Chester County Press 01-24-2024 Edition by Ad Pro Inc.

Township has recuperated 82 percent of the more than $3.2 million stolen

Kennett Township halts its recovery of stolen funds from former manager

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Kennett Township Manager Eden Ratliff announced at the Jan. 17 Board of Supervisors meeting that the township is shutting down its efforts to recover additional money that was stolen by former Manager Lisa Moore over a nearly eight-year period that led to her conviction of embezzlement and formal sentencing in October 2021.

In a statement released on Jan. 17, the township “has exhausted its efforts” to recover the remainder of the $3,249,452 that Moore stole but has recuperated $2,665,095 – 82 percent –of the stolen funds over the past four-and-a-half years. Recovery efforts of this type usually yield an average return of 6 percent, the release stated.

“Further recovery efforts by the township at this time would incur additional fees

that cannot be justified given the probability of further success,” the statement read, referring to the $1,356,892 it has spent with attorneys and forensic accountants to recuperate the stolen money. The remaining 18 percent -- $584,357 – that is still unaccounted for from Moore will come through her restitution payments as a condition of her guilty plea and coordinated by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Parole Office.

Lisa Moore released from prison

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Lisa Moore, the former Kennett Township manager who absconded with more than $3.2 million from the township’s financial accounts over a nearly eight-year period, was released from the State Correctional Institute (SCI) in Cambridge Springs, Pa. on Jan. 4.

Moore’s release followed a 27-month incarceration period that began soon after she was formally sentenced on Oct. 4, 2021 to a minimum of three years and maximum of ten years on five counts stemming from her embezzlement of $3,249,452 from the township that began in 2013 and ended in 2019.

According to data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

(DOC), Moore entered the state’s prison system on Dec. 2, 2021 at the State Correctional Institute at Muncy and was transferred to SCI Cambridge Springs on March 16, 2022. As part of her sentencing, she was given a Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive -- generally given to less serious offenders who have not committed a personal injury crime, a sex crime, a crime

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Embezzlement recovery efforts by Kennett Township Amount stolen by Lisa Moore $3,249,452

Net funds recuperated by Kennett Township $2,665,095

Remaining funds to be recuperated $584,357

Percent recuperated

Ratliff said that restitution payments will be made directly to the township.

Ratliff said that Moore is responsible for paying the total amount that was

stolen from the criminal complaint as a condition of Pennsylvania’s Made Whole Doctrine, a legal principle that requires that fully insured entities

in the commonwealth be fully compensated for their losses.

The township underwent the recovery process with the

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Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board approves a $106.7

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board voted 7-0 to approve a $106.7 million preliminary budget for the 2024-2025 school year at the meeting on Jan. 16. District officials will spend the next few months fine-tuning the spending plan before a final budget is adopted and the new real estate tax rate is established. The school board is expect-

ed to adopt the final budget on June 17.

Overall, the school district’s expenditures are projected to be increasing by approximately 5.79 percent.

School board member

Brian Schartz, the chair of the district’s Finance Committee, emphasized that the preliminary budget is just the first look at a spending plan, and it includes all spending levels that would be necessary to continue the current education and sup-

million preliminary budget

port programs based on the information available at this time.

In the coming months, some of the estimates will be replaced by actual numbers.

For example, a major piece of the budgetary puzzle is the funding from the state.

Unionville-Chadds Ford kept state revenues in the 2024-2025 preliminary budget at the same level that they are at for the current school year. When Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro unveils

his state budget early next month, it will likely include some increases in state funding, as well as funding for targeted initiatives.

The school district might also see some of the projected expenses come in under budget. There will be retirements that will result in projected savings, too.

As it stands now, in order for the school district to balance the preliminary budget, the proposed millage rate for Chester County residents

would be 33.17 mills and the proposed millage rate for Delaware County residents would be 18.89 mills. That represents increases of 3.82 percent for Chester County and 12.98 percent for Delaware County, with a weighted average increase of 5.77 percent.

District officials emphasized that these are worst-case-scenario numbers, and Schartz said that they will continue to refine

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New Garden to pursue several grant opportunities in 2024

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

If 2023 was any indication of what was to come, 2024 promises to be another very busy year for New Garden Township, as it will continue to navigate several large initiatives that include ongoing cultivation and planning for New Garden Hills, the Village of Toughkenamon and the

105-acre Smedley Preserve.

As part of a presentation by grants coordinator Linda Rivera at the Jan. 22 Board of Supervisors’ meeting, the township will also be doing some digging of another kind this year – in the form of pursuing grant opportunities intended to pay for several projects in the future. Among the grant opportunities the township plans to pursue are:

• VPP Grant, available to all county municipalities in Pennsylvania who want to improve their planning and zoning;

• Local Share Account Statewide Grant, available to municipalities throughout Pennsylvania to develop projects that improve the quality of life in the community;

• The Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources (DCNR) Community and Watershed Forestry Grant, that provides financial assistance to locations needing forest buffers, lawn conversion and community tree planting;

• Watershed Restoration and Protection Program, that provides grants to municipalities seeking to restore and maintain streams and watersheds;

• SS4A-FY24 Safe Streets and Roads Grant, that supports the development of safety action programs that identify a municipality’s most significant roadway safety concerns; • Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant, that provides funds to help ensure safe and reliable modes of transportation in a municipality;

Photo courtesy of the Brandywine Museum of Art

The Brandywine Museum of Art will present Karl J. Kuerner: The Continuity of Creativity, a special exhibition on view starting Jan. 27. The exhibition features Karl J. Kuerner’s artistic commitment to the inspirational farm property through 19 paintings, including his 1998 watercolor on paper called “Below Zero.” Please see Page 1B for the story.

Courtesy photo Lisa Moore

Kennett Township...

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assistance of attorney Joseph Poluka of Blank Rome LLP and his team of recovery experts, Ricardo Zayas and his team at Marcum LLP, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, former township supervisors Whitney Hoffman and Scudder Stevens and the township staff.

North Walnut Road development receives conditional use approval

Following a public hearing, the supervisors granted conditional use approval to “Parkside,” a proposed

• Business in our Sites Grant, that helps communities attract growing and expanding businesses by providing assistance in finding appropriate sites to develop;

• The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Keystone Communities Program, that helps in the development of downtown and commercial districts, as well as the distressed industrial and manufacturing areas of a community;

• KC Program Planning, Development and Public Improvement Grants, that helps pay for engineering, legal, consulting and other costs associated with starting a construction project designed to improve neighborhoods and communities; and the

mixed-use development on North Walnut Road immediately south of Route 1 and on the east side of the road in the township. The board also approved all 7 conditions related to the approval of the development’s conditional use plan. Being developed by the North Walnut Holding Company, the 16.16acre, mixed-use project includes 7 single-family dwelling units, 76 multifamily attached dwelling units, 100 apartment units, 11 detached garages and space for two commercial/ retail businesses. Of those 183 total dwelling units included in the planned development, 58 will be age restricted. Access to the site

• Snow & ATV Grant, that helps municipalities fund the purchase of all terrain vehicles used in maintenance and construction.

If acquired, Rivera said that the grants will support the continued development of the master plan for New Garden Hills; construction at the Smedley Preserve that will include pedestrian crossings, park entrances, bridge replacements and trail improvements, meadow restoration and tree plantings and new maintenance equipment; and several components in the plan to revitalize the Village of Toughkenamon, such as sidewalk enhancement, parking, crosswalks, pedestrian safety and economic development. In other business, the board adopted the township’s endof-the-year actual revenues and expenditures for fis-

will be provided through two entrances located along North Walnut Road.

Supervisors bid Ratliff ‘Adieu’

Following their approval to appoint Roseann J. McGrath as a consultant in the recruitment of a new township manager, the supervisors thanked Ratliff – who will be leaving his position on Feb. 1 to become the Deputy Manager for the City of Charlottesville, Va. – for his four-and-a-half years of service.

Supervisor Richard Leff praised Ratliff for his work to revise – and remove –policies, procedures and employees in the township

cal year 2023 budget, as was introduced by township Manager Christopher Himes. Provided as a comparative snapshot of the financial performance of fiscal year 2023 that looked at adopted, amended and actual year-end revenues and expenditures, the presentation showed several surplus revenues and reductions in expenditures in its General Fund, Capital Fund, Airport Fund, Airport Capital Fund, Open Space Fund, Recreation and New Garden Hills Fund and Fire and Sewer Fund.

In summary, the township final fiscal year 2023 saw a year-end revenue of $14.65 million and expenditures totaling $13.1 million, a cash savings of more than $1.4 million that Himes said could be used to support township fund programs.

Citing a surplus interest income balance of $962,470

that led to a more ethical steerage of its finances in the aftermath of the Lisa Moore embezzlement investigation.

“We needed a principled, organized leader with exceptional communication skills to turn this township around; we got that, and so much more, with you,” Leff said. “When necessary, you were relentless in removing policies, procedures and even people that were detrimental to our functioning. You were willing to do the tough and sometimes unpopular things that needed to be done to get us on solid footing.

“But perhaps your greatest strength is seeing talent and the potential of everyone

generated from canceling the Phase 2 development of New Garden Hills, Himes recommended leveraging a portion of the surplus interest income ($875,763) into the township’s original FY 2024 Paving Program, in order to complete crucial paving projects on Hillendale, Pemberton and Starr roads.

Continuing progress at the Kennett Library

In his presentation, Kennett Library director Chris Manna shared several new initiatives scheduled to dot the library’s calendar in 2024 that will include upcoming TED Talk series on civic and social literacy; an expanded menu of adult literacy classes and U.S. citizenship classes – programs that reached more than 3,000 individuals in 2023; a bipartisan-spon-

and everything around you. You attracted great people to join our team and built a highly effective government built on mutual respect and actual care for one another.”

“As with many talented people, one wouldn’t expect [Eden] to be here in the range of five years or so, and we have to expect when we get somebody really good that we will lose him to a larger city,” said board Chairman Geoffrey Gamble.

“He has weathered a great many storms in this township, coming on the heels of the theft, and his leadership in hiring a superb staff has put us on a very sound footing. We can be confident that as we move forward, this structure remains.”

sored upcoming monthly film and conversation series that will introduce topics such as how to run for office and how to support voters rights; as well as continuing to screen free films at its 110-seat auditorium.

The library will also develop workforce development initiatives with small business association agencies, as well as partner with area companies to provide living wage job solutions to anyone who attends these programs. It will also continue to be a major stakeholder in a program co-sponsored by the Jastamaere Foundation, AHHAH and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide free books to youngsters aged one through five throughout Chester County. Currently, 7,000 children in the county are registered in the

Following giving his last administrative report, Ratliff acknowledged the supervisors he has worked with and the township staff. “The message I want to convey is one of appreciation,” he said. “Thank you to this board and the previous board that hired me for the opportunity to come here four-and-a-half years ago and for believing me when I said that I have enough energy and experience despite being under 30 years old to be able to make a difference in this township that has the challenges it has.”

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

program, and in an effort to advance the program, the Kennett Library will be hosting an event on April 17 that will invite 25 state legislators to explore ways of expanding to a statewide distribution program.

Manna said the fundraising efforts for the library have raised more than $21 million toward the $22 million needed to complete the total cost for the new facility on State Street.

In other township news, the board approved its 2024 service agreements with the Avondale Fire Company, as well as its first-quarter payment to the fire company and its EMS in the amount of $246,187.50.

New appointments

The supervisors also approved the appointment of several residents to fill board and commission vacancies. Katrina Lawrence, Don Morgan and Robert Perrotti have been appointed to the Planning Commission; Ronald Dungey is a new member of the Zoning Hearing Board and David Trexler has been named an alternate board member; the Historical Commission has appointed new members Sarah Hazelwood and Michael Lowenstein; Kecia Crowl has been appointed to another term on the Open Space Review Board; and Brianna Small has been appointed to the Parks & Recreation Committee. Vacancies still exist on the Building Appeals Board, the Community Maintenance Review Board and the Board of Auditors.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

Moore...

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using a firearm and are not considered to be drug kingpins – and became eligible for parole at her minimum release date of Jan. 4.

Located in Crawford County and south of Erie, SCI Cambridge Springs is a minimum-security correctional facility with housing for 1,018 females who are nearing their release from prison.

Moore, 50, was charged by the Hon. David F. Bortner of the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County with theft by deception, a felony in the first degree; dealing in

the budget in the coming months.

“We all know we have some work to do,” he said, explaining that there will be numerous developments that will help reduce the projected expenditures and minimize the tax increase.

The board approved adopting the preliminary budget.

Also at the meeting, Dr. Steve Dissinger, the principal of Patton Middle School, shared an experience that took place just days earlier. On Friday evening, Jan. 12, the school district opened the Unionville Elementary School gymnasium for a Patton Middle School wrestling match. This was part of the school district’s centennial celebration that is taking place throughout

unlawful proceeds, a felony in the first degree; forgery, a felony in the second degree; tampering with public records, a felony in the third degree; and access device fraud, a felony in the third degree.

A once-prominent figure in local politics and the Kennett community, Moore created her own personal parlor game of trickery with township funds that were intended to be used for employee benefits, the township’s police department, land preservation and several other township operations. From 2013 to 2019, she used the stolen money to pay for extravagant per-

the school year.

Dissinger said that a large, enthusiastic crowd filled the historic gym. He said that the scene resembled one out of the classic sports movie Hoosiers. The Patton wrestling team wasn’t favored to win the match, but the large crowd cheered the team on to a 51-28 win.

“It was a very proud moment for our Patton Middle School grapplers,” Dissinger said.

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District community was also heartened to hear that the UCF Robotics Team advanced to the Pennsylvania FTC Championship. On Saturday, Dec. 16, the Green Lemons FTC Robotics team competed in the South Central Qualifier in York, Pa. The team ranked first entering the competition. They partnered with The Giant Diencephalic BrainSTEM from Baden, Pa. in the semifinals and

sonal expenses. She traveled to Italy and France and Las Vegas, rang up substantial bills at clothing boutiques and gave money to family and friends.

Moore also had money paid directly to herself, but never recorded the disbursements in the township’s records. On other occasions, she would have the money paid to herself, but would record the payments as being made to known and normal vendors who did business with the township.

The amount of Moore’s thefts increased year by year, accumulated through unauthorized payroll payments; payments to her personal credit card; unauthorized payments to her retirement fund; personal use of the township’s credit card; and other unauthorized disbursements.

finals. The alliance won both semi-finals and finals in the best-of-three format. There were 146 FTC Robotics teams registered in Pennsylvania this season, and the Green Lemons are one of the first two teams advancing to the Pennsylvania FTC Championship that will be held in Hellertown, Pa. in March.

The school district has a STEM night planned for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The event takes place at Unionville High School, and there will be STEM activities for all ages.

The school board’s next work session takes place on Monday, Feb. 12, and the next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

Moore also continued to raise her salary as the township’s manager, increasing her annual pay from $130,000 to well over $200,000 by claiming that she worked over 3,000 hours per year. In 2017, for instance, she booked herself for working 3,612 hours—or an average of 10 hours a day for 365 consecutive days – which led to rewarding herself a salary of $295,000 for these fabricated work hours.

At one time, the township required two signatures for certain checks – one by Moore and the other by a township supervisor – but Moore side-stepped a second signature by using a stamp with the signature of one of the supervisors. When she needed checks paid to herself or her credit card accounts, she would write the check, sign it her-

self and then use the stamp signature of the supervisor.

Moore used a township credit card issued in her name to rack up unauthorized purchases that totaled nearly $700,000. She also engaged in acts of money laundering – transferring money from one township account to another – giving the appearance of normal transactions.

She would then make another transfer, secretly moving the money from a second township account to one of her own accounts.

Moore even concocted a scheme that bilked the taxpayers of an additional $50,000 a year, by pretending to be married to Brian Gore which, under township policy, extends full medical benefits to the spouse of a township employee.

She also manipulated the township’s retirement savings plan to steal money from the township. Between 2014 and 2019, Moore was entitled to $33,000 in payments for retirement savings but directed over $945,000 to her E*Trade account. In

2018, she was entitled to a payment of $5,000 from the township to this savings account, but Moore awarded herself over $353,000 in payments, a manipulation of funds that cost township taxpayers over $347,000 in lost funds during 2018. The intricate system that Moore had created began to unravel in April 2019, when the township police department received a report from the Capital One Fraud Department related to money transfers Moore had made. After an initial review, the investigation was turned over to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, who was assisted by Marcum, LLP, a forensic accounting firm hired by the township, in discovering the extent of Moore’s complex fraud schemes.

After an exhaustive eightmonth investigation, Moore was arrested on Dec. 10, 2019.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

Courtesy photo

Moore was released from the State Correctional Institute (SCI) in Cambridge Springs, Pa. on Jan. 4, after serving 27 months of incarceration.

Oxford Educational Foundation marks National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month and the Oxford Educational Foundation is taking the opportunity to highlight the importance of mentoring.

Since 1995, the Oxford Educational Foundation has been operating a mentoring program, placing hundreds of mentors in the Oxford schools. Mentors are meeting with their students with the expectation of developing an ongoing relationship that is positive and caring.

“Research shows that mentoring is linked to improved academic, social, and economic prospects for young people, and that ultimately strengthens our community,” said Dr. Raymond A, Fischer, the Oxford Educational Foundation’s executive director.

Mentors can play a pow-

erful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible decisions and to stay focused and engaged in school.

The program’s impact on individual students can be noticed in the child’s increased school attendance and academic success, decreased discipline referrals, and improvements in social skills.

Working as a mentor positively affects the lives of the mentors, as well. Mentors have reported a sense of satisfaction in recognizing that

Since 1995, the Oxford Educational

been operating a mentoring

dreds of mentors in the

they can make a difference.

Although the program is not a cure-all for the needs and challenges of today’s youth, it can provide a meaningful, positive relationship in the life of a child who otherwise may receive very little encouragement. These

children need to know there is someone to whom they can turn not only when they have a problem, but also to share a success.

As the Oxford Educational Foundation focuses on engaging more community members in volunteering,

Martin and Patel named Oxford Rotary Students of the Month

Hannah Martin and Harsh Patel were recently honored as the Oxford Rotary Students of the Month.

Hannah Martin participates in the Helping Hands Club and is a member of the National Science Honor Society, National English Honor

Society and National Spanish Honor Society. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in nursing and become a Nurse Practitioner. She currently is employed at BB’s Grocery. Her parents are Kevin and Katrina Martin. Harsh Patel is the son of Aryind and Shilpa Patel. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Science Honor Society, and the National English Honor Society. He works at Xpress Gas. When he’s not working, he hangs out with his friends, plays games and likes to read. He plans to major in busi-

ness and computer science when he attends college.

The

A mentor with students at the Oxford Educational Foundation picnic.

they share a simple message: Mentors make a difference.

If you know of anyone who could give an hour or two a week to serve as a mentor, please contact the Oxford Educational Foundation’s volunteer coordinator, Kim Lewin at coordinator@oxfordeducationalfoundation.org or Dr. Ray Fischer, executive director, at rfischer@ oxfordeducationalfoundation.org.

Courtesy photos

Foundation has

program, placing hun-

Oxford schools.

Courtesy photo

Oxford Rotary recent-

honored Hannah Martin and Harsh Patel as the Oxford Rotary Students of the Month. Pictured left to right are Martin, Oxford Rotary Club president LeeAnn Riloff and Patel.

The threat from within

Sometime last month, a middle-aged resident of southern Chester County walked into the mushroom composting plant he has worked at for the past two decades and recognized a broom propped in the corner of one of the houses.

It was the same broom he held in his hands years ago, just weeks after he migrated undocumented by dark cover of secrecy from Mexico, when he could not speak English and had no means of earning a living in his new country.

It was the broom he saw when he tried to get the owner of the company to understand that he had come to the mushroom plant in the hopes of being given a job, manifested as an opened door and one single chance. It was the broom he used to feign sweeping that helped him get the job in the company that has since awarded him several raises for his excellent work.

The man has long since redeemed the sins of illegal migration and is one of the most respected and reliable employees of the company. He is now fluent in English and a U.S. citizen -- as is his wife -- and together, they are raising two teenage daughters born in Chester County who have assimilated entirely into the culture of America and have started to bring home pamphlets from prospective colleges. Every Sunday morning in the same parish he and his family have belonged to for two decades, the man privately gives blessing to the country that gave him an opportunity to make a better life.

Within the solid framework of his construction, however, the man continues to shield his family from the verbal assault on his culture that echoes across the country he loves – an enveloping and reprehensible fog of dissent and discourse that has taken residence in the minds and actions of those who categorize him as a criminal, a drug trafficker, a scapegoat for all of America’s problems and, perhaps most horrible, a rapist. In the dialogue of his detractors, he is responsible for a single drop of the blood that is poisoning our country.

The truth is now undeniable; what was once veiled racism has been reintroduced into the American lexicon and mainstreamed into what has become the ugly tenor of a movement that calls itself a campaign.

Through the prism of hate words, the man in the church pew has chosen to remain silent. He is afraid to rise up; rather, he privately collects the vocabulary and packs it deep into his heart, where it burrows and festers, away from his wife and most especially his children. It is there, within his seething and raging gut, where it will—and must—remain.

Before signing off on every issue of the newspaper he helps to edit, the Chester County journalist reads the small print included at the top of the editorial page that includes the sacred script, “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.” Indeed, the power of the First Amendment is almost biblical in its authority; it serves as both a moral and fundamental guidepost to a journalist’s freedoms and responsibility. Over the past several years, the journalist has seen his industry ripped apart by a false categorization of the Fourth Estate, referring to journalists as the enemy of the people and tacked to a promise to seek retribution unless its content bows in humble acquiescence. The journalist’s fingers, free to fly across the keyboard in order to inform and theorize and engage in the essential utilities of a democracy, are in a fight for their very survival. He knows that the threats that attempt to censor media outlets are autocratic in design and create an environment that exists only to disseminate information that is friendly to the autocrat, silencing any news that the autocrat does not wish the public to know. He watches as the First Amendment teeters on the brink of dissolution.

The U.S. Constitution is not the only precedent vulnerable against the advancing backdrop of this most demonstrative rhetoric. Indeed, the platforms that have conspired to hold our democracy together for nearly 250 years are on the verge of complete collapse, creating a surge of indecency that levels criticism for beliefs and punishment for ideals.

The real threat, the message is saying, is not from the outside forces, which are far less sinister and dangerous and grave, but from within – from its very own people -- and its only remedy is to maximize and consolidate the powers of the federal government to a single individual at the top. It’s the mission statement for a new vision of America and it has been gathered up by a supportive base masking themselves as conservatives – joined by a clueless band of political underlings fearful of repercussion for speaking out -- who believe that America must go to extremes to solve its problems, because the system – the center –is no longer holding.

As we begin to embark on what promises to be a year of continued threats and incendiary rhetoric, our most incomprehensible reality is not that this ugliness continues to be applauded by some, but that the messenger who has uttered these words and floated these ideas is the leading candidate to become the next President of the United States.

How schools can better implement anti-bullying initiatives

Schools around the country know they have a bullying problem but are not always sure what to do about it. Many of them have tried various antibullying campaigns, but it simply isn’t enough. More needs to be done to get things under control and create a safer, more pleasant school atmosphere. To help them do it, one group is challenging schools nationwide to take their anti-bullying campaign up a notch and get more serious about it. They are ready to help them do it, too.

“There is a good chance that your school is not doing enough, and it’s time to make a change,” said Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand for the Silent. “Make this the year the climate in your school gets changed so that bullying isn’t tolerated.”

Stand for the Silent was born out of the tragedy that followed Smalley’s 11-year-old son taking his own life due to bullying. He and his wife, Laura, started the organization, turning their pain and loss into a mission of helping others. Today, he travels the country giving presentations about bullying to schools, providing bullying prevention, giving out scholarships, offering intervention strategies, and more.

Schools are an excellent place for addressing bullying because a lot of bullying occurs there. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 5 high school students report being bullied on school property. It’s an issue that schools from coast to coast have to contend with if they want to protect the best interest of their students and create a safer, more welcoming climate.

Here are some ways that schools can get more serious about anti-bullying:

• Get parents involved. Research has shown that parents have a lot to do with whether or not their child turns out to be a bully. Schools must include parents if they want to do away with bullying on their campus. Holding informational meetings for parents, providing free parenting classes, etc., can go a long way toward reducing bullying at school.

• Set the tone. If nothing is said about what the intentions are at the school, then the students will be in control of the climate. That gives bullies a free reign over the classroom and school campus. Letting everyone know the expectations and policies will help set the tone. Teachers and school staff should lead by example and dili-

gently address any issues.

• Get excited about it.

Schools can hold an antibullying kick-off event to get the information out to the students and get everyone excited. Challenge the students to help create a great environment where they will spend many hours per week. Let them know that they can influence the climate for the better. Get everyone at the school involved, including students, teachers, staff, etc.

According to the National Association of School Nurses, the school nurse’s role includes preventing bullying and identifying students who are bullied or who bully others.

• Determine effective interventions. A lot of discussion goes into what types of interventions are effective. Research published in the journal Psychology, Health & Medicine reports that there has been significant research on anti-bullying interventions, including school-based programs. They say the programs are often practical and can help reduce bullying incidents at the school. They suggest that school programs must be long-lasting and intensive to have the desired effects. Some of the components that must be involved for it to be effective include providing parent training/

parent meetings, teachers having a clear policy about it and following it, and disciplinary methods. They also recommend mobilizing bystanders to respond to the bullying rather than simply being a witness to it.

“We have worked with many schools nationwide to help them with their bullying campaigns,” said Smalley. “It is our mission to get involved and help. Our work could save lives and help create a better campus environment for all.”

Smalley and his wife, Laura, started the organization following their 11-year-old son, ending his own life due to bullying. They turned their pain and loss into a mission of helping others. He travels the country giving presentations about bullying to schools, providing bullying prevention, giving out scholarships, offering intervention strategies, and more. Those interested in getting involved can start a chapter of the group in their area, obtain a free K-2 bullying prevention curriculum or cyberbullying handbook for parents, host a presentation at their school, and donate to help support the cause. To get more information, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent.org.

The Spell of Snow Quells Your Appetite

By Marie-Louise Meyers

Christmas is a duty roster, a flash in the pan while winter is a frozen bouquet of marzipan you can count on to change your plans.

Stunning to look at, but always hovering between icy sleekness, and slush till you long to see green lush again. No matter the darkness dims, snow has a light in it freefalling from the sky

while I delegate my skis snow plows try to denigrate and violate my speed. How innocent each snowflake seems till we succumb to its numbness and dreams with a forcefield of ever rising again. How profound and deep like an immaculate spell you come under steeped in the rhetoric and promises to keep and lays over the land like a soft commandment.

Ryan Jennings appointed to TMACC board

Ryan M. Jennings, a partner in Unruh Turner Burke & Frees’ Zoning & Land Use and Municipal departments, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC). This appointment reflects Jennings’ multifaceted legal expertise and unwavering commitment to the community.

TMACC, known for advancing equitable, safe, and sustainable multimodal transportation, will benefit from Jennings’ substantial ties to the community, leadership, and dedication to sustainability and connectivity in Chester County.

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is confident that his appointment to TMACC, made official in December of 2023, will bring valuable insights and a solid commitment to the organization’s commendable mission.

In addition to his primary areas of professional focus in zoning, land use, and

municipal law, Jennings’ legal experience extends to appellate, governmental, and litigation matters.

A graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law, he holds a summa cum laude degree from the same undergraduate institution, where he double-majored in political science and journalism. As a recognized and awarded Seton Hall Servant Leader Scholar, Jennings completed his undergraduate studies, finishing in the top one-percent of his graduating class.

Jennings has received accolades for his legal acumen and dedication to excellence. He has been consistently recognized as a Main Line Today “Top Lawyer” in Municipal Law and has earned a place on the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers’ “Rising Star” list for Land Use & Zoning law.

In addition, Jennings was recently named a “VISTA Millennial Superstar,” whereby the Vista Today publication recognized him

as a professional under the age of 40 who is breaking down walls, shattering expectations, and making Chester County a better place.

Ryan M. Jennings

The Continuity of Creativity opens at the Brandywine Museum of Art on Jan. 27

The exhibition highlights the work of Karl J. Kuerner and honors the 25th anniversary of the Kuerner farm acquisition

In 2024, the Brandywine Museum of Art will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of acquiring Kuerner Farm—a N ational Historic Landmark that was a revered site of creative inspiration for artist Andrew Wyeth for over seven decades—which was generously donated to the Brandywine by the late Karl Kuerner Jr. and his family. In celebration of this anniversary, the Brandywine Museum will present Karl J. Kuerner: The Continuity of Creativity , a special exhibition that will honor the continued artistic legacy of this site. On view Jan. 27 through May 19, The Continuity of Creativity will examine how Karl J. Kuerner’s artistic commitment to the farm is reflected in his own work through 19 paintings spanning more than 40 years and created across mediums, including works in watercolor, oil and acrylic.

Featuring an early nineteenth-century farmhouse and an adjacent barn situated on 33 acres of land, Kuerner Farm was home to Karl and Anna Kuerner, who arrived as German immigrant farmers in the 1920s and were the subjects of many masterful studies by Andrew Wyeth throughout their lives. The second generation of Kuerners, led by

the philanthropic spirit of Karl Kuerner Jr., ensured the property’s future by facilitating Brandywine’s acquisition of the farm in 1999. In the years following Wyeth’s work there, the farm has remained a place of vibrant artistic activity and ongoing creativity due in large part to the work of Karl J. Kuerner, an artist and member of the third generation of Kuerners to farm the land.

Kuerner’s body of work reflects the centrality of the farm to his artistic practice. His first depictions of it proved to be a pivotal moment for the artist, who felt that Andrew Wyeth’s work there was of singular importance. When Kuerner was eighteen years old, Wyeth encouraged him to explore the farm in his own work, emphasizing the artistic potential the property held. Kuerner later attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia and was also mentored by artist Carolyn Wyeth, Andrew’s older sister, in the early 1970s. She provided valuable advice and critiques. She arranged for his very first exhibition—a joint show with her at the Chadds Ford Gallery in 1977.

Many of Kuerner’s early works, particularly those in oil, reflect Carolyn’s strong influence on his paintings.

through May 19, The Continuity of Creativity will examine how Karl J. Kuerner’s artistic commitment to the Kuerner farm is reflected in his work through 19 paintings spanning more than 40 years and created across mediums, including works in watercolor, oil and acrylic.

Featured works in The Continuity of Creativity include landscapes, still lifes, and portraits that explore many aspects of farm life. From his insider’s point of view, Kuerner reveals the farm as a site of a personal history to which he is deeply connected. This is augmented in the exhibition with an overview of the family history on the farm, including many photo-

graphs drawn from the Kuerner family archives. Kuerner offers intimate views of the property and heartfelt portraits of the people who worked the land that are both specific to his family and convey a broader sense of immigrant and farm life in the United States.

“The artistic possibilities Andrew Wyeth foresaw at the Kuerner Farm have been born out in Kuerner’s work, as he tirelessly returns to the farm as a subject, doing the difficult work of seeing the place anew with every painting,” said Amanda Burdan, the senior curator at the Brandywine and curator of the exhibition. “As this exhibition will reveal, Kuerner has carried on

the creative legacy of the Farm, not only through his own paintings, but also through the inspiration of other artists, making it a continued site of artistic intervention still to this day.”

In addition to seasonal tours of the property, the Brandywine’s ongoing interpretation of the site includes a variety of public programs offered at the farm throughout the year, including plein air painting and photography events, along with eightweek-long art classes taught by Kuerner.

“The Kuerner property holds a wonderful history and a bright future with many artistic discoveries still to be made,” said Kuerner. “The farm witnessed so much over

the course of its existence and continues to sustain those who see history and art as intertwined, much as the lives of the Kuerners and the Wyeths on this land. It is a landmark for both land conservation and art.

“I know my father would be thrilled by how the Farm still thrives as a part of the Brandywine Museum of Art and what the future holds.”

Karl J. Kuerner: The Continuity of Creativity will be on view in the Brandywine’s second floor Strawbridge Family Gallery from Jan. 27 to May 19. Accompanying the exhibition, a fully illustrated publication includes an essay by Burdan and an artist statement by Kuerner.

The Brandywine Museum of Art features an outstanding collection of American art housed in a 19th-century mill building with a dramatic steel and glass addition overlooking the banks of the Brandywine River. The museum is located on Route 1 in Chadds Ford. Current admission rates and hours of operation can be found at www.brandywine.org/hours. Guided tours of the Andrew Wyeth Studio, N.C. Wyeth House & Studio, and the Kuerner Farm—all National Historic Landmarks—are available seasonally (for an additional fee). Advance reservations are recommended. For more information, call 610-388-2700 or visit brandywine.org/museum. The museum is one of the two programs of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.

“Buttonwood Tree,” a 1979 oil-on-canvas painting that is part of Karl J. Kuerner’s personal collection.

Photos courtesy of the Brandywine Museum of Art

Karl J. Kuerner’s “Miss Wyeth” was completed in 1981. On view Jan. 27

“First Cutting,” 1992, acrylic on panel, is one of the works featured in the upcoming exhibition.

Karl J. Kuerner’s “Pennsylvania Farmer” will be part of the exhibition. This 1996 acrylic on panel work is part of the artist’s personal collection.

DAVID JOHN MATSON

David John Matson, of West Grove, passed away at his residence on Jan. 16, 2024. He was 68.

He was the husband of Lorie Sarver Matson, with whom he shared 48 years of marriage.

Born in West Chester, he was the son of the late John Matson and the late Shirley Former Matson.

David was a carpenter and worked for many different employers.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, tinkering with anything he could fix, making watches, collecting Cuckoo clocks, and being with his family and friends.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one sister, Linda Smith of Raleigh, N.C.

You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 at the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove at 200 Rose Hill Road in West Grove. His funeral service will follow starting at noon. Burial will be in Union Hill Cemetery, Route 82, Kennett Square.

In memory of David, a contribution may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1818 Market Street, Suite 2820, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

SANDRA L. STYER

Sandra L. Styer, 74, of Oxford, passed away on Jan. 14, 2024 at Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community in West Grove.

Born in West Grove, she was the daughter of the late Ervin E. “Reds” and Mary L. Marlin Styer.

Sandra attended Handi-Crafters in Thorndale for over 40 years.

She was a lifelong resident of Oxford and loved bingo, playing cards and various games. She particularly enjoyed socializing with others. Sandy enjoyed taking numerous vacations to Walt Disney World, Sea World and Las Vegas with her sister and brother-in-law.

She is survived by one sister Sharon Jones (Carl) of Oxford and her dog, Midnight.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., 86 Pine St., Oxford, where friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Willow Tree Hospice. Please make checks payable to Amedisys Foundation, 3854 American Way, Suite A, Baton Rouge, La. 70816.

CLYDE HUBLEY, JR.

Clyde Hubley, Jr., of Oxford, went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 15, 2024. He was 92. He was the husband of Shirley Hathorn Hubley, with whom he shared 67 years of marriage. Born in Columbia, Pa., he was the son of the late Clyde Gerald and Muriel Ethel Sprenkle Hubley.

Clyde was employed with Dupont for 35 years and owned and operated Hubley’s Offset Printing with his wife, Shirley. Both Shirley and Clyde were always eager to give back and support the local community, businesses, and schools.

He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Oxford, serving as a trustee.

He is survived by his wife; son, Steven Hubley (Diana); seven grandchildren, Cait, Melissa, Dan, Cody, Sam, Ryan, and Julie; three great-grandchildren, Carter, David James, and William; and two daughters-in-law, Christine and Amanda. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Lois Witmeyer and her husband, Rick.

He was preceded in death by his son, David Clyde Hubley and sister, Betty Stoutzenberger and her husband, Earl.

Funeral services were held on Jan. 20 at the First Baptist Church of Oxford.

Interment will be in Oxford Cemetery.

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In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Oxford or Ware Presbyterian Village, 7 E. Locust St., Oxford, Pa. 19363.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.

Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

PETER BARRETT

Peter Barrett, a resident of Avondale, passed away peacefully on Jan. 17, 2024 at Chester County Hospital. He was 83.

Born on Feb. 18, 1940 in New York City to Stefan Lozyniak and Antonina Waszczyszak, Peter graduated from New York University, where he majored in mathematics.

During the Vietnam war, he served as a U.S. Army medic in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. Peter met his wife of 48 years, Fran Barrett (nee Siple), at MetLife Insurance in New York, where he worked for 35 years in the IT department. In their retirement, Peter and Fran relocated to Chester County, where Fran was born and raised. After many years of city and suburban living, Peter quickly embraced the open space, winding roads, and bucolic countryside.

Peter had many interests and collected stamps, clocks and watches. He loved Sudoku puzzles and reading, particularly biographies. He avidly researched his genealogy and was a lifelong supporter of the Lemko Association, a nonprofit organization uniting descendants of the Lemko region of Central Europe. In his later years, he doted on his grandchildren, attending concerts, sporting events, and graduations, always bringing a bag full of delicious treats to share.

Peter leaves behind his beloved wife Fran, a daughter Emily Barrett (Dylan Nieman) and a son Stephen (Jessica Low), a sister Stephanie Goncharoff, many nieces and nephews, and grandchildren, Madeleine, Lukas, Clementine, and Isla.

He will be greatly missed by all.

The funeral will take place at Edward L. Collins Jr. Funeral Home at 86 Pine St. in Oxford on Jan. 25, with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11 a.m.

The burial will be in Kemblesville United Methodist Church at 1772 New London Road in Kemblesville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Doctors without Borders (www.doctorswithoutborders. org) or The Holy Ghost Orthodox Church (www.holyghostphoenixville.org).

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

THOMAS COUSINS

On Jan. 13, 2024, Thomas Cousins passed away of congestive heart failure at Holbrook Senior Living Center in Woodstock, Ga. After suffering for several years with dementia and Parkinson’s Disease, Tom passed away peacefully at 83 years old.

Born on July 3, 1940 in Queens, New York, Tom attended public school in Queens and Chaminade High School before joining the U.S. Army where he served two years as a private in Germany. Upon his return to New York, he met and married the love of his life, Gerry Rosalia on Nov. 9, 1964. He then left the military to follow in the footsteps of his father by serving in the New York Police Department as a policeman, detective, and as a member of the bomb squad. During that time, he also earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

After retiring from the New York Police Department, he and his family relocated to Virginia where he began his second career as an explosives expert for the government in the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Afterward, they moved to Maryland to work for the Department of Energy as the Deputy Director of Security and eventually settled down in Kennett Square, where they started their retirement together. Here, he was much closer to his lifelong friends in New York, made many friends in Kennett Square, and created lasting memories for himself and his many grandchildren. He also spent a lot of time researching his family history, delving into Civil War history, and visiting Longwood Gardens with his wife, Gerry. His other favorite pastime was forwarding his favorite political emails to everyone

MICHAEL DAVID FARRAR

Michael David Farrar, 42, of Cochranville, Pa., passed away on Jan. 9, 2024.

Born in Wilmington, Del., he was the son of Gary M. and the late Nelwyn Stone Farrar.

He was a fifth-grade teacher in Delaware.

Michael enjoyed bowling, fixing up cars and trading on eBay.

He is survived by his father, his wife, Karen S., and two sisters, Adrian Farrar of Elkton, Md. and Amy Farrar Finnegan of Oklahoma.

A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

he knew. In 2021, he moved to Fairfax, Va. to live in an assisted living home. More recently, he moved down to Holbrook Memory Care in Woodstock, Ga. and spent the remainder of his life there.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents Loretta and Robert Cousins, and his two brothers Reverend Bob Cousins and Frank Cousins.

Tom is survived by his four children, Bob Cousins of Memphis, Tenn., Cathy (Chris) Campbell of Fairfax Station, Va., John (Tracy) Cousins of N. Merrick, N.Y., and James (Kimberly) Cousins of Woodstock, Ga., as well as his nine grandchildren, Sean Cousins, Stephanie Campbell, Ali Cousins, Caroline Cousins, Matthew Cousins, Sarah Cousins, Aidan Campbell, Alex Cousins and Faith Cousins. He is also survived by his brother-inlaw John Rosalia and many nieces and nephews.

His funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at St. Malachi Catholic Church, 76 St. Malachi Road in Cochranville, Pa. (Doe Run). Burial will in the adjoining church cemetery. Because the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the family from having a funeral service for Gerry, family and friends will be remembering both Tom and Gerry during the mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom Cousins’ name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The family of Thomas Cousins extended their sincere gratitude to the Holbrook Senior Living Center nurses and staff for their exceptional care over the past 18 months.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.

ESTATE NOTICE

Notice is hereby given of the death of Dorothy T. Arnold late of West Whiteland Twp., Chester County, PA. The settlor of the revocable trust set forth below has died, and no personal representative has been appointed for said decedent’s estate. All persons having claims or demands against said decedent or trust are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to said decedent or trust are requested to make payment without delay to the trustee or the trust’s attorney named below: Trust: Dorothy T. Arnold Revocable Trust, Trustee: Terrance Arnold, 6 Whippoorwill Drive, Petersburg, NJ 08270. Attorney: David Thierman, Esquire, 551 New Road, Suite D, Somers Point, NJ 08244. 1p-17- 3t

ADVERTISEMENT FOR GRANT OF LETTERS

Estate of Marie H. Pugh, Late of Upper Oxford Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY, on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Lisa Butler, 1275 Dry Wells Rd., Quarryville, PA 17566, Executor, Or Attorney: Ira D. Binder, 227 Cullen Rd, Oxford, PA 19363 1p-10-3t

ADVERTISEMENT TO BID

Public notice is hereby given that the East Penn Railroad, LLC. will receive sealed bids at East Penn Railroad, LLC. 505 South Broad Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 until 2:00 p.m. prevailing time on Wednesday, the 31st day of January 2024, for the ESPN RFAP 632103 Track Rehab. All bids will be opened and read aloud at this time. A link to the virtual bid opening will be distributed to all plan holders. Work will primarily consist of procurement of materials and contracted labor for track rehabilitation consisting of (5) contracts; Contract 1 Stone Ballast Procurement, Contract 2 Spike Procurement, Contract 3 Tie Procurement, Contract 4 Track Surfacing, Contract 5 Tie Disposal. Electronic copies of Plans and Specifications can be requested at no cost via email from: Drew Bessette, P.E. Fair Dermody Consulting Engineers, Inc. drew@fdcengineers.com

No formal pre‐bid meeting will be held for this project. All steel products used or supplied in the performance of this project shall conform to Buy‐America domestic steel policies/ requirements. WBE/MBE participation is not required but is encouraged. The Railroad reserves the right to waive informalities in bids, to accept any bid, to reject any or all bids, and to adjust the scope of work to meet available funds if deemed to be in the best interest of the Railroad.

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ADVERTISEMENT FOR GRANT OF

LETTERS

Estate of Anita Joy Vonhold, Late of Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY, on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Jill Campbell, 243 Joseph Rd., Oxford, PA 19363, Executor, Or Attorney: Ira D. Binder, 227 Cullen Rd, Oxford, PA 19363

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PUBLIC NOTICE

The Elk Township Board of Supervisors will hold its 2024 monthly meetings on the first NonHoliday Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Elk Township Building, 952 Chesterville Road, Lewisville PA 19351. The meeting dates are scheduled as follows: February 5th, March 4th, April 1st, May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st, August 5th, September 9th, October 7th, November 4th, December 2nd. If you are a person with a disability and wish to attend these meetings and require auxiliary aide, service, or other accommodation to participate in this meeting, please contact Elk Township at 610255-0634 to discuss how we may best accommodate your needs.

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Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 15 th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-28

Writ of Execution No. 2022-01723

DEBT $498,993.32

ALL TIIOSE CERTAIN LOTS OR PIECES OF GROUND SITUATE IN EAST MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA:

BEING PARCEL NUMBER: 61-5-331

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential property

PLAINTIFF: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N. A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST VS DEFENDANT: MARY JANICE JEFFRIES

SALE ADDRESS: 458 Mimosa Circle, Kennett Square, PA 19348

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC 855-225-6906

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 1p-24-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 15 th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-36

Writ of Execution No. 2023-04000

DEBT $604,370.33

ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR TRACT OF GROUND, SITUATE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF PENNSBURY, COUNTY OF CHESTER AND COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED ACCORDING TO A PLAN OF PROPERTY OF “CHADDWYCK” MADE BY GEORGE E. REGESTER, JR., AND SONS, REGISTERED LAND SURVEYOR, KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA DATED 2/21/1977 AND RECORDED 5/17/1977 IN THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF DEEDS OF CHESTER COUNTY IN PLAN #1035, AS FOLLOWS, TO WIT:

BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE TITLE LINE OF BRINTONS BRIDGE ROAD. (L.R.15199), SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF INTERSECTION OF THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF CHADDWYCK LANE (50 FEET WIDE) WITH THE SAID TITLE LINE OF BRINTONS BRIDGE ROAD; THENCE LEAVING SAID BEGINNING POINT AND EXTENDING ALONG SAID TITLE LINE OF BRINTONS BRIDGE ROAD THE FOUR FOLLOWING COURSES AND DISTANCES: (1) SOUTH 35 ° 05’ 20” EAST, 434.33 FEET TO A POINT MARKED BY A P.K. NAIL; THENCE (2) SOUTH 4°43’ 40” WEST 137.45 FEET TO A POINT MARKED BY A P.K. NAIL; THENCE (3) SOUTH 57 ° 33’ 40” WEST 368.53 FEET TO A POINT MARKED

BY A P.K. NAIL; THENCE (4) SOUTH 86 ° 32’ 40” WEST 168.78 FEET TO A POINT, A CORNER OF LOT #4 ON SAID PLAN THENCE LEAVING SAID TITLE LINE OF BRINTONS BRIDGE ROAD AND EXTENDING ALONG SAID LOT #4, NORTH 3 57’ 32” EAST 688.15 FEET TO A POINT ON THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF CHADDWYCK LANE THE TWO FOLLOWING COURSES AND DISTANCES; (1) SOUTHEASTWARDLYALONG THE ARC OF A CIRCLE CURVING TO THE LEFT HAVING A RADIUS OF 450.0 FEET THE ARC DISTANCE OF 78.92 FEET TO A POINT OF TANGENT; THENCE (2) NORTH 83° 54’ 40” EAST 115.50 FEET TO A POINT IN THE SAID TITLE LINE OF BRINTONS BRIDGE ROAD, THE FIRST MENTIONED POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING. CONTAINING 5.571 ACRES OF LAND, MORE OR LESS BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS LOT# 3 ON SAID PLAN.

BEING the same premises which Robert J. Maiersperger and Renell R. Maiersperger by Deed dated November 4, 1996, 2003 and recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds of Chester County on November 21, 1996 at Book 4110, Page 212 granted and conveyed unto Renell Maiersperger.

PARCEL NO.: 64-04-0002.010

PLAINTIFF: CitiMortgage, Inc. VS DEFENDANT: Renell Maiersperger

SALE ADDRESS: 2 Chaddwyck Lane, Chadds Ford, PA 19317

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: STERN & EISENBERG, PC 215-572-8111

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 15 th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-40 Writ of Execution No. 2022-06961

DEBT $142,851.66

Property situate in the BOROUGH OF ATGLEN, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania, being BLR# 07-03-0039

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION VS DEFENDANT: WILLIAM R. SEMPLE, JR. & KIMBERLY M. SEMPLE

SALE ADDRESS: 419 Valley Avenue, Atglen, PA 19310

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC 844856-6646

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 15 th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-48

Writ of Execution No. 2022-04095 DEBT $269,303.41

ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of land designated as Lot 15 on the Plan of the lots of The Oxford Land and Improvement recorded in the Office of The Recorder of Deeds, in and for Chester County, in Deed Book X-10 Volume 245, at page 269, situate in the Borough of Oxford, County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, on the West side of Fifth Street, between South Street and Garfield Street, bounded and described as follow, to wit:

BOUNDED on the North by Lot 14 now owned by John S. Benson, on the East by the West line of Fifth Street, on the South by Lot 16 now owned by Norman M. Stewart and on the West by the East line of a 14 feet wide alley, having a front of 50.3 feet on the West line of Fifth Street and extending back to the East line of the alley aforesaid and having a width of 50 feet on said alley, the south line beginning in the West line of Fifth Street,

100.6 feet Northwardly from the intersection of the North line of Garfield Street and being 170.5 feet in length.

BEING THE SAME PREMISES which Robert M. Stewart Jr., Executor of the Estate of Robert M. Stewart Sr., deceased, by Deed dated October 31, 2016 and recorded November 17, 2016 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for the County of Chester, Pennsylvania in Book 9436, Page 1335, Document ID# 11510416 granted and conveyed unto Kevin James Bell in fee.

TAX PARCEL # 6-9-134

PLAINTIFF: Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC VS DEFENDANT: Kevin James Bell

SALE ADDRESS: 322 South 5th Street, Oxford, PA 19363

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP 610-2786800

SALE NO. 24-2-51 Writ of Execution No. 2023-02497 DEBT $271,624.67

ALL THAT CERTAIN lot of land, situate in the Township of Lower Oxford, County of Chester and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a Final Plan of Subdivision made for Charles N. & Sharon L. Griffith by Herbert E. MacCombe, Jr., P.E., dated March 20, 1989, last revised June 15, 1989, and recorded in Chester County Recorder of Deeds Office as Plan #9496 as follows, to wit; BEGINNING at a point in the bed of Hayesville Road (T-342), a corner of Lot 4 on said Plan; thence extending from the beginning point through the bed of said road North 59 degrees 37 minutes 06 seconds West

165.78 feet to a corner of Lot

2 on said Plan; thence leaving the bed of said road and extending along Lot 2 North 30 degrees 22 minutes 54 seconds East 300.00 feet to a point in line of aforementioned Lot 4; thence extending along Lot 4 South 59 degrees 37 minutes 06 seconds East 165.78 feet; thence extending along same South 30 degrees 22 minutes 54 seconds West 300.00 feet to the first mentioned point of beginning.

BEING Lot 3 on said Plan.

BEING THE SAME PREMISES AS Kathleen M. Lockhart, by Deed dated January 8, 2009, and recorded on January 21, 2009, by the Chester County Recorder of Deeds as Document No. 10896418, granted and conveyed unto Anthony Michael Moulton, an Individual.

TAX PARCEL NO. 56-4-16.3

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Trustee of Stanwich Mortgage Loan Trust I VS DEFENDANT: Anthony Michael Moulton

SALE ADDRESS: 257 Township Road, Lincoln University, PA 19352

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: HILL WALLACK LLP, 215-579-7700

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Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 15 th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-54

Writ of Execution No. 2022-09373

DEBT $150,605.90

All that certain piece or parcel or Tract of land situate in the Borough of Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania

TAX PARCEL NUMBER: 8-3203

PLAINTIFF: Citizens Bank, N.A. VS DEFENDANT: Sue Anne Smith

SALE ADDRESS: 414 Main Street, Parkesburg, PA 19365

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC 215-790-1010

at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-55 Writ of Execution No. 2023-02867 DEBT $78,735.73

All that certain piece or parcel or Tract of land situate in New Garden Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania

TAX PARCEL NUMBER: 606-14

PLAINTIFF: Longbridge Financial, LLC VS

DEFENDANT: Jane Mellinger, Known Surviving Heir of Stephen T. Little, Bruce Robinson, Known Surviving Heir of Stephen T. Little, John Michael Little, Known Surviving Heir of Stephen T. Little, and Unknown Surviving Heirs of Stephen T. Little

SALE ADDRESS: 9129 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC 215-790-1010

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 15 th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024 Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-56

Writ of Execution No. 2023-00199 DEBT $108,510.63

All that certain piece or parcel or Tract of land situate in the Borough of Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania

TAX PARCEL NUMBER: 8-384 and 8-3-85

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: Truist Bank formerly known as Branch Banking & Trust Company VS

DEFENDANT: Trisha A. Simmons a/k/a Trisha Simmons and Jason A. Simmons

SALE ADDRESS: 559 Rosemont Avenue, Parkesburg, PA 19365-1032

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC 215-790-1010

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within men-

tioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 15 th, 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-60

Writ of Execution No. 2023-04480

DEBT $140,640.04

ALL THAT CERTAIN tract or parcel of land situate in London Grove Township, Chester County, PA, described according to a plan prepared by Regester Associates, Inc., dated July 18, 1994 and last revised August 6, 1998, being Drawing Number F-447 and being Lot No. 2 on the said plan, to wit:

BEGINNING at a point in the title line of Public Road T-300 known as East Avondale Road, marking a corner of the herein described tract and a corner of lands of James & Kathryn Jennings; thence leaving the said point of beginning and along the title line of East Avondale Road the following three courses and distances to wit: (1) South 65° 56’ 16” East, 218.12 feet to a point; (2) 68° 2’ 46” East, 72.59 feet to a point; (3) South 67 ° 52’ East, 34.16 feet to a point marking a corner of Lot No. 1 on the said plan; thence along the same and leaving East Avondale Road the following two courses and distances to wit: (1) South 22 ° 13’ West, 250.31 feet to a point; (2) South 57 ° 21’ 3” West, 274.03 feet to a point in line of lands of James R. & Theresa K. Devlin; thence partly along the same, partly along lands of Thomas A., Jr. & Jennifer Albertson and partly along lands of James & Kathryn Jennings, aforementioned, North 3° 4’ East, 509.24 feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.

CONTAINING 2.224 acres of land be the same more or less.

BEING Lot No. 2 on said plan.

BEING THE SAME PREMISES which Richard E. and Carol M. Yourgalite, by Deed dated 10/1/1998 and recorded 10/1/1998 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Chester County in Deed Book 4429, Page 634, granted and conveyed unto Thomas and Terri L. Ferkler.

PARCEL NO.: 59-11-122

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential property

PLAINTIFF: Citizens Bank, N.A. F/K/A RBS Citizens, N.A. VS DEFENDANT: Thomas Ferkler a/k/a Thomas P. Ferkler & Terri L. Ferkler

SALE ADDRESS: 122 East Avondale Road, West Grove, PA 19390

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: LAW OFFICE OF GREGORY JAVARDIAN, LLC 215-942-9690

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 18th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 24-2-67 Writ of Execution No. 2023-04385

DEBT $480,694.21

ALL THAT CERTAIN , MESSAGE, LOT OR PIECE OF LAND SITUATE ON, IN THE TOWNSHIP OF KENNETT, COUNTY OF CHESTER, STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED, AS FOLLOWS, TO WIT: All that certain lot or piece of ground, situate in the Township of Kennett, County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a Final Plan of Hartefeld, Section One made by Totem Tech Richardson, dated 5/22/1987 and last recorded in Chester County as Plan No. 7440, as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point on the South side of Gregg Lane cul-de-sac, said point being a corner of Lot No. 15 as shown on said plan; thence extending from said point of beginning along Gregg Lane cul-desac on the arc of a circle curving to the left having a radius of 60 feet the arc distance of 79.26 feet to a point, a corner of Lot No. 13; thence extending along the same North 80 degrees 16 minutes 55 seconds East 87.23 feet to a point, a corner now or formerly of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp.; thence extending along the same South 31 degrees 58 minutes 40 seconds East 339.20 feet to a point in line of land of other lands now or formerly of Hartefeld, L.P.; thence extending along the same South 69 degrees 42 minutes 45 seconds West

190 feet to a point, a corner of Lot No. 15 aforesaid; thence extending along the same North 24 degrees 01 minute 38 seconds West 299.92 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning. Being Lot No. 14 as shown on said plan.

BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO EDWARD C. WUCHTER WHO ACQUIRED TITLE BY VIRTUE OF A DEED FROM SANDRA W. TERRELL AND CAREY J. TERRELL, DATED SEPTEMBER 17, 2018, RECORDED NOVEMBER 20, 2018, AT DOCUMENT ID 11640239, AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9846, PAGE 1372, OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF DEEDS, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

PARCEL NO.: 62-06-0040.150

PLAINTIFF: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. VS

DEFENDANT: Edward C. Wuchter

SALE ADDRESS: 208 Gregg Lane, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC 614-220-5611

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