Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 156, No. 11
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
$1.00
INSIDE Kennett graduates will all wear blue gowns By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Starting with Kennett High School’s Class of 2022, all of the graduates will wear blue gowns at commencement. Previously, the girls wore white, and the boys wore blue. Responding to a request by members of the High Author encourages School Gender Sexuality sportsmen to strength- Alliance at the February en friendships and board meeting, the board families...3A enthusiastically voted unanimously at Monday’s meeting to adopt the allblue garb.
Plans unveiled for 2022 Mushroom Festival...1B
At the presentation last month by Dio Gigante Dima, Jenna Oakes and Ash Wardwell during which they asked for the change, the three students cited results of surveys they administered which indicated most members of the senior class agree. In the discussion period preceding Monday’s vote, board member Michael Finnegan said he recalled the issue of graduation gown color had been brought up in a previous year, but at that time it was different. The reason given then was
that girls complained they had to buy a white dress to wear – as it turned out – only on that day. “I highly support this change,” Finnegan said. Board member Ann Parry likewise praised the proposed change. “It was a wonderful presentation that they felt they could come to us to make this decision. I am proud that we will approve this,” she said. Board member Ethan Photo by Chris Barber Cramer said it was vital At last year’s commencement, seniors process down to go forward with a new the school’s front steps with girls in white and boys Continued on page 2A
Officials celebrate the preservation of 162-acre property in Elk Township By Marcella Peyre-Ferry the state of Pennsylvania, Contributing Writer and the Brandywine Conservancy for a March Elk Township officials 9 gathering to celebrate the were joined by representa- preservation of the 162tives from Chester County, acre Martin property in the
township. Beautiful woods and open fields, as well as a vibrant wildlife habitat and headwater tributaries to the Continued on page 2A
Hotchkiss talks at Southern Chester County Chamber event...1B
INDEX Opinion.......................5A Obituaries......2B, 3B & 5B Classifieds..................4B Courtesy photo
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State Sen. Carolyn Comitta, the County Commissioners, representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Elk Township Supervisors, the Elk Township Open Space Board, Brandywine Conservancy, Elk Creek Watershed Association, and others gathered March 9 to mark the purchase of the 162-acre Martin property for permanent open space preservation.
Flooding discussed at Avondale Borough Council meeting Community and nonprofit advocates who formed the Avondale Apartments Advocacy Group reported their progress to the Avondale Borough Council on Feb. 16. The progress report was received very positively. The group, led by Carrie Freeman from United Way of Southern Chester County, Jim Mercante, and Leah Reynolds from Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), is committed to improving the human impact of the repetitive flooding at the Avondale Apartments in Avondale. Intense flooding there over a 20-year span has repeatedly necessitated the removal of families living in the bottom floor of the apartment building, sometimes by boat. Luckily there have been no fatalities during these storm emergencies to
date. “Courageous participation leads to positive results,” said Reynolds. “The Avondale Apartments Advocacy group is happy to work with this Borough Council and Mayor, along with the other organizations and compassionate citizens concerned about the repetitive, extreme flooding in Avondale. Clearly, this is a community that wants to take care of its citizens.” KACS is a lead nonprofit caring for the displaced residents during each flooding event. An apartment site visit was held on Nov. 19, 2021, and attended by concerned citizens, nonprofit leaders, the owner of the Avondale Apartments, ex-Avondale Borough Council President Bill Shore, Continued on page 4A
BHHS Fox & Roach and KACS kick off Don’t Settle for Homelessness initiative By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Several months ago, Jamie Kleman, the Engagement Strategist for Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), was heading to the nonprofit’s office on W. Cedar Street in Kennett Square when she saw a “For Sale” sign protruding from the ground in the front yard of a home. What followed next
created an invaluable collaboration with a local real estate group that is projected to raise thousands of dollars for KACS and provide a wide variety of assistance to those in need throughout Southern Chester County – and quite possibly thousands of other people around the United States. “In my head, I started to connect the dots,” Kleman said. “I started to think
how amazing it would be if every time a family was settling into a new home, that change could help a family or individual who was experiencing, or about to experience, homelessness.” The seeds of a new initiative began to take root. When Kleman arrived at work, she discussed her idea with KACS Communications and Engagement Director Sarah
Golden and Executive Director Leah Reynolds. Within a few days, Kleman met with Peter Waterkotte who, along with his wife Joelle Waterkotte, manages The Waterkotte Group, a real estate team and component of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach of Kennett Square. Within weeks, Kleman and Golden were pitching the idea on Zoom to
dozens of other agents in the BHHS Fox & Roach Kennett office. The concept was a simple one: At every closing, participating agents from the agency would have an opportunity to designate a portion of their commission to KACS, which would then be tracked, distributed, and used to support KACS programs and provide for emergency services. Continued on page 2A
Oxford Borough Council remembers Dr. Russell Doyle By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
© 2007 The Chester County Press
in blue.
Oxford Borough Council members acknowledged the recent passing of Dr. Russell Doyle at the start of their meeting on March 7. Council president Kathryn Cloyd said, “Our condolences go out to his family and friends.” Doyle was not only a well-known doctor in the community, but had also
served on Borough Council and various boards throughout the Oxford community and beyond. He practiced medicine in the community for over 30 years. He and his wife Dr. Fayle Doyle helped start the Southern Chester County Medical Center in Jennersville. Doyle also served in the U.S. Army and the Delaware Air National Guard. He was a Flight Surgeon and the
CO of the Delaware Air National Guard Medical Clinic, eventually becoming the State Air Surgeon. He served in both Operation Desert Shield and in Operation Desert Storm. He retired from the Air National Guard as a Colonel in 1992. He served in many positions in the medical community until his retirement from the family medicine practice in 1988. Funeral arrange-
ments are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Council also took time to briefly discuss the war in Ukraine. Cloyd said, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the people in Ukraine.” She also announced the dates for the new rain barrel workshops, which are Saturday, March 26 and Saturday, April 2 at 10 a.m.
Residents may sign up by emailing kcloyd@oxfordboro.org. If a resident has previously signed up for a rain barrel, an email has been sent to them inquiring about their preferred date. During public comment, Marge Laige, an Oxford Hotel resident, posed some questions to council regarding parking at the Oxford Hotel. Council will apprise the borough solicitor of the Continued on page 3A