Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 158, No. 7
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
$1.50
Kennett Township OKs final land development approval for new school By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer The long-term vision for elementary school education in southern Chester County cleared a major rung last week when the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors gave final land development approval for the construction of the new Greenwood
Elementary School at their Feb. 7 meeting. The 105,000-square-foot project is part of Kennett Consolidated School District’s plans to modernize both Greenwood and New Garden elementary schools, in support of 21st Century Learning, an educational concept that aspires to modernize learning in a way that teaches
students the skills they need to be successful in a global economy -- through critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. Designed by Breslin Associates, the new school will be constructed at the 420 Greenwood Road site of the current school and provide a capacity for 660 students and 80 staff members. The existing school
INSIDE Rev. William Barber inspires Lincoln University audience with a dynamic message of hope and resilience Sharing the inspiration...1B
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By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Nationally acclaimed civil rights leader and speaker Rev. Dr. William Barber brought audience members to their feet repeatedly during his special convocation at Lincoln University in Lower Oxford on Feb. 6. The convocation was titled “A Black History Celebration of Trailblazers”
and honored as well the university’s Freedom 14 students who walked 66 miles to Harrisburg to obtain substantial funding increases for Lincoln in November. The author and widely sought-after advocate, and founding director of of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, has for decades been called upon to
will remain intact and functional during the initial Continued on Page 3A
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The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors gave final land development approval for the construction of the new Greenwood Elementary School at their Feb. 7 meeting.
FROM OUR LENS A quarter-century of achievements At a birthday party a quarter century in the making, students, volunteers, staff, board members, elected officials, teachers and administrators from the Kennett Consolidated School District recently joined together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of After-The-Bell. The popular educational initiative first opened its doors to 80 students on Jan. 19, 1999, and sine then has provided safe and meaningful activities to 7,188 middle school students. Participating in the festivities were State Rep. Christina Sappey and Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick and hundreds of students, volunteers and other special guests.
Continued on Page 2A
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Courtesy photo
Photo by Chris Barber
Rev. William Barber addressed the Lincoln audience at the convocation in the International Cultural Center.
Financial support still needed for fire victims in Oxford By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Aaron Karpas, the executive director of Neighborhood Services Center (NSC), said that financial support is still needed for the 29 families who lost their homes in the
large fire that hit buildings on S. Third Street in Oxford last Sept. 13. “All of the victims have found homes, except one single person who is in a unique situation,” Karpas said. The NSC executive director praised the outpouring of support from numer-
ous agencies in Oxford Borough and the surrounding area. “It was really a collaborative effort,” he said. “We received so much help from the community.” As a result of that help, 29 families – over 100 people – received between $2,500 and $5,000 in direct
payments. Those same families also received between $1,600 and $2,400 in gift cards. NSC Board Chair Linda Staffieri said, “Just imagine losing everything and having to start over.” Finding rental properties in the current market proved costly and difficult
as well, the NSC officials said. “They couldn’t find rental properties at the same cost that they were paying,” Karpas explained, adding that the rent and security deposits consumed a large portion of the donations. Rents the residents are now Continued on Page 2A
‘Popcorn & Politics’ film/discussion series to kick off Feb. 28 By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
© 2007 The Chester County Press
After-The-Bell students joined with volunteer and board member Jean O’Neil (far left), Executive Director Paola Rosas (second from right), and Kennett Middle School Principal Jake Moore (far right) to celebrate the organization’s 25th year of service on Jan. 30 at the middle school.
As a new year begins to unfold on what many predict – and fear – will further drive a proverbial wedge into what has become the national divide of our nation’s politics -- a new film and discussion series opening on Feb. 28 at the Kennett Library is proving that many Democratic
and Republican leaders in Chester County are refusing to take the (click) bait. In partnership with the Kennett Library, members of the Chester County Democratic Committee and the Republican Committee of Chester County are collaborating on “Popcorn & Politics,” a nine-part series that will screen classic and contemporary films with a political focus and intro-
duce panel discussions related to voting, voters’ rights and registration and the influence of the media on the election process. “We are always trying to introduce programs that are community friendly and social in nature, and as the campaign season began to kick off, we thought, ‘How about if we sponsored a Wednesday Night at the Movies?’” said
Whitney Hoffman, the chairperson of the Kennett Area Democrats and a Continued on Page 3A Courtesy image
A Feb. 28 screening of The American President will begin “Popcorn & Politics,” a nine-part series at the Kennett Library that will combine politically influenced films with discussions related to politics and the electoral system.