Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 156, No. 14
INSIDE
Avondale Borough names new emergency management coordinator...2A
The 2022 baseball season begins...1B
Six local students win Good Citizens Awards...6B
INDEX Opinion.......................5A Obituaries......2B, 3B & 5B
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Square Roots Collective developing new demonstration park project in Kennett Borough By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer There is a 30-acre narrow strip of green space scissoring through the eastern portion of Kennett Square Borough that begins at Kennett High School and extends to Anson B. Nixon Park. Bordered by Race Street to the west and Dalmatian and Walnut streets to the east, this green space has been distinguished for its gravel trail that borders property
owned not only by several private landowners but also by Kennett Square Borough, the YMCA and the Kennett Fire Company. In 2020, a consortium of the trail’s stakeholders and owners began a conversation with Square Roots Collective that reimagined the trail as something greater, both in aesthetics, environmental cohesiveness and functionality. It seemed perfectly logical that the idea to redefine and repurpose
this community green space had its start at the Kennett Square agency: since it was founded, Square Roots Collective (SRC) has helped foster several area initiatives, all of which have been created through developing partnerships, beautifying spaces and creating sustainable communities. Further, the idea of Courtesy image improving the trail and the A stony beach will serve as a signature component surrounding green space of a plan to develop a 30-acre narrow strip of land in fits nicely within the frame- Kennett Square Borough into a park tentatively called Continued on page 3A
“Red Clay Park.”
Cameron’s Ace Hardware Township manager cleared of claims that raises money for Ukraine he violated ethics laws Independent review finds no evidence to support violation of PA Ethics Act
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
Blank Rome LLP, a Philadelphia-based law firm, submitted a 34-page report to the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors last Friday evening that concluded there were no ethics violations to support claims that township Manager Eden Ratliff’s connection to the Longwood Fire Company – and his wife’s employment there – represent a conflict of interest that may have influenced the township’s decision to consolidate its fire and ambulance service to the fire company. Blank Rome was hired by the township to perform an independent review of the facts and circumstances that were alleged against Ratliff, as well as to assess compliance with Pennsylvania’s Public Official and Employee Ethics Act in connection with the township’s consolidation of its fire and emergency management services and the township’s participation in the Kennett Fire and EMS Regional Commission.
When the war in Ukraine started, people in many countries were instantly caught up in the sheer destruction of a beautiful country and the trauma inflicted on its people. Perhaps no one was more affected locally by the war against the people of Ukraine than the staff and owners of Cameron’s Ace Hardware in Oxford. The nightly images of the faces of displaced families, especially the children, haunted everyone that worked at the store. Co-owner Angie Lobb thought back to her early childhood in England during World War II. “It was a long time ago, and I was a very young child, but I still remember the Germans flying over our town on their way to bomb London,” she said. “We all were devastated by the war in Ukraine and had to do something.” So they quickly decided on a fundraiser. In the past, the store has raffled off or auctioned off art
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Kennett Township Manager Eden Ratliff
During the investigation, attorneys Joseph Poluka and Lawrence Beaser reviewed thousands of documents, including relevant emails, letters, and meeting minutes, and conducted interviews with 18 individuals. “Our conclusion is that Ratliff did not have a conflict of interest with respect to the reorganization of fire and EMS in Kennett Township,” Blank Rome’s report stated. “This is based upon our
factual findings that there is no evidence that Ratliff used the authority of his office or employment or any confidential information received through his office or employment for the private pecuniary benefit of himself, a member of his immediate family, or a business with which he or a member of his immediate family is associated.” The report further concluded that the process to consolidate EMS began Continued on page 2A
work, so that seemed like an idea that would work. “We have a former employee, Ellis Porter, who does amazing wildlife paintings which we have successfully auctioned off to raise money for Relay For Life. He was only too happy to donate 15 paintings for this cause,” Lobb said. Other employees also donated prints, and Chris Grove from the Oxford Chamber of Commerce also donated prints. A raffle ticket was $5 but many people were only too happy to make donations. Some relatives of employees offered $100 donations. Many just gave whatever money they had on them at the time. In the end, they raised $2,000 and the store matched that with another $2,000. In one week, $4,000 was raised. “I got in touch with a gentleman in New York who was connected with UNICEF. We wanted our money to go to children who had been displaced in other countries and UNICEF would do that,” she said. Continued on page 2A
Oxford Chamber honors award winners
© 2007 The Chester County Press
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The Oxford Lions Club was honored with the Organization of the Year Award.
The Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce held the annual awards dinner dance on Saturday, April 2 at the Britain Hill Venue and Vineyard. In front of a sold-out crowd, the Oxford Chamber honored the Business of the Year, the Organization of the Year, and the Citizen of the Year. This chamber surprises the recipients with these awards. Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce president Dennis McCartney, of Landhope Farms, served as the master of ceremonies. He welcomed guests and praised them for the grit and determination needed during the past two years as all businesses worked
through the ever-changing regulations and restrictions related to the pandemic. He recalled the early days of the pandemic, when hardto-find items included hand sanitizer, masks, and plexiglass screens. After two difficult years, the awards dinner was a night to celebrate the award recipients and the Oxford community. David Trainor, who nominated the Oxford Lions Club for the Organization of the Year Award, led the presentation as he talked about the decades of service this organization has provided to the community. “The pandemic certainly did not slow this group down,” he said. Continued on page 4A