the idea that if we can strengthen families we can strengthen the entire community. Strengthening marriages and families creates a ripple effect that can be really powerful.”
Moving forward, the Center is preparing for growth. About a year and a half ago, the Christian Life Center purchased the old New London Airport and farm property. The farm house is being renovated for the Counseling Center so there will be more room for group and individual sessions to be held on site.
The goal for 2020 is to serve 250 clients, while bringing on clinical interns and new therapists to expand the clinical team. They hope to expand support group offerings for elementary-age girls on selfesteem and social skills, pre-natal bonding
Awards Dinner Dance
Each Spring, the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce solicits nominations for Citizen, Business and Organization of the Year. This year the Awards Dinner Dance is being reschedule. Stay tuned for additional details. Enjoy these pictures of our awards winners last year.
1. 2018 Award Winners: Business: McCormick Orthodontics, Organization: Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation and Citizen:
and attachment for young mothers, grief and loss, and foster family bonding. There are also plans for marriage retreats.
Future goals include offering psychological testing and assessments, acquiring neuro-feedback equipment, and adding animal-assisted therapy.
“We’re here, we’re available, we’re really trying to get into the community,” Bowman said.
As a non-profit organization the Center relies on fund raising and volunteer support to help cover costs. A wide range of volunteer opportunities are available. Help is sought to assist with community engagement, outreach activities, fundraising and grounds upkeep.
New London Counseling Center 1016 State Road, Lincoln University, PA 19352 484-746-3112
NewLondonCounselingCenter.com
Oxford Mainstreet looks forward to the next 20 years of progress
In 2019, Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) celebrated 20 years of formal revitalization efforts. However, the desire to bring vibrancy to Downtown Oxford can be traced back 40 years or more. Thanks to some early visionaries, the wheel was set in motion, plans created, and an organization formed to lead and implement strategies to move the community forward.
Change is often slow and challenging, but as we look back, we can now see the results of nearly two generations of hard work. Key historic buildings have been carefully renovated and repurposed. Three phases of streetscape improvements have attracted new businesses which replaced the boarded-up storefronts of the 1990s. Façade grants have helped tired old buildings look new again. First Fridays and the Connective Festival invite thousands of people to gather and have fun. And lobbying for infrastructure projects like the Multimodal Transportation Center enables future revitalization initiatives, such as the rebirth of the Oxford Theatre,
repurposing underutilized second and third floor building spaces, and so much more.
As we look forward to the next 20 years, we are committed to providing unwavering leadership that supports intentional and steady progress towards a clear and shared vision for a thriving, diverse, and sustainable Oxford community.
The organization will continue with its efforts to help find investors to repurpose underutilized properties in the downtown and envision raising approximately $3 million in funds in the next three to five years to realize the complete renovation of the Oxford Theatre.
OMI looks forward to future discussions with the borough regarding implementing an Elm Street Program to help revitalize the older neighborhoods adjacent to the downtown and possibly expanding the Business Improvement District to aid in the beautification of the southern section of South Third Street. We also strategically work to attract investors and developers
to assist in implementing a plan to support diverse housing opportunities in and around the downtown which are not only affordable, but also meet quality interior and exterior standards.
Though these goals are quite lofty, OMI, as an 85 percent self-funded organization, will continue to achieve success in pursuit of our motto “Progress through Partnership.” The past and future success of downtown Oxford belongs to everyone – council leadership, the property owners, the merchants and those who patronize them, the residents and non-residents alike who attend downtown events, the committed sponsors and donors who fund our operations, county and state elected officials, board members, the staff, and countless volunteers who make it all happen.
We look forward to your continued support!
With sincere gratitude, Brian Wenzka
Executive Director
Oxford Mainstreet, Inc.
The parking garage structure offers lighting technology that saves energy, reduces light pollution, yet brightens as vehicles and pedestrians enter for increased safety.
The Multimodal Transportation Center is officially open. The completed project offers 306 parking spaces, charging stations for electric vehicles, new borough hall offices, additional leasable office space, and a bus depot for expanded SCCOOT bus service to West Chester and points in between.
All photos courtesy Oxford turns its downtown into a fun-filled event each month for eight months out of the year during events like First Fridays and the Connective Festival.
New retail stores such as Outback Adventure Co. continue to find their niche in downtown Oxford.
The Historic Oxford Train Station
Oxford’s first train station.
Submitted by Gail Roberts Oxford Area Historical Association
Oxford’s first train station was built circa 1860 on the east side of the tracks near Market Street. It was a 20-foot by 40- foot brick structure. The station was built through the contributions of Oxford citizens and the effort was led by Rev. Samuel Dickey.
The first train came through Oxford on December 22, 1860 and was of the Philadelphia & Baltimore Central line. The engine pulling the train was called the “Rockdale.” The population of Oxford increased due to the presence of the railroad. Some sources say the population doubled in 10 years; others say it tripled. Oxford Historic Commission records show that the population increased by 10 times in 30 years. Oxford was an important shipping center for three counties. At one point, it had the highest volume of business between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Due to the railroad, Oxford made a transition from a mainly agricultural area to a town where manufacturing could thrive.
The first freight depot was built near the passenger station. There was a railroad yard south of the station. One engine house in the railroad yard was blown down by high winds in 1861. Another one was burned in 1874, but it was saved.
In 1873, the Peach Bottom Railroad began its operations. Since the Peach Bottom Railroad needed narrow gauge track, a third rail was put in place from the railroad yards to the passenger station. At the time, Samuel Dickey was President of the Directors of the “Peachy,” and the first engine was named after him. By 1876, the Peachy’s track ran from Oxford to Peach Bottom.
The combination of passenger and freight traffic proved to be dangerous. Men had to transfer products coming out of Lancaster on the Peach Bottom line to the cars of the Philadelphia & Baltimore Central line.
Disembarking passengers had to wait for trains to pass before leaving the station. Apparently some even crawled under standing trains in order to leave. Trains being loaded or unloaded at the freight depot blocked the railroad crossing.
The freight depot near the passenger station, which had been nicknamed “The Rookery,” was demolished and a new freight depot was built on land the railroad owned on South Third Street near Passmore’s coal yards. The new depot was opened in the fall of 1891. During this same year, the Central Division of the Philadelphia, Western & Baltimore Railroad announced plans for a new passenger station in Oxford. That was not to happen for another ten years.
The passenger station was not only used for railroad service, but also for special occasions, such as funerals and weddings. In 1891 it needed renovations. Buildings near the station were removed and an express and package house was built further away from the station. Grass and flower beds were planted in between the two buildings. The platform was widened and lowered to match the level of the track. The roof was raised and widened so that it became a cover for the platform area. The roof was supported by ornate wooden brackets. There were separate waiting areas for ladies and gentlemen. The entrance to the gentlemen’s room was moved to a new location and there were improvements made to the interior of both the gentlemen’s and ladies’ waiting areas. The railroads were busy in the late 1800s. Two railroad lines, the Central Division of the Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore, and the Lancaster, Oxford and Southern (formally the Peach Bottom Railroad) came into Oxford. The L.O. and S. was affectionately known as the “Little, Old and Slow” or “Lost and Out of Sight.” Twenty trains a day came through the station in the 1890s. According to local historian, Frank Peters, the Central Division carried thousands of
The train station in the present day.
Oxford Train Station
Continued from Page 47
tons of freight in 1892, and the L.O. & S. carried 9,617 tons of freight and 15,904 passengers. The L.O. & S. traveled 20 miles from Oxford to Peach Bottom. The Central Division sold 5,500 tickets to passengers going from Oxford to Philadelphia in that same year.
A variety of agricultural goods and manufactured products came through the Oxford station. Tons of baled hay, fertilizers, bushels of wheat and potatoes, turkeys, dairy products such as butter, and flowers were shipped from Oxford. In 1892, 150,000 carnations were sent to city markets. Baked goods and candy such as goodies manufactured by the Oxford Caramel Factory were also shipped out from Oxford’s station. Carriages from Wilson, Pugh and Wilson and the Johnson Carriage Company, and harnesses from local factories left the Oxford station as well. Bricks, kitchen cabinets, and tools such as augers and drills also left Oxford to be sold elsewhere. The forerunner of the Oxford Grain and Hay Company was
located near the railroad tracks and operated by S.R Dickey as early as 1865. Products came into Oxford as well. For example, raw materials such as coal, and farm supplies were shipped in to local warehouses. In 1900 a small railroad yard south of the station existed near the location we know as Weigel’s Mill. It consisted of a turntable, a water tank, and an engine house which could hold three engines. The rails of the Pennsylvania Central line crossed the narrow gauge tracks of the L.O. & S. in order for their trains to reach to the side tracks. The L.O. and S. passed on the opposite side of the water tank as the Central line and had its own water spout. The ruins of the tank and the remains of the turntable can still be found today. In 1902, Oxford finally got its promised new train station. The Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad
Company purchased about eight-tenths of an acre, on the west side of the tracks opposite the old station, from Mrs. Jennie Dickey for $1,000.00. The old station was demolished. The land purchased for the new station had been a part of the lawn of the Dickey property and had to be cleared of hedges, trees and shrubs, and a greenhouse had to be moved. Henry C. White of Kennett Square was awarded the contract to build the new station and
A 1943 photo by Faye Robinson (Doyle).
local contractors, Walker and Gibson were hired to do the carpentry work. Ground was broken in June of 1902. The cost of the new station was approximately $10,000. Later a new street which connected South and North Fourth Streets was created. E. Howard Rollins was the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad agent who was in charge of the new station. He had been in Oxford since 1863 and had originally served as a telegraph operator. When the L.O. and S. trains came into the station using the third rail to provide the narrow gauge tracks, they were away from the platform because the original station was on the opposite side of the tracks.
Originally the station had gabled dormers, eyebrow windows and a multiflu chimney, but they were removed at a later date. Today the building would be described as having a hipped roof with asphalt shingles. The wide overhanging eaves are supported by large decorative braces. Under the eaves, the brick wall has windows and doors. In 1905 the baggage
station was added on to the existing building. It was called the “wart” because it destroyed the symmetry of the building, although it was designed to match the station with its hipped roof, louvered cupola and stuccoed walls. At one point, a stand offered refreshments at the end of the platform.
In 1908 circus owner Al Wheeler decided to make Oxford the winter headquarters for his circus. His circus trains could be seen parked in the railroad yard.
The new station was a busy place. At one time, there were three telegraph operators, two station agents, two operators and two baggage workers. Oxford citizens relied on the trains to bring newspapers, such as the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Evening Bulletin, goods, passengers and mail. The telegraph was relied on to deliver the news
before radios and because the newspapers took a while to get out the stories. News such as results of elections and the World Series were sent by telegraph and posted at places in town such as the Oxford Hall, McCullough’s Pharmacy and the Oxford News office. Even after the L.O. and S. went out of business in 1919, in the 1920s, there were 12 passenger trains which ran between Philadelphia and Baltimore in a 24-hour period. They all came through
Continued on Page 50
The Lancaster, Oxford and Southern Railroad engine at the station.
Oxford Train Station
Continued from Page 49
Oxford. There were 12 engineers who lived in Oxford. Station masters did double duty as telegraph operators in order to send out messages to trains waiting north and south of town.
Like all communities, Oxford suffered during the Great Depression. In 1935, only three trains a day ran through Oxford. As time went by, changes in preferred methods of transportation affected the success of the railroad. In 1947 the Pennsylvania Railroad made the decision to end passenger service on the Octoraro Branch which traveled through southern Chester County with stops at Kennett Square, Toughkenamon, Avondale, West Grove and Oxford. The number of passengers carried on this line did not make a profit for the railroad. Freight traffic continued.
In February of 1955, Oxford Borough Council voted to purchase the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad station for use by Borough offices and the police station. The price was $10,000. At the time
of the purchase, it was estimated that an additional $15,000 would be the cost for clearing and grading the site and for paving and installing meters.
According to local historian Faye Doyle, Hurricane Agnes, which dumped 19 inches of rain in Pennsylvania in 1972, damaged the tracks to the extent that freight trains could not get through. The rail bed needed to be re-graded and re-laid, which resulted in the two tracks we see today.
Borough Hall, the train station, was renovated in 1989. A brick walkway was added; exposed brickwork was repointed; stucco was repainted white, and the woodwork, which was in good condition because of the overhanging eaves which protected it, was painted in grey and blue in keeping with the colors that were used when the building was constructed. Windows were caulked; gutters were cleaned and sealed, and a new gas heater was installed. Landscaping work was done as well, including the planting of wildflowers on the steep bank to avoid
Business &
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Estate Planning
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the need for mowing. An Oxford Tribune article in September of 1989 reported on these renovations as well as additional plans to pave the parking lot and install lights that would resemble antique railroad lamp posts.
In November of 1996, a new sign was hung on the outside of the Borough Municipal building. It was a replica of the original railroad sign that was on the train station in the early 20th century. The sign was donated by Tom Devon of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical Historical Society, and was made by Al Giannantonio. The effort was organized by the Oxford Historic Commission.
In 2007 Oxford’s Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The train station was a contributing resource. It remains to be seen what will happen with this historic building in the future.
Earlier this year, the Borough Hall offices moved to 1 Octoraro Alley adjacent to in the new Multi Modal Transit Facility.
Asuntos de Comerció y Laborales
Representación de Empleados
Planificación Patrimonial
Propietario e Inquilino
Inmigración y Ciudadanía
Asuntos de Familia
OXFORD CHAMBER MEMBER DIRECTORY
Accounting / Financial
ABCPA Accounting Services
610-322-2424
ABCPAservices.com
Diamond State Financial Group – David Tate, CFP® 484-885-0682 dsfg.com
Edward Jones Investments
610-998-9046
EdwardJones.com
See ad pg. 102
Fenstermacher and Company, LLP
610-444-1215 fandco.com
Gary Pawliczek, Financial Advisor with Waddell & Reed
610-563-5853
Innovative Financial Results, LLC
484-680-0745
InnovativeFinancialResults. com
Nawn & Co, CPA’s Ltd.
610-268-5501
longcpas.com
See ad pg. 39
PRIMERICA – Charlie Delp
610-388-2573
primerica.com
TBRE Consulting Company
484-365-5570 tbreconsulting.com
Woolard, Krajnik, Masciangelo, LLP
610-932-4225 wkco.com
Advertising / Newspaper/ Printing
Ad Pro, Inc./Chester County Press
610-869-5553
chestercounty.com
See ad pg. 107
Full Throttle Wraps and Graphics
484-584-5607
Fullthrottlewraps.com
Kennett Copy and More 484-732-8066
kennettcopy.com
Oxford Print and Design
614-406-5892
OxfordPrintandDesign.com
Agriculture
Aristos’ Harvest
302-584-8386
aristosharvest@gmail.com
Hostetter Grain, Inc.
610-932-4484
HostetterGrain.com
See ad pg. 72
Appliance Repair
Martin Appliance 717-786-7373
MartinsAppliance.com
Architecture / Engineering/ Land Planning
Concord Land Planners
610-932-5119
Government Specialists, Inc.
610-932-5563
Ragan Engineering Associates, Inc. 610-255-3400
Art Gallery / Art & Music Instruction
Oxford Arts Alliance 610-467-0301
OxfordArt.org
Automotive
Collision Zone, Inc. 610-932-8330
CollisionZoneinc.com
See ad pg. 30
Country Chrysler Dodge - Jeep 610-932-0500
countrydodge.com
See ads pg. 56 & 57
Dumas Sapp & Son 610-932-8564
SappQualityCars.com
Jeff D’Ambrosio Chevrolet 610-932-9090
jeffschevy.com
See ads pg. 56 & 57
Jennings Auto Repair, Inc. 610-932-3288 jennings-auto.com
McComsey Automotive LLC (610)467-1330
facebook.com/McComseyAutomotive See ad pg. 20 Oxford Mobil 610-932-5686 OxfordMobil.com
Banking/ Financial Institutions/Mortgages
BB&T Bank now Truist 610-998-1540 bbt.com
See ad pg. 35
Citadel 610-466-6608
CitadelBanking.com
Coatesville Savings Bank 610-932-7756
CoatesvilleSavings.com
Concord Home Mortgage | Houston Baker 484-443-4435
concordhm.com
Fulton Bank, N.A. 610-932-2100
FultonBank.com
Meridian Bank 484-568-5000
MeridianBank.com
Univest 717-588-2233 717-806-8984
Univest.net
See ad pg. 81
WSFS Bank 610-998-0414
wsfsbank.com
Chiropractic
Chiropractic Services
610-932-9061
ChiropracticCenterOxfordpa. com
See ad pg. 103
Fitchett Chiropractic 610-869-3222
FitchettChiropractic.com
Hometown Health 610-467-1141 hometownhealthoxford.com
Churches
Church of the Sacred Heart Parish 610-932-5040 sacredheart.us
Community of Love Lutheran Church 610-998-0282
CoLLutheranChurch.org
Oxford Church of the Nazarene 610-932-2584
OxfordNazarene.com
Oxford Presbyterian Church
610-932-9640
OxfordPresbyterian.org
Oxford United Methodist Church
610-932-9698 oxford1851.org
Redemption Community Church RedemptionOxford.com
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
610-932-8134
StChrisOxford.org
Cleaning Services/ Restoration
A Helping Hand
484-756-1674
Cleaning4me.com
Bob’s Window and Cleaning Service
610-932-4418
Fiber Brite Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
610-932-8886
FiberBriteLLC.com
See ad pg. 102
Oxford Cleaners
610-620-5499
oxfordcleanersusa.com
SERVPRO of Kennett Square/Oxford
484-576-7015
ServProKennettSquareOxford.com
See ad pg. 77
Computers / Consulting
digiTEK Computer Services
610-467-1200
digitekcomputerservices. com
Grater Solutions, LLC
484-423-4245
gratersolutions.com
Lemmtec 931-224-8502 lemmtec.com
Net-Werks 484-365-2610
netwerks.technology
Construction / Contractors/ Home Repair
Butler’s Home and Lawn
610-223-1198
Cedar Knoll Builders
610-932-5719
CedarKnollBuilders.com
See ad pg. 5
DiPilla Brothers, Inc.
610-932-2630
dipillabros.com
JFR Contracting
610-255-1471
jfrcontracting.com
See ad pg. 14
Harbor Stone Construction Co 610-467-0872
HarborStoneCC.com
See ad pg. 85
Install Solutions
610-467-0686
myinstallsolution.com
Nowland Associates
302-731-1333
NowlandAssociates.com
Dental / Orthodontics
McCormick Orthodontics
610-932-2917
MccormickOrthodontics.com
Oxford Dental Associates
610-932-3388
OxfordSmiles.com
Oxford Family Dentistry 610-932-9580
OxfordSmileMakers.com
See ad pg. 111
Education
Barnsley Academy 610-932-5900
barnsleyacademy.com
See ad pg. 76
Bethany Christian School 610-998-0877
bethanychristian.org
See ad pg. 75
Cecil College 410-287-1000 cecil.edu
See ad pg. 36
Lincoln University 484-365-7391 lincoln.edu
Oxford Area School District 610-932-6600 oxford.k12.pa.us
Oxford Educational Foundation 610-932-7200 oxfordeducationalfoundation.org See ad pg. 33
Oxford Public Library 610-932-9618 oxfordpubliclibrary.org
Sacred Heart School 610-932-3633 shsoxford.us
Electric
Baer Electric LLC 610-932-6302
baer-electric.com See ad pg. 31
Viking Power Products 610-255-3332 vikingpowerproducts.com
Watterson Electrical 610-400-3348
Emergency Services
Southern Chester County EMS, Inc. 610-910-3180 sccems.org
Union Fire Company #1 610-932-2411 UnionFire.com Employment/Sta
Florist
Philips Florist 610-932-8187
philipsfloristinc.com
Sonny Bea’s Florist 610-932-8339 sonnybeas.com
Funeral Home
Edward Collins Funeral Home, Inc. 610-932-9584 elcollinsfuneralhome.com See ad pg. 35
Furniture/Reclaimed Architectural
The Barnyard Boys 717-548-5000 barnyardboys.com
See ad pg. 44
Martin Furniture and Mattresses 717-786-7373 martinfurniturepa.com
Golf Course
Tanglewood Manor Golf Club
717-786-2500 twgolf.com
Wyncote Golf Club 610-932-8900
Wyncote.com
See ad pg. 82
Government
Borough of Oxford
610-932-2500 oxfordboro.org
East Nottingham Township
610-932-8494 eastnottingham.org
Senator
Andrew E. Dinniman
610-692-2112 senatordinniman.com
Hair Salon
Alluring Images
Hair Studio
610-932-9308 alluringimageshairstudio. com
See ad pg. 75
Color Cut and Curls Inc.
610-932-7834 colorcutcurls.com
See ad pg. 84
Judy Hastings Salon
610-932-9566 hastingssalonweebly.com
See ad pg. 68
Studio Blush
610-467-0772
studioblush.net
See ad pg. 34
Health
Break Away Farm Fitness
717-529-2259
breakawayfarmfittness.com
See ad pg. 12
CrossFit Thunder Hill
610-998-9348
crossfitthunderhill.com
Gracefield Counseling
267-772-0148
gracefieldcounseling.com
See ad pg. 107
Golden Light Wellness Center
610-932-9511 goldenlightwellnesscenter. com
See ad pg. 67 LCH
610-444-7550 lacomunidadhispana.org
See ad pg. 20
Life Coaching with Kim 717-808-1056 coachingwithkimj.com
New London Counseling Center
484-746-3112 newlondoncounselingcenter. com
Write-Well Handwriting Clinics & Occupational Therapy Services
610-932-9511
write-wellhandwritingclinics. com
See ad pg. 67
Jennersville Hospital Tower Health
610-869-1000 jennersville.towerhealth.org
Allstate The Jennersville Insurance Agency 610-345-1345 agents.allstate.com/usa/pa/ west-grove
See ad pg. 76
Auto Tags Plus 610-932-4000 (Oxford) 610-345-5932 (West Grove) quickautotagsplus.com
Chuck Weed –State Farm Insurance 610-932-2400 here4yourfinancialfuture. com
See ad pg. 43
Garcia-Taylor Insurance Agency, Inc. 610-932-4935 nationwide.com/garciatayloragency
KVIS & Coe Insurance Services 610-932-9350 Kviscoe.com
See ad pg. 93
The Surance Group, Inc. 610-932-3360
Surancegroup.net
Yerkes Insurance 610-869-4065 yerkesinsurance.com
Lawn/ Landscape/ Tree Service
A-1 Mulch
610-932-7420 A1Mulch.com
See ad pg. 51
Broadleaf Outdoors LLC 717-327-7420
Butler’s Home and Lawn 610-223-1198
Carter and Son Lawncare, Inc. 610-932-5703
See ad pg. 103
Howell’s Lawn and Landscape 610-842-1683 HowellsLawnandLandscape. com
See ad pg. 85
Huf Landscaping 610-932-3426 HufLandscaping.com
Shelton Pallet Company 610-932-3182 sheltonspallet.com
Weaver’s Lawncare 610-932-2611
See ad pg. 17
Lawyer
D’Amico Law, P.C. 610-444-4555
damicolawpc.com
See ad pg. 71
Eichman Law, PLLC 484-734-0378
EichmanLawGroup.com
See ad pg. 50
Ira D. Binder, Attorney-at-Law 484-643-3325
See ad pg. 68
Law Office of James Clark 717-464-4300
jamesclarklaw.net
McMichael, Heiney & Sebastian, LLC 610-932-3550
Miller Law Group 610-840-8400
MillerLawpa.com
See ad pg. 95
Sam Goodley Law LLC
610-998-1000
Manufacturer
Baltic Leisure Co., a division of Penn Sauna
610-932-5700
balticleisure.com
Custom Machine and Design
610-932-4717
custommachinedesign.com
Flowers Baking Company of Oxford, Inc.
610-932-2300
FlowerFoods.com
Herr’s Food
610-932-6400 herrs.com
See ad pg. 2
Mitchell Mechanical –M2 Welding
610-932-5002
M2welding.com
See ad pg. 69
Outback Trading Company
610-932-5141
OutbackTrading.com
Scalewatcher North America
610-932-6888
Scalewatcher.com
See ad on back cover
Shelton Pallet Company
610-932-3182
sheltonspallet.com
The Scotts Company
610-932-4200
Core Family Practice
610-612-9283
CoreFamilyPractice.com
LCH
610-444-7550
lacomunidadhispana.org
See ad pg. 20
Tower Health Medical Group Family Medicine
610-932-6386
TowerHealth.org
Moving Services/ Storage/ Hauling
JDog Junk & Hauling Services
484-467-1424
jdogjunkremoval.com
Oxford Mini Storage 610-932-9111
OxfordMiniStorage.com
See ad pg. 109
TLC Moving Services
610-268-3243
See ad pg. 22
ACE Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance of Oxford 610-932-0337
See ad pg. 30
Black Rock Retreat 717-529-3371 blackrockretreat.com
Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation 610-945-4423 BraveEli.com
Family Promise of Southern Chester County 610-444-0400 familypromisescc.org
Good Neighbors Home Repair 302-593-6606 GoodNeighborsHomeRepair. org
Kacie’s Cause Oxford 610-998-9585 KaciesCause.com
Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society 302-540-9029 callKATS.org
Lighthouse Youth Center 610-467-6000
OxfordLighthouse.org
See ad pg. 13
National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum 610-384-9282 steelmuseum.org See ad pg. 84
Oxford Area Historical Association OxfordHistorical.org
Oxford Area Neighborhood Services 610-932-8557 OxfordNSC.org
Oxford Area Senior Center 610-932-5244 OxfordSeniors.org
Oxford Library Company 610-932-9625 OxfordPublicLibrary.org
Oxford Lions Club lionwap.org/oxfordpa
Oxford Little League 484-343-5206 OxfordLL.com
Oxford Mainstreet Inc. 610-998-9494 downtownoxfordpa.org
Rotary Club of Oxford 610-256-5794 OxfordRotary.org
SILO
610-932-7500
OxfordSilo.com
The Oaks Ministry 484-368-7268
OxfordOaksMinistry.com
Warriors on the Water (717)314-2800
warriorsonthewaterltd.com
Optometrist
Miller Eye Care 610-869-4200
MillerEyecareOnline.com
Oxford Family Eyecare 610-932-9356
OxfordFamilyEyecare.com
See ad pg. 4
Painting
CertaPro Painters of Western Chester County 484-842-0174 western-chester-county. certapro.com
Jones Painting 610-908-4515
JonesPainting.net
See ad pg. 37
Photography
Jennifer Zduniak
Design & Photography 610-955-4131
jzdesignandphoto.com
Mirror Me Productions 484-883-7773
mirrormepro.com
Moonloop Photography LLC 484-748-0812 moonloopphoto.com
See ad pg. 16
Continued from Page 59
Plumbing / Heating / Cooling/ Fuel
Alger Oil and Propane Inc.
610-932-4104
AlgerEnergy.com
Cameron’s Plumbing, Heating & Cooling 610-932-2416
CameronsPHC.com
See ads pg. 58 & 89
Chelsea Heating & Air 610-268-2200
ChelseaAir.com
See ad pg. 15
Leon C. Landis, Inc.
717-786-2188
LeonLandis.com
See ad pg. 49
Oxford Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
610-932-9503
OPHinc.com
See ad pg. 55
Potchak A/C Inc.
866-322-8849
Potchakac.com
See ad pg. 89
Real Estate
Becky Burnham, Realtor RE/MAX Excellence
484-643-2405
BuyfromBecky.com
See ad pg. 101
Beiler-Campbell Realtors
610-932-1000
beiler-campbell.com
See ad pg. 73
Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach– Chris Anderson 484-753-2692 christineanderson.foxroach. com
Berkshire Hathaway Home Service – Kelli Brandenberger 717-786-1300
SellwithmeKellib.com
Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach/ Patrick Curran 610-656-7382 jpatrickcurran.com
Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach/ Jeff Sanders 570-412-4405
jeffsanders.foxroach.com
Joel Brown, Beiler - Campbell 610-932-2982 beiler-campbell.com
Oxhaven Apartments
610-932-3700 Oxhaven.com
Recreational
Andrea’s Academy of Dance 717-529-1065 DanceAAoD.com
CrossFit Thunder Hill 302-584-4096
crossfithunderhill.com
Herr’s Snack Factory 610-932-6400 herrs.com
See ad pg. 2
Jennersville YMCA 610-869-9622 YMCAgbw.org
National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum 610-384-9282 steelmuseum.org See ad pg. 84
Oxford Area Recreation Authority 610-314-3783
treasoara.wixsite.com/oxfordrecreation
Oxford Center for Dance 610-932-3267
oc4dance.com
See ad pg. 34
Oxford Karate Institute 610-998-0044
OxfordKarateInstitute.com
See ad pg. 70
Oxford Shoebox Theatre 610-998-9494
OxfordTheatrePA.org
Saginaw Day Camp 610-998-1281 saginawdaycamp.com
Restaurant / Specialty Food and Beverages
Andre’s Pizza Italian Restaurant 610-932-2221
Andres-Pizza.com
Ball and Thistle Pub 610-624-6802
Wyncote.com
See ad pg. 82
Corner Café 610-869-5557
cornercafejennersville.com
See ad pg. 23
Emory’s at Tanglewood 717-786-2500 twgolf.com/club/emorys
Flickerwood Wine Cellars & Twisted Treats 610-932-9498 Flickerwood.com
Kreider’s Market, Inc 717-529-6944
KreidersMarket.com See ad pg. 48
La Sicilia
Pizza Pasta Grille 610-998-9889
laSiciliaPA.com
Neuchatel Swiss Chocolates 610-932-2706
neuchatelchocolates.com
Nottingham Inn Kitchen and Creamery 610-932-2778
NottinghamInn.com
See ad pg. 2
Pat’s Select Pizza and Grill 610-998-9191 patsselect.com
Octoraro Hotel & Tavern 610-467-1939
facebook.com/theoctorarotavern
See ad pg. 7
Rise N Grind 443-309-8814
RiseNGrindCafe.com
Rita’s Water Ice of Oxford 610-932-2523
RitasFranchises.com/Oxford
Saw Mill Grill 610-467-1909 facebook.com/SawMill-Grill See ad pg. 7
Tiers of Joy
Gluten Free Bakery 484-667-1369 tiersofjoygf.com
Toot Sweets
610-467-1900
TootSweetson3rd.com
See ad pg. 22
The Ugly Mutt 610-998-9000
facebook.com/The-Ugly-Mutt
See ad pg. 104
Vanessa Ross Cakes 610-467-1800 vanessarosscakes.com
Victory Brewing Company
484-667-9249 victorybeer.com
Wholly Grounds Coffeehouse
443-466-6859 facebook.com/whollygroundscoffeehouse
Retail
Aristos’ Harvest
302-584-8386
aristosharvest@gmail.com
BB’s Grocery Outlet
717-786-3210 bbsgrocery.com
Brandywine Ace
Pet and Farm 610- 345-1145
acehardware.com/storedetails/15574
See ad pg. 16
Cameron’s Hardware & Supply, Inc.
610-932-2416
CameronsHardware.com
See ads pg. 58 & 89
Dubarry of Ireland 866-658-3569
dubarry.com
G & F Carpet/Flooring America 610-932-8724
g-fCarpet.com
See ad pg. 110
Honeysuckle Trail Country Crafts
610-932-7734
HoneysuckleTrail.com
Howetts Screen Printing and Embroidery
610-932-3697
Howetts.com
Jennersville Pets and Friends
610-345-1145
facebook.com/JVPet
See ad pg. 16
Keen Compressed Gas Company 610-998-0200 KeenGas.com
Kennett Copy and More 484-732-8066
kennettcopy.com
Landhope Farms
610-467-0378 landhope.com
Limelife Planners
614-406-5892
LimelifePlanners.com
Lola’s
610-467-0774
Lolason3rd.com
See ad pg. 48
Martin Appliance 717-786-7373
MartinsAppliance.com
Outback Adventure Co.
610-405-4733
Oxford Feed and Lumber
610-932-8521
OxfordFeedLumber.com
See ad pg. 16
Pickled Pickles
410-808-5507
facebook.com/pickledpicklespa
RNJ Plaques & Engraving
610-932-4763
facebook.com/RNJ-Plaquesand-Engraving
Retirement Community
Ware Presbyterian Village 610-998-2400
WarePresbyterian.org
Service
Armstrong 877-277-5711
ArmstrongOneWire.com
See ad pg. 45
Brandywine Septic Services, Inc. 610-869-0443
BrandywineSeptic.com
See ad pg. 3
Combat Elevator 844-266-2281
combatelevatorinc.com
Decorations Events Lopez 484-467-4936 facebook.com/banquestDecorations
Design by Daphne 484-897-0030 designbydaphne.com
Howett’s Screen Printing and Embroidery 610-932-3697 Howetts.com
Lloyd Shetron Termite and Pest Control 610-470-7287 LSPestControl.com
Martin Water Conditioning 717-786-7373 MartinWater.com
Mitchell Mechanical –M2 Welding 610-932-5002
M2welding.com See ad pg. 69
Mt. Olivet Farms 484-614-5203
Skynet Payments 800-809-6908 skynetpayments.com
Trucking
LT Trucking
610-932-2702
Veterinary/Pet Boarding/ Grooming/ Sitting Elk Creek Veterinary Services 610-467-1488
ElkCreekVeterinaryServices. com
Lady and the Tramp Pet Sitting 484-746-9137
See ad pg. 81
Oxford Veterinary Hospital 610-932-8757
OxfordVeterinaryHospital. com
Vixen Hall Kennels 610-932-6980 vixenhallkennels.com
See ad pg. 83
Unionville Equine Associates PC 610932-6800 ueavet.com
Videographer
Nick Lang Media 484-326-0890
NickLangMedia.com
Winery/ Venues
Britain Hill Venue and Vineyard 717-799-7277
britainhillvenueandvineyard. com
See ad pg. 21
Flickerwood Wine Cellars 610-932-9498
flickerwood.com
Oxford Karate Institute
The Oxford Karate Institute opened in 2004. Even the youngest students who started training with Brian Fisher back then are now adults—a fact that amazes him whenever he reflects on his time as an instructor in the Oxford area.
“A lot of the students grew up here. We have a great family atmosphere,” said Fisher, the owner and lead instructor at the Oxford Karate Institute.
Last year, the family moved into a new home—a 4,300-square-foot facility in the Oxford Square Shopping Center that has been renovated to meet the needs of the martial arts students.
The students who have trained with Fisher have achieved the numerous benefits of martial arts—improved physical fitness, self-defense skills, and self-confidence. They’ve gained focus and self-control that will help them in every aspect of their lives. But, more than anything, they have had fun in a safe, family-friendly environment.
At the Oxford Karate Institute, students receive individualized attention in classes that are designed specifically for children, teens, and adults.
“Personal attention in martial arts goes a long way,” Fisher said, explaining that a Korean martial art called Tang Soo Do is emphasized at the Oxford Karate Institute.
“It’s a great martial art,” he explained. “It teaches a lot of traditional things like respect, self-control, and self-confidence, along with a lot of stand-up skills.”
Other classes include karate, judo, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu. Every class is led by Fisher or one of the certified
black belt instructors. April Placchetti, a third degree black belt and 10 or 12 assistant instructors all take great pride in making the school a welcoming and safe environment.
Fisher loves to see his students grow and make progress. As they learn a skill, break a board, or earn a belt, they gain confidence in themselves. Martial arts helped change Fisher’s life, and he likes helping others get the most out of the training.
Fisher grew up in South Philadelphia and started studying martial arts when he was 12. The classes were a Christmas present from his dad, who signed him up at Shin Karate for a year-long program. Fisher likes to share a story about how he went to his first class at Shin Karate and he came home that day thinking that he wanted to quit. Fisher went back to the next class and before long he was thriving as a martial arts student. He studied under Grand Master Shin, who was the head of the Tang Soo Do Association at the time. By the age of 14, Fisher started helping to teach martial arts to others. After winning championships and earning numerous accolades, and achieving the rank of black belt, Fisher became a master. He eventually partnered with Frank Fattori as co-instructors of a martial arts school.
They eventually teamed up to open the Oxford Karate Institute.
The classes were small at first, of course—but they were soon attracting more and more students. Because of his own experiences as a young martial arts student, Fisher always gives students a chance to take part in a trial program to ensure that the Oxford Karate Institute is a good fit for them.
Fisher emphasized that each person starts at his or her own level and builds from there. Because the students receive some individualized instruction, and all the students work so closely with each other, everyone can make progress at their own pace, whether the goal is to become a black belt or to make fitness improvements.
More information about classes, as well as some testimonials about their benefits, can be found on the website at www. oxfordkarateinstitute.com. The Oxford Karate Institute is located at 357 N. 3rd St., in Oxford. The telephone number is 610-998-0044.
Oxford Karate Institute 357 N Third St., Oxford, PA 19363 610-998-0044 OxfordKarateInstitute.com
Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
Pickled Pickles: An artists’ haven and
By Betsy Brewer Brantner
Contributing Writer
Pickled Pickles, an eclectic boutique in the heart of Oxford, opened their doors in 2014 because owner Jennifer Campion wanted to provide items that couldn’t be found anywhere else. Well,
as it turns out, she did that and so much more. She created a haven for artisans to sell their creations and a paradise for shoppers.
Like so many shop owners in Oxford and the surrounding communities, Campion was drawn to this area because of the artisan community that exists here.
Campion has a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts, a minor in art history and education, and she teaches first grade students at Sacred Heart School. Her love of art is natural, and she supports the arts and artisans. Local artists agree that her shop has promoted the artistic community that has helped revitalize this small town,
by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
a shoppers’ paradise
and her shop also stabilizes the artistic community that has quietly flourished here for so many years.
Visiting her shop is like stepping into an artist studio. Greeting you when you enter is her mother, Linda Lanham, who always has a crochet hook in one hand and an interesting ball of yarn close by. She is the
perfect hostess for this instant art show you may feel like you have stumbled upon. Lights, colors, textures, smells capture the senses, and then you get almost giddy when you realize you can actually buy the items on display. If you are surprised by what’s available, so is Campion. “I don’t even know what is coming in the door
sometimes,” she said. “This charming town is home to numerous artisans.”
Showcasing the work of local artists and artisans was one of the things that this Oxford resident had in mind when she started her own business. Campion previously worked as an art teacher in
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Photography
Pickled Pickles
Continued from Page 65
Maryland for seven years. Some of the “custom work” that she sells will definitely surprise you. She sells accessories such as handmade jewelry, scarves, hats, and children’s clothing. She sells unique upcycled furniture, cutting boards, tables, wreaths, candles, skin care products, and gift cards.
But always expect the unexpected during a visit. Artists are a creative lot. And the ever-growing pool of artists whose work can be found at Pickled Pickles can range from ages 10 to 90.
The shop has recently partnered with local bee enthusiast Aristos Harvest (an Oxford chamber member) to bring local
raw honey and all of its benefits to the community. There is a line of goat milk soap and their ever-popular honey lip balm, fresh off their farm just down the road, that is available, too.
“Although Christmas is typically the busiest season, any season is fun,” Campion explained. “Right now, we are preparing for spring. We have new spring
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Pickled Pickles
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and Easter décor, a new spring clothing line which includes tops, scarves and hats. And watch for our spring hours, which include Tuesday.”
She added, “One of the biggest surprises is that I started with five artisans and have grown to so many more. I am always on the lookout for new artists, and new ways to serve our customers.”
Pickled Pickles also offers gift baskets and, it goes without saying, they would be some of the most unusual around.
What Campion really wants people to know is, “that the Oxford community has been great at supporting us, and I am excited to see where it is going to go. This business is mostly about the relationships forged, the backstories of the makers, the ability to share who and where each item was made and maybe even an interesting story, because they were first shared with us. It’s about the interaction and conversations that are had within. We
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Pickled Pickles
Continued from Page 68
have loyal customers that come routinely for items, but I also think they come for the social side as well. We’ve made friends and built relationships with folks we might otherwise have never met. That’s what it’s all about.”
Come visit Pickled Pickles at 221 E. Locust St., in Oxford (right next to the Oxford Post Office). And don’t forget that you are supporting Oxford’s local artisans. Contact Pickled Pickles at 410-808-5507 or visit the Facebook page.
Pickled Pickles
221 E. Locust St. Oxford, PA 19363
410-808-5507
facebook.com/PickledPicklesPA
Oxford Arts Alliance Emerging Artists in Oxford
Anthony Derrico, Assistant Executive Director
As the Oxford Arts Alliance enters 2020, the seeds of a new gallery have begun to blossom from the vestibule beneath the academy of music. Located adjacent to the main gallery, the new Emerging Artist Gallery is a space unlike any other. “We wanted a way to give young artists a chance to not only exhibit their work but
to provide a chance for them to completely design their own exhibit,” says Anthony Derrico, Assistant Executive Director of the OxAA.
The new gallery is a dynamic space featuring work from a new emerging artist every month in2020. The OxAA chose to call the space the Emerging Artist Gallery because it features work by students ranging from elementary school to college; and not only are they
emerging as an artist,but also as individuals with a voice to share with the world. The gallery has already showcased numerous talents, from the colorful piggies of young artist Riley Jane Sheehan, to an exhibition from Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts student Kelly Micca.
Riley Jane had the most positive experience being a part of the Emerging Artists Gallery. Anthony and Caitlin
were so helpful in getting her show ready - from the first discussion to creating the postcard mailer and the poster as well as the actual curating of the show. This experience helped Riley Jane realize that she really is an artist and is further inspired to continue painting her pigs (and owls). We can’t thank OxAA enough for this opportunity!
-Heather Sheehan
The Emerging Artist Gallery is fueled by the enthusiasm of each exhibiting artist, and every exhibit is tailored to their imagination. Emerging artists are asked to not only provide work for their show but to collaborate with OxAA staff in matting their paintings, hanging their work, and choosing the layout of the exhibit in the gallery.
“I wish I had the opportunity to experience something like this when I was a young artist because it’s beneficial for your growth, not only as an artist, but as a person. I enjoy watching the young artists share their creative vision with me when
they’re able to design their own space.”
-Caitlin Daugherty, Art Coordinator at the Oxford Arts Alliance
The OxAA is looking forward to giving more young talent a voice in 2020. Feel
Alluring Images Hair Studio
free to come in and experience the art for yourself this year and in doing so support a local emerging artist. Fora full listing of the exhibits in the gallery, please visit www.oxfordart.org All photos courtesy
Everyday Hero 5K Run
Trail run set for August 15, 2020 in Nottingham Park. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Oxford Veteran’s Breakfast. Dress as your favorite superhero and run the park! Registration online at OxfordPA.org
Dick and Connie Oxfordian Q & A
From the early 1960s, about the time when Dr. Richard “Dick” Winchester began what would become a 39-year tenure as a history professor at Lincoln University, he and his wife Connie have dedicated much of their lives to being stewards of the Oxford community. The course of their many contributions has dovetailed with the growth of Oxford, and is reflected in their generosity and spirit of giving to others.
Recently, the Oxfordian met with Dick and Connie for a compelling conversation that looked at Oxford then and Oxford now, and also included a lot of their lives lived in between.
Where did the two of you meet?
Connie: We met at Ursinus College as freshmen. I remember being told at the freshmen banquet that a large percentage of us would end up marrying each other. I remember that Dick got to Ursinus when he was 16. He was full of energy, and very pleasant and outgoing. He became one of our class officers almost immediately. Dick: I first took significant notice of
Connie Winchester
Connie in a sociology class that we both took, but she was dating someone else, so I had to get in the back of the line. Our relationship really began between our sophomore and junior years at Ursinus, when as vice presidents of the YMCA and YWCA, respectively, we had the responsibility of updating the rules and regulations for a variety of the organizations. It was at that time when
we first began to connect, and we became presidents of the YWCA and the YMCA in our senior years.
You both have been a part of the Oxford community since the early 1960s. Describe what the community was like back then.
Dick: At the time, much of the town was racially segregated. I have learned since
that area schools did not consolidate until the mid-1950s, but before then, all of the townships had their own schools through Grade 8. In 1951, Horace Mann Bond, a graduate of Lincoln and the first black president of the institution, worked with other faculty to force the integration of the feeder elementary school in Lincoln University Village. They led the charge
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Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
Dick and Connie Winchester
Continued from Page 79
to integrate those schools. At the same time, Lincoln University students forced the integration of the movie theater in downtown Oxford.
I eventually learned that Oxford was not the only place in Chester County with this pattern of racial exclusivity. Connie: Oxford was at that time two separate communities. Sitting in the faculty room at Oxford Area High School, I remember that Lincoln University was deemed to be “out there,” a distance away from the remainder of Oxford. There was very little conversation about the possibilities of relationships between Lincoln University and Oxford. For the first few years of Dick’s tenure, we lived on campus, but the services were in Oxford, so I had more opportunity to be around Oxford than Dick did. We would occasionally meet at the Octorara Hotel on Friday afternoons for supper.
One cannot create a proper biography of Dick and Connie Winchester without including how the course of your lives dovetailed with a very crucial part of local and national history. Take me
back, Dick, to how you helped integrate the Oxford Hotel.
Dick: Connie and I lived in the first floor of the Bond House, which was located on the campus of Lincoln University. In early December of 1961, students knocked on my door at 4:30 p.m. and told me that they needed an unknown white face to go into the Oxford Hotel at the appointed hour and ask for a room.
The plan was to have a black Lincoln senior ask for a room at the hotel, and presumably be denied because the hotel was full. My assignment was to ask for a room ten minutes later. After I was given a room, I returned to the university, where many students had expectantly gathered at the chapel. When I entered with key in hand, there was much excitement, and the picket line around the hotel began soon thereafter.
Unlike later in the decade, students did not close the university for this demonstration. Instead, they organized car pools so the line circled the hotel every day from about 8 a.m. to approximately 8 p.m. On the second or third day, young white
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Dick and Connie Winchester
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guys in pick-up trucks with Maryland plates began crossing the line with tire irons in their hands, to show support for segregation. As the situation grew more and more tense, negotiations began behind the scenes. As Marvin Wachman tells the story in his book, The Education of a University President, it was John Ware III who successfully implored the owner of the hotel to change his policy on race, lest the town of Oxford experience some violence.
In the summer of 1963, W.T.M. Johnson, a pioneer in the local civil rights movement of Chester County, had just been hired as a chemistry professor at Lincoln University. Even before he taught his first class, he put notices in faculty mail boxes, inviting his colleagues to “sign up for the ride.” You were on one of those buses. Describe the events of Aug. 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C.
Connie: That day is part of our story and our education, and it was one of the most memorable events that have happened in our lives. Dick and I talked it over and decided that we would go, understanding that there were the risks of the unknown. The further we went, the closer we got to the actual site, and the more buses we saw bringing people from all over.
Dick: As these buses rolled on, it gave us a feeling of being part of flowing river, and each had the name of the church of their affiliation or community association. They came from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and New England. With kids hanging out the window holding and waving American flags. The fear was that the Washington, D.C. ghetto would explode. Everything – the entire news package – was geared for violence. And yet, we began to see black families standing on the side of their streets, cheering us as each bus went by them...and Connie and I began to cry.
Connie: We stood near the reflecting pool, which was depicted in a photograph that appeared in Life magazine that showed a diversity of people sitting beside each other dangling legs of all colors in the pool and sharing food. The atmosphere was unforgettable.
You have both lived your lives with the belief that in order to be a true steward to a community, one needs to live a life of service. There are few more prominent examples of this than the Neighborhood Services Center, which you, Connie, formed in 1971.
Connie: The idea for what became the Neighborhood Services Center grew out of my role with the Oxford Civic Association, which is now a part of the United Way of Southern Chester County. With the assistance of Dr. Mason at St. Christopher Church and Dr. Frank Wilson of Lincoln University, we began to form a committee to explore the needs of the community, in order to create a directory of services.
After about a year of meetings, we invited others to join us – experts, researchers and agency directors – to review the basic needs: housing, day care, transportation, health and employment. Somewhere, the idea germinated that instead of just creating a directory, we should entertain the idea of opening a facility, where
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Vixen Hall Kennels is located off of Saginaw Road in Oxford. On 22 acres, these country kennels are set away from busy roads and industry.
Owners, Robert and Alexandra Satchell, live right on the premises and believe that the safety and comfort of your pet is first priority. Our shared philosophy is to treat every pet as if they were our own. We pride ourselves on providing quality care in a loving environment for all who stay with us. Staffed by caring pet professionals, Vixen Hall employees are passionate about animals and share in our pet philosophies.
Call to schedule your overnight boarding stay, doggie daycare, or grooming appointment today!
Dick and Connie Winchester
Continued from Page 83 community members could meet personally with these representatives. The Center has since then had a long history, and is helped along by many, many people.
Dick, you began the Oxford Educational Foundation in 1994, and you are now its Director Emeritus. There is clear evidence that the Foundation continues to enhance the education of young people, but take me back 25 years or more, when you first saw a need that needed to be filled.
Dick: In 1993, when I was a member of the Oxford Area School District board, I attended a conference sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. The topic at the conference was about educational foundations, of which there was only one in Chester County. I came back to my colleagues and told them about the idea, and the idea took off.
About that time, I got to know John Pittenger, who was the Secretary of Education for Pennsylvania and later served two terms in the State House. He eventually became a friend of mine, and he agreed to help us get organized. In the process, he found attorney Randy Sebastian, an Oxford High School graduate who helped us get the Foundation started.
It is very safe to say that there are people in the Oxford community who look at Dick and Connie Winchester as role models. Who are your role models?
Connie: I remember thinking about this a few decades ago, when I had become involved in the community. I admired (Civil Rights Movement leader) Barbara Jordan. I would also include my mother, who also had a huge influence on me.
Dick: I was raised in a family who went to church every Sunday. My mother never went beyond the tenth grade, and my father graduated from high school, but from the earliest of days, education was
extraordinarily important in my family. I can remember sitting at the kitchen table in our row house in Philadelphia. After dinner, I would do my homework on an ironing board near the kitchen table. Every night before I went to bed, my mother saw to it that all homework was done. There was never a doubt in her mind that I was going to go to college, and sooner, or later, my parents would provide a way for me.
I was also mentored by Dr. Charles Mattern, who taught philosophy at Ursinus College, and Dr. Richard Wade, for whom I was a teaching assistant at the University of Rochester. I must also include Dr. Marvin Wachman, who became the president at Lincoln University and hired me in 1961.
What, in your minds, does Oxford do best?
Connie: My experiences have enabled me to get a constant sense of the love and the generosity that people in Oxford and the greater Oxford area’s organizations and families and churches have toward
others, particularly those in need. The Neighborhood Services Center has been a conduit of using this basic sense of caring by connecting organizations, people, programs and services to those in need. Dick: The hope remains great for the arrival of the Oxford garage. Originally, I was not a fan of the parking garage, but now, the goal is to realize those hopes, with all hands on deck. We want to promote the garage. We want people to park there, pay their parking fees, and help us pay for it. Our hope is that all of the visions for the revitalization of Oxford, of which that garage is key, will be realized. My colleagues and I are on the bandwagon, and an opening is scheduled for May 1. I think the great strength of Oxford is seen in the rich spirit of volunteerism that is illustrated by service on the Borough Council, and in the area’s many helping agencies. We are blessed to have leadership in the churches and community organizations, and we need to continue to encourage that.
– Richard L. Gaw
Pavers & Patios Tree & Hedge Pruning
Core Family Practice
Dr. Ricky Haug founded Core Family Practice in Kennett Square four years ago with the hope of overcoming the frustration many patients and doctors feel with the distance the modern bureaucracy and insurance has put between them. He was joined last year by Dr. Paul Yerkes, who shares a desire to personalize primary care. Their practice combines the medical and technology advances of the last half century with the intimacy and caring that was around in the decades of the 1950s and 1960s.
They consider themselves small town family doctors. “We feel we’re going back in time,” Yerkes said.
They occupy the building at 413 West Cypress Street at what was formerly an ophthalmologist practice. Their facility includes a small pharmacy and lab so patients can get their medications there at a lower cost and can also get their tests carried out on the spot.
“We can go back and fill the pill bottle,” Haug explained.
Core Family Practice fits in the genre of Direct Primary Care, a model that takes the medicine back to its roots.
Haug said only about four-percent of practices fit that model, but the numbers are growing rapidly. The number of Direct Primary Care practices nationwide is about 1,000. One in Wilmington, Del. is the next closest to southern Chester County. Direct Primary Care does not accept
health insurance of any kind. Haug says that means less paperwork and interference by insurers. Patients have no co-pays, more flexibility and more time with their doctor.
Yerkes described it as being run as a membership, like the YMCA or Netflix. People join for one membership fee and partake of any or all of the services for that price.
Adults under the age of 25 pay $35 per
month. People age 25 and older pay $70 a month. Families of four pay $180 a month and $20 for each additional child beyond two. There is a one-time enrollment fee of $65 per family.
Haug, 41, said he moved around a lot in his youth but spent most of the time in North Carolina. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Cornell University and attended medical school at Temple Medical School. He did his residency at Jefferson Hospital
Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
in Philadelphia. Haug has worked at Jennersville Hospital and Southern Chester County Family Practice. He said he founded Core Family Practice because he felt traditional medicine model that he was involved with “was not the best.”
Yerkes, 35, grew up in West Grove and is a graduate of Salesianum High School. He studied engineering at Villanova University and then served in the Marine Corps. After his military service he went back to study medicine at Hahnemann Hospital. He served as medical residency at Christiana Care, where he became chief of residency.
Core Family Practice offers many services, which are all included in the monthly membership fee. Among them are EKG, nebulizer treatments, wart therapy, urinalysis, skin tag removal,
ear irrigation, joint injections and minor suturing.
They also deal with newborn and pediatric patients, chronic pain management, lifestyle management counseling, and physicals (including sports physicals). Same-day appointments can also be offered.
They do not offer OB-GYN services, and immunizations require a separate fee.
The doctors warn that Direct Primary Care memberships are not insurance and do not replace personal insurance. When advanced procedures and specialists are needed, patients with insurance or high deductibles utilize those plans.
Haug said that primary care serves about 85 percent of patients’ needs, and in many of their cases and instances, that’s all they need.
Adding to the economy of Core Family
Practice is the network of specialists they work and negotiate cash costs with so their patients can pay at greatly reduced prices for advanced services.
“For many of patients they save money with those the relationship, and we build one-stop shopping,” Haug said.
When patients call Core Family Practice, they are almost always connected with the doctors or someone in the office.
Haug said Core Family Practice is experiencing “a ton of growth” in the area.
“We love it. I can’t imagine practicing any other way,” he added.
Core Family Practice
413 W Cypress Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348
610-612-9283
CoreFamilyPractice.com
Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center
Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center (NSC) has been helping our neighbors navigate through times of crisis since 1971.
Recently, Richard, a man in his late 70s, came to NSC for assistance with housing. His social security check for the month had been exhausted and he had just received notice of a rent increase. Richard had worked hard all his life, was very proud of his ability to pay his bills on time and was
having a hard time adjusting to his new financial reality. Often, he went without food in order to pay his bills. Our staff enrolled him in the food pantry, assisted him with paying a month’s rent while helping him to find subsidized housing, and continued to work with him to get him enrolled in programs to assist with ongoing heating costs. During one visit, he commented, “I’ve never had to ask for help in my life, but your staff made me
feel comfortable, and they were here for me when I didn’t know where to turn. Everyone at NSC helps from the heart and they have been a true blessing to me.”
The elderly. Parents who have lost their jobs. Victims of domestic violence. These are just some of our neighbors who need a helping hand. Some are on the verge of being evicted; others are about to lose their electric or gas service; many more can’t afford food or clothing. Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center is here to help.
It is a common misconception that since Chester County is one of the wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania, issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, and poverty don’t exist here. But that’s simply not true. In fact, last year nearly one-quarter of Oxford residents had incomes below the federal poverty level.
The vast majority of the people helped by NSC are living in poverty through no fault of their own. Illness, the death of a spouse, long-term job loss – these are just a few of the reasons we hear on a daily basis. So many people are living paycheck to paycheck and are one sudden, unexpected hardship away from experiencing poverty. Our caring and dedicated case managers are here to help people through times of crisis by providing food, emergency rent and utility assistance, and helping them to access benefits and find longterm solutions. We give our neighbors the helping hand they need to start down the path to a better life.
Bringing these experienced and helpful teams together allows us to provide our customers with the best Plumbing, Heating & Cooling service in the area.
Potchak HVAC will continue to offer quality HVAC service and Cameron’s Plumbing & Heating will continue to provide customers with reliable plumbing and heating services as both have done for over 50 years.
Nick Lang Media
If you are looking for Nick Lang Media, look up. Much of his work is done up, in the sky. As he tells it, “I remember watching my first drone clip and deciding right then that I would figure out how to get a drone and then learn how to make films with it.”
Lang continued, “The drone industry is so new, that when I started thinking about flying drones, as a business, I wasn’t sure how I could even do it, since there weren’t a lot of companies specializing in aerial cinematography at the time. I didn’t even know how I could afford a drone, but I knew it was something I was drawn to and I had to do. Pursuing a career you are passionate about is one of the best decisions you can ever make, and I wish more people would pursue their own dream job. It definitely comes with a lot of sacrifice and stress but I hope I am lucky enough to keep doing this for the rest of my life.”
His profession takes him everywhere. His most memorable job was filming the 2015Necker Cup on Richard Branson’s private island, Necker Island. Filming this exclusive 5-day event was also one of the most challenging jobs of his career because the second videographer had to cancel their trip because of health issues.
“I had to learn how to cover a week-long event as a single videographer while still
Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
capturing multiple angles,” he said. It was during this job that Nick developed a very efficient style of filming that he is now known for. He is not limited to an office. Some might say the sky is the limit for him. So catching up with him for an interview isn’t easy. When we talked, it was by phone while he was off to visit his parents to help them sell their property by filming a Fly-Through tour of their home with his custom FPV (First Person View) drone. The real estate industry is just one field where drones have proven invaluable.
Nick is establishing himself as one of the only operators in the U.S. offering real estate and commercial FlyThroughs using FPV technology. Nick has garnered much success with his “Fly-Through” videos online. One “Fly-Through Video that he did for the Classic Auto Mall has over 141,000 views on the Nick Lang Media Facebook page. Nick explained, “This type of flying requires years of practice and cannot be accomplished flying a traditional drone with GPS and smart features. My “FlyThrough” drone was custom-made for this type of flying. The FPV technology allows me to see exactly what my drone is seeing while wearing a headset with zero latency. This enables me to fly through very small opening with complete confidence. The drone I use for Fly-Throughs has prop guards as well so I can safely fly around actors. When I’m filming a Fly-Through with my FPV drone it is like an out-of-thebody experience. I am so focused on the sensation of flying that I forget where I am standing sometimes. I’d like every to feel that experience.”
Fast forward and Nick Lang is now an award-winning director, cinematographer and editor at the age of 29.
Nick has worked on shows that have aired on Netflix, HGTV, A & E, and local cable stations in the Philadelphia and NJ areas. He was even fortunate enough to work as NBC’s drone camera operator during the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Parade.
Nick has also been lucky enough to work with some amazing people like Richard Branson, Carli Lloyd, Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, Bam Margera, Nyjah Huston, The Cake Boss and Matisyahu.
Nick has also won a number of awards including:
Winner DC Drone Film Festival (Aqua -Valerie Broussard)
Official Selection of the 2016 U.S. Drone Film Festival (2016 Aerial Reel)
Official Selection of the 2016 Inter Drone Film Festival (2016 Aerial Reel)
Official Selection of the 2017 Airvuz Drone Awards “Thanksgiving at Grandma’s”
Official Selection of the 2018 Bucks Fever Film Fest (2018 Virginia Commonwealth Games Wing Racing Championship)
Official Selection of the 2019 Boston Drone Film Festival (Fly Throughs by Nick Lang and Fly-Through “All Pro Golf” Lang understands the use of drones is still relatively new to many people.
“It is my job to educate my clients on drone safety while also making sure I capture what we need to know when flying a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). That is a serious responsibility,” he said. When Lang is not flying he focuses on educating new UAV pilots by hosting private flight lessons and speaking on expert panels.
He enjoys teaching people how to fly so much that he helped create Team Flight Control. Team Flight Control provides drone education experiences to local school districts and STEM outreach programs. Drone education provides students with STEM skills which can present future opportunities to a child who may never have thought about a career in the drone industry. Lang would also love to bring drone racing to the schools in his area.
Drones can fit in the palm of your hand and race indoors or they can have 8 motors and carry today’s most expensive cinema cameras. When the youth of today are looking for the jobs of the future they will most certainly require a proper STEM education. Drones can be a hobby or they can save a life. They are used by police departments when searching for missing persons, to fly medical supplies to rural areas, or to transport organs for transplant quickly.
Call Nick Lang at 484-326-0890 or reach out via social media (@nicklangmedia to see how a drone can help lift your business to all new level.
Really, the sky is the limit. You can view Nick Lang’s Fly-Throughs on his Facebook Business page or on his Youtube channel by searching “Nick Lang media Fly-Through”. View his fly through videos Facebook.con/NickLangMedia TeamFlightControl.com You Tube @NickLangMedia
Nick Lang Media 484-326-0890 NickLangMedia.com
LOLA’S: Lots of Lovely
By Betsy Brewer Brantner
Contributing Writer
Most likely you have recently noticed some beautiful local woman on Facebook and Instagram. They’ve been shopping at LOLA’S! The name, “LOLA’S is actually an
acronym for Lots of Lovely Apparel. And there is a lot of lovely apparel inside that boutique at 57 S. Third Street in Oxford. Deb Bakalez, Lola’s store manager explained, “Every Monday we showcase one of our customers. It’s a very organic meeting with women who visit the store. We post a photograph of them, wearing
our apparel, on social media. We do that because there is a struggle in this world we live in, with the media,that can impact us negatively. We believe each woman has something special about her. Beauty is something from inside. We love bringing new people in. We are here to empower women and make them feel beautiful. I
Lovely Apparel
truly love making every girl, no matter her size, feel she can find something special here. It has been a blessing for us. We feel we are supposed to be here. It is a good thing.”
One of the exciting aspects of this store is the fact that they carry clothing for women from sizes 00 to 24. That is quite a range
of sizes, not typically found in one shop. And if you do see something you like, but not in your size, they will do their best to locate it.
Oh, and there is more. Really! Often times, alterations on apparel, can be done in the store. It’s one of many parts of their “customer service.” That’s right, customer
service, which is always LOLA’S top priority.
Of course browsing is encouraged too; you never know when you just might find something you HAVE to have! From Tuesday to Saturday a fashionista can stop in, just to look, to play dress up or to learn
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Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
LOLA’S
Continued from Page 97
a new fashion tip.
As Barb Moyer, one of the associates, said, “I love this job. I love dressing people every day. I love making new friends and I take those relationships seriously.” Barb is also quick to point out that most of her wardrobe comes from LOLA’S so people get another perspective by seeing an outfit on an actual person, other than just seeing it on a hanger. And if you want to try it on, even better. They are always happy to help.
Deb pointed out something she loves about her job, “What gets me excited is when someone comes in and thinks our items may be out of their price range. They
are shocked with the affordability, the fact that we do alterations, and steam their item so it is ready to wear when they pick it up. And, we do have all price ranges. Dresses run from $42 to $122.”
Lola’s staff is dedicated to giving the customer what they want and what is high quality. They explained, that items might be on display because they hang nice, wear well, last forever, but the most important thing is that the customer is happy with it. Deb added, “It is very important to satisfy the customer and if there is a problem the item can be returned to the company. The more information a customer gives me the better I can help them shop.”
Also concerned with quality and origin, many items are made in America. “We like to get brands people like and are familiar with. It’s very important that we offer brands that customers can trust and that always fit. When we find that perfect outfit, it makes us feel great when we walk out the door,” Deb said.
The shop is known for their soft materials, and Deb admits, “We are just like the customer, we like to feel and touch the fabric just like the customer. We are conscious of trends, colors and patterns, but also have to be sure we sell what our customers want.”
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LOLA’S
Continued from Page 98
Nancy Ware Sapp, LOLA’S shop owner, is quick to add that starting a business anywhere can be difficult for anyone, but she stressed, “Deb and I believed in this town. It is our hometown. People are tired of going to malls and of having impersonal shopping experiences. We wanted to bring
something different to Oxford. Our goal was to support the community and provide jobs and we have been successful in doing that. Currently, we have two full-time employees and three part-time staff.”
“We strive to transform the way women shop. We don’t use the term, “plus size”;
we call all women beautiful because they are. We work very hard to find items that are true to size. It makes shopping so much easier when you have a shop where people can consistently buy items that make them feel comfortable and beautiful. Lots of
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LOLA’S
Continued from Page 100
young girls don’t want to be limited either in their choices, so we go out of our way to find unique, younger looks,” Deb states.
The entire atmosphere of LOLA’S is really based on the relationship they have with their customers. They want their customers to feel comfortable. They love the small town feel.
“What excites me is watching women find out that they are much more beautiful than they think they are. Maybe they feel they have a certain body issues. Whatever it is, we love it when they realize they are a beautiful person.
‘We make friends here. We are excited to help dress you for your upcoming trip, wedding, girl’s night out, whatever,” Nancy said. “And we love hearing about how those events turned out. If we have a relationship with our customers, they will keep coming back.”
The shop is a great place to visit for a variety of reasons. From elegant attire for a fancy party or causal wear. To a last minute gifts (jewelry, hand lotion, etc.),
which can be wrapped, free of charge. (Yes, this place does still exist)! Maybe you just need accessories such as shoes, belts, jewelry, handbags, scarves or even undergarments to complete an outfitLOLA’S has you covered. They even carry some gifts men can enjoy.
LOLA’s hosts monthly events that are informative and just plain fun. Sometimes they hold Ladies’ Night Out events
highlighting a specific designer or introducting hot seasonal trends. On May 12 from 3 to 7 p.m. they will be hosting a Brighton Event displaying breathtaking accessories.
Another big event is their annual men’s nights. Most men welcome any help when shopping for the lady in their life. LOLA’S can assist them by providing a wish list, Continued on Page 104
LOLA’S
Continued from Page 102
so they get the perfect item. No need for returns! A store expansion is planned for summer 2020. “We hope to get the other side of our store open to display our apparel for mother of the brides, grandmothers of the brides or other formalwear to accommodate any special event.” Styling appointments and dress fittings will continue to be offered.
Both Nancy and Deb feel that Oxford is a wonderful place for their boutique. Because customers travel from West Chester, Kennett Square, North East and further they are excited about the new parking garage which will provide much more parking. LOLA’S wishes to thank all those that have supported them and helped them grow.
Shop at 57 S. Third St in Oxford where everyone is beautiful and everyone knows your name!
Lola’s
57 S Third Street, Oxford, PA
610-467-0774
Lolason3rd.com
Oxford Library
You may walk into the Children’s Room at the Oxford Library and see a random new girl sitting behind the desk. That girl would be me! My name is Sarah Beyer and I am very excited to be Oxford Library’s new Children’s Librarian. Hopefully, I’ve met a lot of you already! But if not, then I’m eager to meet you and help you navigate the awesome space and programs that the Children’s Room has to offer. However, here’s some info on me to help you catch up:
Where are you from?
I grew up in West Grove, Pa. So I’m from around here, or at least fifteen minutes away. I lived there my whole and graduated from Avon Grove School District. I previously worked at Avon Grove Library for five years.
However, I’m still getting to know the ins and outs of Oxford, so I’m probably not the person to ask directions from just yet. But I’ll do my best if you’re willing to brave it!
What are you, twelve?
Twenty-six actually! I even have my Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Drexel University. I may have a baby face, but I know a thing or two about public libraries. They are my favorite kind of libraries because I love that they’re for everyone in the community and that we provide free services that many other places do not. For example, did you know that you can check out a telescope from Oxford Library and take it home to look at the stars in your very own backyard? That is beyond cool!
Sarah Beyer, the Oxford Library’s new Children’s Librarian.
There are a lot of fun activities to enjoy at the library. These children enjoyed the Summer Camp in 2019.
What’s your favorite book?
My favorite book has been the same since I read it for the first time in fourth grade: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. I would honestly read anything by this author, but Ella Enchanted stuck with me in a way that few books have in my extensive career of reading. If you haven’t read it, I highly suggest it! There’s adventure, romance, magic, and ogres. And no, it’s nothing like the movie. Don’t let that influence your decision.
Are you liking it?
I am! I am so excited to be able to plan programs for kids and teens! I have some great stuff planned for our Summer Reading Program, so make sure you come back and learn all about how you can sign up!
Published by the Chester County Press in cooperation with the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce
Randall S. Lieberman - Publisher
Steven Hoffman EDITOR
Richard L. Gaw
Brenda Butt
Tricia Hoadley
STAFF WRITER
OFFICE MANAGER
ART DIRECTOR
Diane Blanche Stirrat GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Alan E. Turns
Teri Turns
Helen E. Warren
Amy Lieberman
Arlene McGoldrick
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE
MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS
COPY EDITOR
LT Trucking
When Lynn McClure describes her life as the co-owner of LT Trucking, the conversation quickly moves from the laborintensive task of transporting topsoil to the enchanting hobby of making people smile in Oxford.
McClure and her husband, Tom, have been in the trucking business for 20 years, delivering the processed product of used mushroom compost in large quantities to landscapers, green-roof companies and other customers that use soil.
She said Tom was previously in the business of filling mushroom houses more than two decades ago until the nature of growing the crop changed.
She explained that mushroom farms used to have large quantities of raw compost brought in by trucks and placed manually over the beds. The mushroom houses were then closed tight and allowed to heat up to “cook out.” This was called phase one of the process. This was a dirty and laborintensive job.
But as time went by, the process of purifying the preparing the compost for growing evolved into doing that part inside, and the material was then taken ready for growing in a shorter time to the houses and placed, often mechanically, onto the beds.
That’s when the McClures altered their business, purchasing three tri-axle trucks to carry the mushroom compost that had been used and processed into topsoil to the businesses that needed it. Their major customer is Laurel Valley Farms in West Grove.
Lynn McClure said they generally deliver regionally to businesses around Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Sometimes they’ll go as far as New York. When Laurel Valley is seeking to deliver more than three truckloads, it is Lynn’s responsibility to
lease more trucks for the job.
It’s tough work.
They get up at 4 a.m. most days to plan their schedules. Lynn, for her part, deals with the scheduling and maintenance of the trucks, admitting that breakdowns “are just part of the job.” Tom drives the trucks and makes deliveries.
But there is another part of their lives that, when Lynn talks about it, lights up her face.
They ride their motorcycles, dress up as fantasy characters and give out treats at local events in Oxford and beyond.
As Lynn describes the beginnings of their tradition, Tom called her from deliveries one day and said, “I’ve been thinking.”
She said she wondered with trepidation what would follow and what he meant.
“He said, ‘Get me a Santa outfit.’” she explained.
That was the start of it.
It was Christmas season and she bought an elf outfit in addition to the Santa suit, and they rode around Oxford greeting the kids and giving out candy.
Not only did it make the children of Oxford happy, it filled the McClures’ hearts as well.
The tradition grew from there.
“We dress as the Easter Bunny, Cookies Monster, Big Bird….anything,” she said. She and Tom are frequent visitors to Oxford’s First Friday events. Sometimes, she said, even if Tom comes home from work early, they hop on the three-wheeled, red-white-and blue bike and ride around, making kids happy.
This is their greatest satisfaction.
“Life is about making people smile. We do it to make kids happy. The day is complete when we make someone happy,” she said. Lynn, 57, grew up in Kennett Square and is a graduate of Kennett High School. Tom, 62, grew up in Oxford and attended Oxford High School, she said.
They run their business out of their office on Forge Road in Lower Oxford.
They share the home with two large parrots and a host of feral cats. They have a daughter who lives in Vermont.
They count themselves among Oxford’s most ardent fans.
“When we go to First Friday, they all know us. They bring their kids to see us. Oxford is a really good small town,” she said.
LT Trucking
3501 Forge Road, Oxford, PA 19363
610-932-2702
Photography by Jim Coarse / Moonloop Photography
