Chester County Press 04-14-2021 Edition by Ad Pro Inc.

Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas

Volume 155, No. 15

INSIDE

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

A 35-show concert outdoor series at Genesis Parking Garage kicks off on April 30

The Kennett Flash: Up on the roof

$1.00

Park Authority hopes to transform 11-acre landfill at Nixon Park By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

The Civil War comes to Chester County...1B

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Andrew Miller, managing director of The Kennett Flash, is launching a 35-show outdoor music series on the top level of the Genesis Parking Lot in Kennett Square.

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

the world, Andrew Miller, the managing director of The Kennett Flash, is both Creation of the Brinton Just like every other thrilled and apprehensive at Run Preserve...7B event venue manager and the moment, and there is live music promoter in not a soul alive in the busi-

ness of making live music happen who isn’t living with the same emotions. Miller is just two weeks away from the start of what Continued on page 2A

A subcommittee group from the Kennett Area Park Authority (KAPA) painted the early sketch of a plan last week that if realized would give a new life and definition to an 11-acre portion of Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square. The presentation, which was held at the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors’ online meeting on April 7, unveiled a broad vision that would renovate two multipurpose playing fields, develop a playground,

and cultivate passive recreation areas like meadow spaces, a garden and woodland, in what is generally being used as a landfill, to the west of North Walnut Road, and north of the Route 1 intersection. “The grand plan is to ultimately make better use of this space,” said KAPA member Eric Gaver. “We’d like to create some agricultural areas but also maintain some fields that can be used by community recreation programs, because we feel the demand still exits. We also have other Continued on page 3A

Penn Township officials discuss MS4 program requirements By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer

Avon Grove Library volunteer wins award...3B

INDEX Opinion.......................5A Obituaries..................2B Classifieds.................6B

A majority of the April 7 Penn Township Board of Supervisors meeting was devoted to a presentation covering the township’s responsibilities as related to the federal MS4 program requirements. Township solicitor Samuel McMichael began with an

overview and explanation of terms related to the MS4, which stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. The MS4 covers roads, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels and storm drains that are owned by a public body, such as the township or state. The law requires municipalities to have an MS4 plan

approved by DEP that covers pollutant reduction plans, a Total Maximum Daily Loads plan, and pollutant control measures. DEP will eventually provide the township with a report card that scores the township on its minimum standards and responsibilities. The township submitted its application to DEP for the MS4 five-year permit in 2018, and has yet to receive

approval. The areas the township is scored on include pubic education and outreach, public involvement and participation, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control, post-construction stormwater management, and pollution prevention and good housekeeping. Individuals are required

to meet stormwater control standards when they do a land development plan, yet it is up to the township to ensure that they meet those requirements and maintain their stormwater systems. If a development is controlled by a Homeowners’ Association, that body could be required to maintain stormwater features. Continued on page 3A

Sunday’s Best wins Platinum Medal at international Bloody Mary Competition The award-winning mix is the creation of Collin and Annie Dawkins, who graduated from Oxford Area High School

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By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Collin and Annie Dawkins launched Sunday’s Best in 2020, and they’ve already earned lofty accolades for their Bloody Mary mix. Their creation was recently honored with a platinum medal at the third annual international Drunken Tomato Awards. Their award-winning product was applauded by a panel of expert Bloody Mary judges at this year’s competition. Judges found Sunday’s Best

to be “bold, very flavorful and a good amount of spice.” The judges gave the mix the highest possible award in the Caesar category. Collin and Annie Dawkins are the founders of Sunday’s Best, LLC. They live in Lancaster, Pa. now, but they first met in Oxford. Collin explained that he and Annie met in 10th grade at Oxford Area High School and they have been together ever since. Collin said, “We graduated from OAHS in 2013

before attending Millersville University. I lived in Oxford my entire life. Annie moved from Alaska to Oxford in 2010.” They still visit friends and family in Oxford regularly. The mix can also be found locally at Flickerwood Wine Cellars in Oxford. The company’s website explains that the couple loved making Bloody Marys and try them anywhere they Courtesy photo go. But they could never Collin and Annie Dawkins are the founders of Sunday’s find a drink that lived up to Best LLC. They live in Lancaster, Pa. now, but they first the ones they would make met in Oxford and graduated from Oxford Area High Continued on page 4A

School.

Two fun community events in Oxford this week Carpool Cinema features ‘Happy Feet’ and ‘A League of Their Own’ By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Oxford Mainstreet Inc. (OMI) officials announced some of the events taking place this year at the April 5 borough council meeting. It’s good news for those who could use a muchneeded night out and some fun community activities. The Carpool Cinema takes place this Friday and Saturday, giving people the chance to watch movies under the stars at the Oxford Area Recreation Authority (OARA) Park at 900 W. Locust Street.

Before the pandemic, families filled the Oxford Memorial Park in the Borough during the summer for Movies in the Park. Now, OMI is carrying on the tradition, while following COVID guidelines, by doing a carpool cinema that will keep groups socially distanced. Christy Hannum, executive director of OMI, told council, “We are excited to be working with OARA on this project, and we are excited to be holding events again.” “Happy Feet” will be screened on April 16 at 7:30 p.m.. On April 17 at 7:30

p.m., watch “A League of Their Own.” Tickets are still available at the price of $25 a car. No walk-ins. Call OMI at 610-998-9494 for tickets and more information. Concessions can be purchased there from Toot Sweets and Wholly Grounds. And the really big news is that plans are underway for the beloved Car Show scheduled for Sept. 3 in Oxford. More information will be coming about the Car Show at the April 19 council meeting. Hannum also took the Continued on page 4A

Oxford Arts Alliance reopens for in-person art exhibitions The Oxford Arts Alliance is reopening for in-person art exhibitions this Friday with a three-day art sale of works by C.X. Carlson and Luigi Rist. The Oxford Arts Alliance will be lined with each artist’s one-of-a-kind and historic artwork for sale on April 16 from 4 to 8 p.m., April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and April 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The art exhibition will remain available to view until May 7. C.X. Carlson studied commercial art at Crane College in Illinois and then attended the Chicago Institute of Art. His final education came

from The New York City’s Art Student’s League. He worked in New York City for a while as a staff writer on a wartime newspaper and later worked for the state department and was involved in producing The Good Neighbor Policy, for which he did 750 paintings, many of which are his best. He and his wife settled in Lancaster, Pa. in 1947, a place that inspired him for decades. He established the Octoraro Art Association in 1948. Luigi Rist was an American printmaker whose unique contribution to printmaking Continued on page 3A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Chester County Press

Local News Kennett Flash... Continued from Page 1A

will be the venue’s most creative initiative in its long history, and quite possibly its most courageous. On April 30, The Flash will kick off a 35-concert rooftop series of shows on the top level of the Genesis Parking Garage on 101 East Linden Street in Kennett Square, with a performance by legendary jazz musician Dave Mattock and his band Funktap. Each performer in the series – which will also include recording artist Patty Larkin, the Levin Brothers and several tribute bands, always a popular draw at the venue’s indoor listening room – will be performing on a 12’ x 16’ roofed stage The Flash has purchased for the new location. “There is a perception among some people that this rooftop concert series is a clear indication that The Flash is back in business, and that it will become a big money maker for us,” Miller said. “We’re a nonprofit, and we exist to serve the needs of the community, and the reality is that we’re investing a lot of money in these shows, and if we can make that money back, that would be great. I just want these events to be self sustainable.” The idea to move the business of the popular venue from its cozy listening room off of Sycamore Alley to the top level of the garage atop the Genesis Walkway is one of creativity, achieved in the service of necessity. The arrival of the COVID19 pandemic last March took The Flash’s normally rigorous and diverse schedule and promptly leveled it, leaving the venue without its usual revenue stream and forcing Miller to pursue other ways to keep The Flash going. A live streaming concert series has been successful, as was an appeal for donations from members and the general public, and through the venue’s membership in The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Miller was able to connect with several grant programs. Federal and local assistance Over the last year, The Flash has received federal assistance from the Payroll Protection Program, grants from the Philadelphia

Courtesy photos

The Levin Brothers will return to The Flash on June 13.

The series will begin with a performance by legendary jazz musician Dave Mattock and his band Funktap on April 30.

Cultural Alliance and the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts; The Kennett Small Business Emergency Fund; the Cares Act, arranged through the Chester County Community Foundation; and a grant from the Live Music Society. Through lobbying done by NIVA, The Flash also received a grant from the Save Our Stages Act, a bipartisan initiative introduced by Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Minnesota Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar that contributed $10 billion to help small venues affected by the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. The Flash has also recently applied to the federally funded Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program, that was recently launched by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues that will be administered by Small Business Association’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Miller said that he expects to receive a reply from SVOG in the coming weeks. “NIVA was formed one year ago this week,” Miller said. “There has never been an organization that brings together all of the independent venues across the country, and there is now. That organization started lobbying last April, saying, ‘We need help.’” While these grants helped usher The Flash through 2020 and likely through the first six months of 2021, Miller knew that he still needed to find a way to reintroduce the venue’s entertainment to the public. Miller began meeting with stakeholders in the Kennett borough about the possi-

be positioned on the lower level of the parking lot and require the need to run the cables up four levels of the lot to get to the stage,” Miller said. “There is a lot happening all at once, but without the volunteers, this does not happen. The biggest thing the volunteers will do is usher concertgoers into the events and to the socially-distant seating areas that we will have created.” The Kennett Flash Rooftop Concert Series is being introduced in perfect harmony with the plodding progress of COVID-19 vaccinations, coupled with the cabin fever of restless music lovers who are desperate to experience live performances again. While the circumference of the rooftop venue will be much larger than The Flash’s indoor shows, Miller said that doesn’t mean that music fans can anticipate a shoulder-to-shoulder superspreader event that clogs the entirety of the garage’s top floor. Instead, the socially-distant pod areas drawn throughout the seating area will keep the maximum seating capacity between 100 and 125 – about the same as an indoor show. “I want The Flash to be a leader in the safe ways of offering outdoor shows during this challenging time, and I am hopeful that once we start this series, people are going to hear the music from down on the ground

Recording artist Patty Larkin will perform on May 15.

bility of producing outdoor shows in Apple Alley, but was told the idea wouldn’t work logistically. When the idea of using the top deck of the Genesis Parking Garage was pitched, Miller was immediately on board with the plan. After a revised proposal was accepted by the borough’s codes and infrastructure committees and later approved by borough council, Miller was then on to his next hurdle -- booking acts at the new venue. The logistics of a new venue The space between the cozy indoor confines of The Flash and its new location is best measured in yards, but logistically, the process of moving the business of live music from a listening room to the roof of a parking garage is a logistical tangle of equipment, wiring and technology – all of which will be completed by a part-time tech crew in the coming weeks. Architect Dennis Melton – who is also one of The Flash’s founding directors – is creating a schematic drawing for the design of the outdoor venue, which will position the stage at the southeast corner of the parking lot’s rooftop, tilting each performer away from the direct light of the setting sun. “We’re running a generator for power, which will

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Jeffrey Gaines will perform on May 8.

and want to know what’s going on up there on the roof,” Miller said. “There will be a number of people in attendance who will be going to hear a particular artist, and there will be others who will attend just for the curiosity of what it’s like to see an outdoor concert on the roof of a parking garage in Kennett Square.”

attending the concerts will be asked to provide their own seating, and seating areas will be arranged in visible and socially-distanced pods throughout the venue. No food, alcohol or coolers will be permitted, and masks will be required for entry and will need to be worn throughout the event. To see the current list of shows, and to order tickets The Kennett Flash online for the series, visit Rooftop Concert Series will www.kennettflash.org. take place on the rooftop of the Genesis Parking To contact Staff Writer Garage, beginning on April Richard L. Gaw, email 30, rain or shine. Those rgaw@chestercounty.com.

The Kennett Flash Rooftop Concert Series (through June 19) Dave Mattock and Funktap April 30 Stephen Kellogg May 6 Jeffrey Gaines May 8 Patty Larkin with special guest Katie Barbato May 15 Highway 61 Revival – Bob Dylan tribute May 22

Beatlemania Again June 5 (two shows) Arlen Roth June 11 The Bryan Tuk Complex June 12 The Levin Brothers June 13 Total Mass Retain – Yes tribute June 19

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News Nixon Park... Continued from Page 1A

plans to draw in the community around some crop and sustainability projects we would like to develop for this space.” Gaver said that before KAPA requests funding for the upgrading of the park’s two playing fields, it first wants to explore whether there is a significant demand from local recreation groups to expand their programs to these fields. He told the board that he has contacted local recreation directors at several local soccer, field hockey and lacrosse programs in Kennett Square and Unionville, and said that there was medium to high interest in expanding these programs to additional fields in the area. “All of the programs are looking at field space that strikes a better balance between cost and play surface quality,” he said. “When I look at the programs in Kennett, they have a decent number of fields, but the costs are high. In Unionville, they are much more limited in field space, but the playing surface is poor because it gets so much use.” The fields were previously used and maintained by the Southern Chester County Soccer Association (SCCSA), but the league chose not to renew its fiveyear lease that would have kept them at the park until 2025. Translated, that’s about 10 percent of KAPA’s annual revenue. While the estimated cost of renovating the entire landfill area runs about $300,000, the cost to restore the playing fields -- including regrading, reseeding, soil stabilization and the adjustment of irrigation systems -- is estimated between

$40,000 and $60,000. “At this point, we’re just thinking about how we can make this space work long term,” said KAPA member Richard Lyon. “It’s great as a soccer field, but it’s not going to be great as a soccer field forever. We’re putting as much thinking into it as we can and doing our research. We have a lot of talented people on our board and will be reaching out to anybody we think can help us. We’re hoping that this will become a community project.” Repurposing the 11-acre site is in alliance with KAPA’s primary mission. Formed as a municipal authority by Kennett Square Borough and Kennett Township in 1988, it owns and maintains the 106acre park, about 79 acres of which is located in the township. This natural setting includes two ponds, meandering streams, woodlands including a beech grove with specimens dating back over 250 years, playgrounds, a communitybased raised bed garden and three miles of walking trails. It is also the home for several public events, including the annual Kennett Run. Playing fields, natural habitat, demonstration spaces While KAPA said it is committed to repairing its playing fields for future use, the authority’s plans for the site will also include converting about one-third of the property into a natural habitat that will be attractive to birds and other local animals, and the other third into a teaching and demonstration space that will be used by conservationists and gardening groups. The land is ripe – and safe – for both. Lyon said that

SECCRA recently did soil testing, and indicated that there is a sufficient coverage of soil above the landfill area – between three and four feet. Although the soil is continuing to settle, he said that the rate of decomposition will slow down. KAPA is seeking funding to purchase equipment that could be used to regrade the soil and maintain other natural areas in the area. Lyon said that the idea to resurrect these areas in the park was inspired by the 2020 documentary “Kiss the Ground,” that sheds light on a “new, old approach” to farming called “regenerative agriculture” that has the potential to balance the climate, replenish water supplies, and provide food. Maria Dziembo, an environmental consultant with KAPA, said that before the design of the garden, meadow and woodland areas can begin, that there needs to be a time allowance to see how the area progresses naturally. “In the more immediate steps for the area that will not be used [as playing fields], it will be important to allow it to regenerate and to encourage native plant growth and crops of other considerations, as we continue to analyze the site and talk with stakeholders.” Lyon said that the planned development of the 11 acres at the northern reaches of Anson B. Nixon Park is reminiscent of how the park itself came to be. “The park was an old landfill, and was built on an old municipal infrastructure,” he said. “The ponds we all enjoy used to be the water supply. The buildings we are hoping to renovate [in the park] used to house the treatment equipment for the borough, and this property

Oxford Arts Alliance... Continued from Page 1A

lay in combining traditional Japanese woodcut methods with his own unique Yankee ingenuity. During his later life, he attained an enviable reputation, winning prizes in major print shows and having the pleasure of seeing his prints added to the permanent collections of such major American institutions as the Butler Art Institute, the Brooklyn Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. The Oxford Arts Alliance’s art exhibition in May features a solo exhibition titled, “Between Night and Day” by Francine Renée Schneider. Francine Renée has an amazing story of overcoming a severe multiple sclerosis attack that hindered her from creating artwork. After physical therapy, earning two master’s degrees in psychology and social work, and starting a private practice for psychotherapy, she returned to painting—after an almost 30-year absence. She reinvented herself at the age of 60, attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and dedicated herself to her art. Her work is held in private art collections in Paris, New York, Philadelphia, Augusta, Atlanta, and others. Her solo exhibition opens on Friday, May 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. Her exhibition aligns with the Chester County Studio Tour, which takes place on Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 16,

Courtesy photo

The Oxford Arts Alliance is reopening for in-person art exhibitions this Friday with a three-day art sale of works by C.X. Carlson and Luigi Rist.

from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery will be open for the Chester County Studio Tour and everyone is encouraged to stop in and see Francine Renée’s beautiful, scenic

paintings. “Between Night and Day” will be available to view until May 28. The Oxford Arts Alliance is located at 38 S Third St. in Oxford.

Courtesy of Kennett Area Park Authority

The Kennett Area Park Authority recently introduced its plans to renovate an 11-acre portion of Anson B. Nixon Park that would include the improvement of playing fields and creating passive recreation areas to the west of North Walnut Road and north of the Route 1 intersection.

has been used as a landfill three presentations to the to serve the community.” township. In collaboration with sevKennett Greenway design eral engineering, design and landscape architecmoves forward ture affiliates, the Kennett In other township busi- Trails Alliance has already ness, the supervisors voted completed the preliminary 3-0 in favor of moving engineering studies for the continued realization the two segments of the of the Kennett Greenway Kennett Greenway: the West forward to its final design South Street Connector and phase in order to support the Chandler Mill Road future implementation and Greenway. Components that are expected to be decided construction. The April 7 approval by in the final design phase will the board served as the lat- include determining the final est rung of activity in a dimensions of the trail; the multi-phase process that integration of asphalt and has accelerated so far this concrete in the trail design; year with several virtual finalizing all aspects of the community meetings and Greenway’s engineering;

Penn Township... Continued from Page 1A

“We are the enforcer, “ McMichael said. In regard to the MS4 plan overall “We have some catching up to do and we are well on our way. We will get a report card eventually and we can get sanctions on it. We have a lot more burden we didn’t know about. We still have some time to catch up.” The biggest challenge to the township could be controlling the water quality of stormwater coming off the roads. “There are additional new burdens we didn’t think we had with roads,” McMichael said. “They consider your road surface a storm sewer,” township engineer Dennis O’Neill said. The original township estimate was that 4,500 pounds. of sediment per year would need to be controlled, but after the requirement was clarified to include total road surfaces, that figure escalated to 41,000 pounds per year. Projects to improve the quality of water run-off and reduce sediment can help the township meet standards.

These might include stream bank restoration projects, riparian buffers, curbing, etc. McMichael was followed by Ellen Kohler, program director of water resources at the University of Maryland Finance Center. She covered multiple options to pay for improvements, new projects, and maintenance of existing storm water control systems. Permit fees, grants, bonds and loans and stormwater

the selection of plantings and furnishings along the trail; the final assessment and potential sustainability of more than 600 trees on the trail; considerations for emergency services; and determining the function of sidewalks and trail crossings. The Kennett Greenway is a 14-mile multipurpose trail loop that connects the Kennett community to the many local community assets, including restaurants, stores, activities and other local trail systems and open spaces. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com. utility fees are options as well as partnering with private landowners, watershed organizations, municipal authorities, other municipalities and PennDOT. Shane Morgan from the White Clay Watershed Association also gave a PowerPoint presentation describing the importance of successfully controlling storm water and ways that the association can help the township meet MS4 requirements.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Chester County Press

Local News • No liquids of any kind Carpool Cinema... will be accepted Continued from Page 1A

opportunity to thank grant writer Pauline Garcia-Allen for helping OMI apply for façade grants for five businesses, another good sign for borough businesses. The Shoebox Theatre project is still moving forward with plans to update the HVAC system. Another sure sign of spring is the Borough’s annual Clean-up scheduled for April 21 through April 24 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Public Works Building at 450 W. Locust St. The event is for Oxford Borough residents only and proof of residency is required. All items requiring a fee for disposal will be cash only. All items will be disposed of at the discretion of public works staff. Any item or load may be refused at any time. This event is a public service, not a requirement. Public Works staff will be on hand to direct participants and assist with unloading. Items being accepted will be scrap metal, appliances, used oil, yard waste and brush will be accepted but resident are reminded to place sticks and bagged yard waste curbside for weekly pick up. Empty paint cans will be accepted if the lid is removed and all contents are dry. The following items will be accepted with payment (cash only): • Car tires - $3 • Light truck tires - $5 • Heavy truck tires - $11.00 • Tractor tires - $1 per inch • Recyclable electronics will not be accepted

• No hazardous materials of any kind will be accepted. The Borough’s recycling trailer will be available during the event for all recyclables and is available for Borough residents always. No diapers are accepted at the recycling trailer. Arlene Harrison, borough treasurer, explained, “The Borough gets money back from recycling and the recycling trailer, which is taken to SECCRA, under am Act 109 Grant. In 2020 the Borough received $16,622.40 from residential and business recycling and trash collectors. The amount has steadily increased. “In 2019 it was $11,000 and in 2018 it was $8,928.64. Those funds are not restricted and go back into the general fund,” Harrison said. “Recycling really does pay.” Public Works Director John Schaible also reported that the Oxford Memorial Park is open. “The park has been cleaned and mowed,” he said. “We have 50 picnic tables spread out through the park. The playground is ready. We fixed a few minor issues and it is ready for children.” Schaible also reminded council that roads are continuing to deteriorate, even ones in the developments. If anyone has an issue with a state-maintained road he urged people to call 1-900-FIX-ROAD. He also said that paving by the state doesn’t include anything in the borough this year. Schaible also delivered some not-so-good news to council, saying, “Another

tractor trailer got hung up on the Broad Street Bridge. We had signs on the bridge saying ‘no trucks,’ but PennDOT made us remove them. We are currently working on caution signs saying ‘Bridge Ahead Low Ground Clearance.’ We have to allow truck signs to Niblock Alley, so the signs will be physically posted on the bridge.” Resident Richard M. Herbert offered to serve on the Planning Commission, and was later approved by a vote by council. There are still two seats available on the Planning Commission and they are still looking for a Planning Commission secretary to record the minutes. Anyone interested is encouraged to call Harrison at the borough for more information. In other business the following motions were approved: • A motion to authorized advertising of an ordinance to prohibit on-street parking on both sides of Market Street between Fifth Street and the eastern borough line. The ordinance will be on the April 19 agenda. • A motion for approval of proposed appointments to the Comprehensive Plan Task Force. The proposed members include Catherine Byers, Kathryn Cloyd, Rosa Diaz, Brian Dix, Geoffrey Henry, Mary Higgins, Jim McLeod, Kate Minnis, Robert Ketcham, and Richard Nelson. • A motion to approve the appointment of Dan Meisell to the Oxford Area Recreational Authority (term will run from 2021 to 2025). • A motion to approve

Bloody Mary... Continued from Page 1A

at home. “We launched Sunday’s in 2020 and have had so much fun growing the company over the past year,” Collin said. “We think that we have the best mix out there. Getting validation from the most competitive Bloody Mary competition in the world is just amazing.” The Drunken Tomato Awards is an international Bloody Mary competition that rewards the hard work and passion of industry manufacturers who produce superior products. By utilizing a blind taste testing environment, industry influencers from across the nation are able to provide unbiased feedback that assists consumers in discovering reliable, quality mixes. “The Drunken Tomato Awards represent a stan-

dard of achievement within the Bloody Mary community,” said Shelley Buchanan, the founder. “As indicators of exceptional quality, our medals quite simply let you know who makes the best Bloody Mary mixes in the

world.” More information about Sunday’s Best, LLC and how to purchase the Sunday’s Bloody Mary Mix can be found at www. SundaysBloodyMary. com.

pay application No. 2 to BP Patterson for the North Second Street Utility Improvements Project in the amount of $20,191.55. • A motion to accept the resignation of Lorraine Bell from the Oxford Planning Commission. • A motion to hire Karlianna Eller as a fulltime Oxford Police Officer. Eller has been employed as a part-time officer and will be moving into a vacant full-time position. • A motion to approve a letter to be sent from Oxford Regional Planning Commission to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in support of a

grant application for the Watersheds program. • A motion to approve the Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Conveyances Operation and Maintenance Agreement with Franklin South Properties, LLC (John Walsh). • The council also approved a request to for the borough to apply for a WalkWorks Planning Grant. The grant would allow the borough to create an Active Transportation, Vision Zero or Complete Streets plan to make Oxford’s Streets safe for all users. There is no matching funds requirement for the grant. In addition, Mayor Phil

Harris thanked council for the hiring of full-time officer to fill the vacancy. Harris also said a number of residents have thanked him for the good actions of their police officers. Harris told Council, “The detective position is paying off already. Our detectives made two arrests this week.” The mayor also continues to work on the Memorial Day event which will continue to be virtual this year. Council President Peggy Ann Russell thanked everyone for the work they do behind the scenes, and for being so prepared when they come to the council meeting.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

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Five seedlings for our future

Electricity from renewable sources is the future of energy

For nearly the past decade, Chester County resident and musician Shane Palko has been a citizen of the world. On the back of a dozen studio recordings and the support of his bandmates and legion of followers, Palko has brought his unique sound and compelling lyrics to stages and shows in 26 countries around the world across six continents. His voice is both rich and soul-searching, and his music has been described as psychedelic and meditative, a stunning balance of delicate guitar work and a powerful narrative, and with each passing country in his chosen life as a troubadour, Palko absorbs himself into its culture and its landscape. His life is more than stages and hotel rooms and the punishing demands of traveling. Rather, his purpose has been carved into the global neighborhood of the people he plays to, in the world of shared beliefs and kindred souls, where there is little delineation between borders and barriers, and where everything is shared. Four years ago, Palko acquired a two-and-a-halfacre farm on the outskirts of Landenberg, but until COVID-19 arrived last Spring, the property remained in the back of Palko’s head mostly in the form of a dream place -- a refuge to escape to from the endless and cyclical schedule of touring and recording. For a little more than a year, the worldwide pandemic has shuttered the performance spaces of Palko’s touring life and managed to keep him on his farm, but instead of wallowing in the paralyzing reality of inactivity, Palko began to reimagine his small farm as a future forest of planted trees. In celebration of that purpose, Palko, along with recording artists Em McKeever and Sug Daniels, performed a 90-minute concert on April 6 that was live-streamed from his farm. As part of the show, Palko introduced his Free Trees Project -- in partnership with McKeever and Daniels -- that will be giving away 365 free native shrub and tree seedlings to 75 area residents who have signed up for the program, on April 16, 17 and 18. Made available by Palko, the Department of Natural Resources and a conservationist friend in Pennsylvania, each participant will receive five shrubs and seedlings, and among them will include loblolly pines, shortleaf pines, sawtooth oak, river birch, redbud, silky dogwood, northern bayberry, indigo bush, gray dogwood and buttonbush “I have been an international touring musician for the past ten years, so I wanted to do something to make the natural world better after making a large carbon footprint over that time,” Palko said. “Planting shrubs and seedlings provides a beautiful opportunity for people to connect to their landscape, and to imagine what native species could be on their property. “It just feels right to plant something in your own space, knowing that it is right for the ecosystem.” During this time of great uncertainty, when we find ourselves marooned on islands of isolation with only the faintest glimpse of hope on the far horizon, the shrubs and seedlings that Palko is giving are gifts for our soil, our environment and future – so that forests of many definitions will begin to burst from the ground. To learn more about Shane Palko and his Tree Project, visit www.shanepalko.com/freetrees.

Letter to the Editor: We have been told time and time again throughout the pandemic that we must stay home and social distance to protect ourselves from getting sick with COVID-19. Our homes have been a respite from the outside world during the pandemic. Unfortunately, our

homes could actually be making us sick. When we burn fossil fuels to power our homes, we expose ourselves to toxic air pollution that is harmful to our health. Even something simple, like using a gas stove for cooking, exposes you to levels of air pollution that would be deemed illegal under national standards.

This exposure can lead to respiratory illness, heart disease, and even cancer. Fortunately, electric appliances and other electric technologies to power our homes are becoming more affordable and accessible every day. Electricity from renewable sources is the future of energy and we must make the transition to electrifying our buildings

as soon as possible to mitigate the negative health effects of fossil fuels. I encourage our state leaders to advance policies that will make electrification more accessible to consumers. Jen Sybrandt Public Health Campaigns Associate PennPIRG

Chester County to hold virtual open space summit Celebration of county’s open space preservation achievements scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on April 29 Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline, along with leaders of Chester County’s Planning Commission and Parks and Preservation, are hosting the annual Open Space Summit on Thursday, April 29. The Summit includes a report on Chester County’s 2020 open space preservation achievements and ongoing commitment to the program, and will take place via Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Moskowitz, the Chester County Commissioners’ chair, said, “Throughout this pandemic, Chester County’s protected open spaces have been a haven for thousands of people to safely visit and enjoy, and have helped to not only improve our physical health, but provide a remedy for our emotional and mental well-being, too.

“Anyone who wants to find out more about the true value of preserving open space in Chester County, and how their own local community can contribute, should ‘attend’ the summit.” Each year, the Chester County Planning Commission inventories and maps all protected open space in the county through its Protected Open Space Tracking (POST) system. Last year, it was reported that a total of 142,000 acres of open space, or 29.3 percent of the county, was protected over the course of 2019. This year, the findings indicate that the addition of 2,100 acres protected in 2020 brings Chester County to 144,000 acres of open space, or 29.7 percent of the county’s land. “We are inching closer to Chester County’s current goal of 32 percent protected open space,

which is amazing,” said Maxwell. “The benefits of our 32-year commitment to preserving our fields, forests and farms have increased the quality of life for all of us, environmentally and economically – way beyond what was imagined back in 1989, when the program began.” The 2021 Open Space Summit will provide an overview of preserved land data, followed by presentations about what Chester County’s towns and townships can do to protect open space within their own communities. Topics will include information on open space tools (implementing zoning ordinances and other programs) as well as outreach. A question and answer session, along with breakout group discussions about Municipal Open Space Funds, Agricultural Preservation, and

Conservation Tools, will conclude the summit. Kichline said, “A key part of the success of Chester County’s open space program is partnership, especially with our many conservancies and our municipalities. As we look to expand the network of protected open space, we will focus on connecting larger expanses of preserved lands, and ensuring that protected open space and working lands are appropriately managed. “These actions will help us to meet environmental goals, and contribute to the continued health and wellbeing of everyone who chooses Chester County as their home.” To learn more about Open Space initiatives in Chester County, visit https://chescoplann i n g . o rg / O p e n S p a c e / OpenSpace.cfm.

Chester County’s Envirothon student competition returns - virtually

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Students throughout Chester County love to compete in the Envirothon every year. This year’s event will be virtual, and organizers hope that next year, the Chester County Envirothon will return to in-person competition at Hibernia Park.

The Chester County Envirothon, a schoolsbased tradition that challenges students’ knowledge of the natural environment, continues this year, virtually. The 2021 Chester County Envirothon, scheduled for Wednesday, April 14, will feature high school seniors on 11 teams from eight schools across the county. All teams in the competition will explore the important facets of current environmental issues, with this year’s theme

focusing on finding solutions to water resource management. Gaye Lynn Criswell, Envirothon coordinator at the Chester County Conservation District, the county agency that oversees the Envirothon, said, “This year, we had to limit the competition to just high school seniors, and we are very pleased to welcome 11 teams from eight schools. “Despite the pandemicled challenges faced by schools this year, the students and teachers still

wanted to compete, and have studied all year to represent their school. Following this year’s theme, the students are being charged to find realworld solutions to ground water issues that are currently experienced by communities throughout the state.” The Chester County Envirothon, which has been in place for nearly 35 years, is a component of the Pennsylvania Envirothon Program. The competition is a cumulative process

that addresses awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and application of environmental issues. Results of the Chester County Envirothon will be received after competition day, and the winning team will advance to the State Envirothon in May, also being held virtually this year. Organizers hope to return to an in-person event next year at Hibernia Park, for school teams that range from third grade to 12th grade.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

• PUBLIC NOTICE • PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA

This notice contains information about questions that will be on the ballot in the Municipal Primary to be held on May 18, 2021.

manner in which each type of disaster enumerated under this subsection shall be managed.

The ballot questions propose three separate amendments to the Constitution of Pennsylvania, based on a joint resolution of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.

(c) A disaster emergency declaration under subsection (a) shall be LQ H;HFW IRU QR PRUH WKDQ WZHQW\ RQH GD\V XQOHVV RWKHUZLVH extended in whole or part by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly.

If one or more of the ballot questions is approved by a majority of the people voting on it, each amendment approved will become law. 7KH *HQHUDO $VVHPEO\ RI 3HQQV\OYDQLD ÀUVW SURSRVHG WKH amendments during the 2020 session and approved them for a second time during the 2021 session of the legislature, as required by Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution. This public notice is part of the process of amending the Constitution of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is required to publish: • • •

A copy of the joint resolution proposing the amendments. The text of each question that will be on the ballot. $ ´3ODLQ (QJOLVK 6WDWHPHQWµ SUHSDUHG E\ WKH 2΀FH RI Attorney General explaining the purpose, limitations and HͿHFWV RI HDFK EDOORW TXHVWLRQ XSRQ WKH SHRSOH RI WKLV Commonwealth.

Text that appears in bold print are the changes to the words of the Constitution that are proposed by the General Assembly. If the amendment is approved, the words underlined would be added to the Constitution and the words in [brackets] would be deleted. If you need help reading this advertisement or need the text of the proposed amendment in an alternative format, call or write the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Election Services and 1RWDULHV 5RRP 1RUWK 2΀FH %XLOGLQJ +DUULVEXUJ 3$ RSWLRQ ra-elections@pa.gov. 9HURQLFD 'HJUDͿHQUHLG Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth

JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2021 – 1 Proposing separate and distinct amendments to the Constitution of Pennsylvania, in declaration of rights, providing for prohibition against denial or abridgment of equality of rights because of race and ethnicity; in legislation, further providing for action on concurrent orders and resolutions; and, in the executive, providing for disaster emergency declaration and management. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby resolves as follows: Section 1. The following separate and distinct amendments to the Constitution of Pennsylvania are proposed in accordance with Article XI:

(d) Upon the expiration of a disaster emergency declaration under subsection (a), the Governor may not issue a new disaster emergency declaration based upon the same or substantially similar facts and circumstances without the passage of a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly expressly approving the new disaster emergency declaration. 6HFWLRQ D 8SRQ WKH ÀUVW SDVVDJH E\ WKH *HQHUDO $VVHPEO\ RI these proposed constitutional amendments, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers DUH SXEOLVKHG LQ VX΀FLHQW WLPH DIWHU SDVVDJH RI WKHVH SURSRVHG constitutional amendments. E 8SRQ WKH VHFRQG SDVVDJH E\ WKH *HQHUDO $VVHPEO\ RI these proposed constitutional amendments, the secretary of the commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers DUH SXEOLVKHG LQ VX΀FLHQW WLPH DIWHU SDVVDJH RI WKHVH SURSRVHG constitutional amendments. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall: 6XEPLW WKH SURSRVHG FRQVWLWXWLRQDO DPHQGPHQW XQGHU VHFWLRQ RI WKLV UHVROXWLRQ WR WKH TXDOLÀHG HOHFWRUV RI WKLV &RPPRQZHDOWK DV D VHSDUDWH EDOORW TXHVWLRQ DW WKH ÀUVW SULPDU\ JHQHUDO RU PXQLFLSDO election which meets the requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is passed by the General Assembly. 6XEPLW WKH SURSRVHG FRQVWLWXWLRQDO DPHQGPHQW XQGHU VHFWLRQ RI WKLV UHVROXWLRQ WR WKH TXDOLÀHG HOHFWRUV RI WKLV &RPPRQZHDOWK DV D VHSDUDWH EDOORW TXHVWLRQ DW WKH ÀUVW SULPDU\ general or municipal election which meets the requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is passed by the General Assembly. 6XEPLW WKH SURSRVHG FRQVWLWXWLRQDO DPHQGPHQW XQGHU VHFWLRQ RI WKLV UHVROXWLRQ WR WKH TXDOLÀHG HOHFWRUV RI WKLV &RPPRQZHDOWK DV D VHSDUDWH EDOORW TXHVWLRQ DW WKH ÀUVW SULPDU\ JHQHUDO RU PXQLFLSDO election which meets the requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is passed by the General Assembly.

7KDW $UWLFOH , RI WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI 3HQQV\OYDQLD EH DPHQGHG E\ adding a section to read: § 29. Prohibition against denial or abridgment of equality of rights because of race and ethnicity. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because of the race or ethnicity of the individual.

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – ARTICLE III, SECTION 9 RELATING TO TERMINATION OR EXTENSION OF DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS Ballot Question

7KDW VHFWLRQ RI $UWLFOH ,,, EH DPHQGHG WR UHDG $FWLRQ RQ FRQFXUUHQW RUGHUV DQG UHVROXWLRQV Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both +RXVHV PD\ EH QHFHVVDU\ H[FHSW RQ WKH [question of adjournment] questions of adjournment or termination or extension of a disaster emergency declaration as declared by an executive order or proclamation, or portion of a disaster emergency declaration as declared by an executive order or proclamation, shall be presented WR WKH *RYHUQRU DQG EHIRUH LW VKDOO WDNH HͿHFW EH DSSURYHG E\ KLP RU EHLQJ GLVDSSURYHG VKDOO EH UHSDVVHG E\ WZR WKLUGV RI ERWK +RXVHV according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill. 7KDW $UWLFOH ,9 EH DPHQGHG E\ DGGLQJ D VHFWLRQ WR UHDG § 20. Disaster emergency declaration and management. (a) A disaster emergency declaration may be declared by executive RUGHU RU SURFODPDWLRQ RI WKH *RYHUQRU XSRQ ÀQGLQJ WKDW D disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of a disaster is imminent that threatens the health, safety or welfare of this Commonwealth. (b) Each disaster emergency declaration issued by the Governor under subsection (a) shall indicate the nature, each area threatened and the conditions of the disaster, including whether the disaster is a natural disaster, military emergency, public health emergency, WHFKQRORJLFDO GLVDVWHU RU RWKHU JHQHUDO HPHUJHQF\ DV GHÀQHG E\ statute. The General Assembly shall, by statute, provide for the

Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law and increase the power of the General Assembly to unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration—and the powers of Commonwealth agencies to address the disaster regardless of its severity pursuant to that declaration—through passing a concurrent resolution by simple majority, thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval? 3ODLQ (QJOLVK 6WDWHPHQW RI WKH 2΀FH RI $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO Joint Resolution No. 2021-1 proposes to amend Article III, Section RI WKH 3HQQV\OYDQLD &RQVWLWXWLRQ WR SURYLGH D QHZ H[FHSWLRQ WR traditional legislative procedure by allowing the General Assembly to terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration or a portion of such declaration without needing the Governor’s approval. &XUUHQWO\ $UWLFOH ,,, 6HFWLRQ HVWDEOLVKHV D JHQHUDO UXOH WKDW DOO RUGHUV UHVROXWLRQV RU YRWHV UHTXLULQJ DSSURYDO E\ ERWK WKH +RXVH RI Representatives and Senate must be presented to the Governor for his approval or veto. Resolutions for the adjournment of the General Assembly are exempted from this process. If the order, resolution or vote is approved by the Governor, it becomes law. If the Governor vetoes the resolution, it does not become law unless two-thirds RI WKH +RXVH DQG 6HQDWH YRWH WR RYHUULGH WKH YHWR 7KH SURSRVHG

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

• PUBLIC NOTICE •

amendment would create an additional exception to this customary legislative procedure for concurrent resolutions to terminate or extend, in whole or in part, a disaster emergency declaration issued by the Governor. 7KH SURSRVHG DPHQGPHQW ZLOO DOVR KDYH WKH HͿHFW RI UHYHUVLQJ D recent ruling of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court which held the Pennsylvania Constitution prohibited the General Assembly from SDVVLQJ D FRQFXUUHQW UHVROXWLRQ WR WHUPLQDWH WKH *RYHUQRU·V &RYLG disaster emergency declaration without presenting it to the Governor for his approval. It will change the law to allow the General Assembly to terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration through a concurrent resolution approved by only a majority of the PHPEHUV RI WKH +RXVH DQG 6HQDWH ZLWKRXW KDYLQJ WR SUHVHQW WKH resolution to the Governor for his approval or veto. The proposed amendment is limited in that it only changes the traditional legislative process for terminating or extending disaster emergency declarations issued by the Governor. The amendment will not alter the current legislative procedure with respect to which orders, resolutions or votes of the General Assembly must be presented to the Governor for his approval on any other subject matter.

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – ARTICLE IV DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND MANAGEMENT Ballot Question Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law so that: a disaster emergency declaration will expire automatically after 21 days, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the General Assembly takes action to extend the disaster emergency; the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management? 3ODLQ (QJOLVK 6WDWHPHQW RI WKH 2΀FH RI $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO Joint Resolution No. 2021-1 proposes adding a new section to Article IV of the Pennsylvania Constitution. This amendment incorporates disaster emergency declaration and management powers directly into the Constitution by: • • •

•

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – ARTICLE I 352+,%,7,21 $*$,167 '(1,$/ 25 $%5,'*(0(17 2) (48$/,7< 2) 5,*+76 %(&$86( 2) 5$&( 25 (7+1,&,7< Ballot Question Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended by adding a new section providing that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of an individual’s race or ethnicity? 3ODLQ (QJOLVK 6WDWHPHQW RI WKH 2΀FH RI $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO Joint Resolution No. 2021-1, if approved by the electorate, will add a new section to Article I of the Pennsylvania Constitution. This amendment creates a constitutional prohibition against restricting or denying an individual’s equal rights under Pennsylvania law because of race or ethnicity. Generally, inclusion of this amendment within the Pennsylvania &RQVWLWXWLRQ VLJQLÀHV WKDW IUHHGRP IURP GLVFULPLQDWLRQ EDVHG RQ UDFH or ethnicity is an essential principle of liberty and free government. This amendment applies to all Pennsylvania state, county and local governmental entities, and guarantees equality of rights under the law. The amendment, if enacted, will become a part of the Pennsylvania Constitution. As such, its provisions must be applied consistent with the other provisions of the Constitution. This equal right to be free from racial or ethnic discrimination will H[LVW LQGHSHQGHQW IURP DQ\ VXFK ULJKWV XQGHU WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV Constitution or corresponding federal law. If the current federal protections proscribing racial or ethnic discrimination are abolished, the prohibition against such discrimination will remain in the Pennsylvania Constitution. The amendment is limited in that it creates a right only under Pennsylvania law. Once added to the Pennsylvania Constitution, the right to be free from racial or ethnic discrimination under the law cannot be HOLPLQDWHG H[FHSW E\ D MXGLFLDO GHFLVLRQ ÀQGLQJ WKH DPHQGPHQW unconstitutional or the approval of a subsequent constitutional amendment. If approved, the General Assembly may pass new laws to implement the amendment, but it may not pass a law inconsistent with it.

Granting the Governor authority to declare a disaster emergency declaration by proclamation or executive order; Requiring each declaration to indicate the nature, location and type of disaster; Granting the General Assembly authority to pass laws providing for the manner in which each disaster shall be managed; Limiting the duration of a Governor’s declaration to 21 days, unless otherwise extended, in whole or in part, by a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly; Preventing the Governor, upon the expiration of a declaration, from issuing a new declaration based upon the same or substantially similar facts, unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution expressly approving a new declaration.

Currently, disaster emergency declaration and management powers are delegated by statute to the Governor. The Governor has the sole authority to issue and manage all disaster emergency GHFODUDWLRQV ZKLFK FDQQRW H[WHQG EH\RQG GD\V XQOHVV UHQHZHG by the Governor. The General Assembly may override a Governor’s disaster emergency declaration by concurrent resolution that must be presented to the Governor for his approval or veto. If approved, the amendment would transfer certain of the Governor’s existing authority to respond to and manage disaster emergencies to the General Assembly. The Governor would retain the authority to issue an initial disaster emergency declaration but WKH GHFODUDWLRQ·V SHUPLVVLEOH OHQJWK ZRXOG EH UHGXFHG IURP WR days. The sole authority to extend a declaration would lie with the General Assembly; presently, this power rests with the Governor. 8SRQ H[SLUDWLRQ RI WKH LQLWLDO GHFODUDWLRQ WKH DPHQGPHQW SURKLELWV the Governor from issuing a new declaration based upon the same or substantially similar facts without the approval of the General Assembly. The Governor would no longer have unilateral authority to manage disasters, but would have to do so consistent with the laws passed by the General Assembly. If approved, the General Assembly would be required to pass new laws establishing the manner in which each type of disaster shall be managed. If added to the Pennsylvania Constitution, the SURSRVHG DPHQGPHQW FDQQRW EH PRGLÀHG RU UHSHDOHG H[FHSW E\ D MXGLFLDO GHFLVLRQ ÀQGLQJ DOO RU SDUW RI WKH SURSRVHG DPHQGPHQW unconstitutional or by the approval of a subsequent constitutional amendment.

PAID FOR WITH PENNSYLVANIA TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THIS ADVERTISEMENT IS FUNDED IN WHOLE BY THE GENERAL FUND.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

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Chester County Press

In the Spotlight

Section

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

LI V IN G H IS TORY

by Gene Pisasale

The Civil War comes to Chester County By Gene Pisasale One hundred sixty years ago, at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, America changed forever. South Carolina militia Lieutenant Henry S. Farley fired a 10-inch mortar round toward Charleston Harbor. The shell missed its intended target, exploding in the sky over Federal Fort Sumter, but it was a signal to secessionist militia around the area to begin a general bombardment. The cannonade lasted 34 hours, terrorizing the soldiers and citizens nearby. There were no

Charles F. Taylor, Colonel in the Union Army.

casualties from the shelling but, ironically, during an allowed 100-gun salute in the surrender ceremonies, an explosion killed two U.S. Army soldiers. The Civil War had begun, a four-year long conflict which destroyed billions of dollars of property and wreaked havoc on several states. The maelstrom claimed over 600,000 lives or two percent of the population, equivalent to more than six million people dying today. The war nearly ripped the country apart: brother fighting brother, fathers fighting against sons. Highlighting the many curiosities of the national struggle, Joshua Chamberlain’s character in the film Gettysburg says: “We are an Army out to set other men free…” Chester County, Pennsylvania was wellrepresented in the conflict. According to the Chester County History Center, men served in approximately 208 Pennsylvania regiments, ten colored regiments for black troops and

The gravesite of Charley King, the youngest Union soldier killed in the Civil War.

The bombardment of Fort Sumter by Currier and Ives.

26 state regiments. Among those individuals, 52 served in the Union Navy and 42 were surgeons; and five were graduates of the Military Academy at West Point. Two men served as Army paymasters; and seven were engineers. The 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, also known as the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was part of the famed Pennsylvania Reserve Division in the Army of the Potomac for much of the war. It saw action in several important battles, including Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. One man who served was Charles F. Taylor. Taylor was born in Kennett Square on Feb. 6, 1840, a sibling of celebrated author Bayard Taylor. After President Abraham Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion, Taylor pleaded with others in Kennett Square to join him and fight. His brothers-in-arms unanimously chose him as their captain. Taylor’s company was later incorporated into a group popularly known as the “Bucktails.” It became part of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, also known as the 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, the 1st Pennsylvania Rifles. Taylor and his men were there on that fateful day at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, when Robert E. Lee and his Confederate Army clashed with Union troops. Before the battle, Taylor had been elevated in rank; he was the youngest Colonel in the Army of the Potomac. He was killed leading his troops as they defended Little Round Top. Union General Meade had pronounced him one of the most promising young officers in the Army. A granite monolith on the side of Little Round Top marks the spot where he fell. His gravestone is next

Courtesy photos

A Charles F. Taylor monument.

to his brother Bayard at the Longwood Cemetery in Kennett Square. There were approximately 200,000 black troops who fought for the Union, despite the fact that they were often frowned upon and mistreated. Camp William Penn in nearby Cheltenham was the largest camp to train black soldiers. Designated the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT), there were several from Chester County who volunteered. In her book Hinsonville’s Heroes: Black Civil War Soldiers of Chester County, Pennsylvania, author Cheryl Renee Gooch delves into the fascinating story of 18 black men who served in this great conflict. Hinsonville was a small community in southwestern Chester County, now the location of Lincoln University. Several of the USCT are buried at the Hosanna AME Cemetery there. Brothers Wesley, William and George Jay

A U. S. Colored Troops recruiting poster.

fought at the bloody Battle of Fort Wagner, depicted vividly in the film “Glory.” Isaac Hollingsworth and Abraham Stout were among the black regiments who cornered Lee’s troops late in the war, leading to his surrender at Appomattox. John Beck and Frank McNally of the Kennett Square Civil War Club note that USCT James Anderson, now buried at Mt. Olive Cemetery near West Grove, also fought at Fort Wagner. George Duffy was in the only black regi-

Civil War Union ammunition bag, courtesy of Sanderson Museum.

GAR marker at the Unionville Cemetery.

A Civil War letter from a soldier who took down the flag at Fort Sumter, courtesy of the Sanderson Museum.

ment in Lincoln’s funeral procession in 1865. Reminders of the bravery of these men surround us in Chester County. At the Unionville Cemetery, there are many Grand Army of the Republic markers, their brass five-cornered plaques gleaming in the sun. One memorial in West Chester remembers a child of war: “Dedicated to the memory of Drummer Boy Charles Edwin King (1848-1862) the youngest soldier killed in battle in the Civil War… He attained the rank of Drum-Major before he died on September 20, 1862… at the Battle of Antietam.” King enlisted at the tender age of 12 in Company F, 49th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Historians believe King was actually buried in a mass grave with other soldiers at Antietam. This marker was placed to honor him near his parents’ graves at Green Mount Cemetery. His stone tells the story of how he, along with so many others, gave their last full measure defending the freedoms we enjoy today. Gene Pisasale is an historian/author based in Kennett Square. He’s written ten books and conducts an historical lecture series around the Philadelphia area. His latest book is “Forgotten Founding Fathers: Pennsylvania and Delaware in the American Revolution.” His books are available on www. Amazon.com and his website at www.GenePisasale. com. He can be reached at Gene@GenePisasale.com.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Chester County Press

Obituaries ANDREW LAWRENCE MERTZ Andrew Lawrence Mertz died at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania on March 18. He was 31. Andrew was the only beloved son of Ken and Mary Ann Mertz. He was born in Louisville, KY on Jan. 10, 1990. Everyone who met Andrew and saw his face and met that big personality that he shared with everyone, or saw him act, or sing, or direct a production, or who had the pleasure of eating some of his famous guacamole, or heard him laugh, or saw him stand up for himself and others, were blessed by him. In his free time, he always enjoyed his pets, and he also loved camping and experiencing the joy of being together with others in the great outdoors. In his senior year at Trinity High School in Louisville, KY, Andrew had the lead in “Guys and Dolls.” He took every acting, dancing, and singing class available in college before deciding that directing was his thing. When he directed, he chose plays that were challenging and had a theme that would “change the world.” In Louisville, he loved the theatre community and the friends that he had there. A comprehensive obituary about Andrew’s life is posted on the website of Edward Collins Funeral Home in Oxford. A service celebrating Andrew’s life will take place when it is once again safe for family and his countless friends to gather. Instead of sending flowers, please honor Andrew by working for justice and contributing to those organizations that do this work, including his mother’s parish, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Oxford. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

MARY FENSTERMACHER ZELL Mary Fenstermacher Zell passed away on April 3 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford. She was 88. She was the wife of the late Clifford H. Zell, Jr. Born in Unionville, she was the daughter of the late William and Esther Hall Fenstermacher. She was a member of Unionville Presbyterian Church. Mary retired from the Oxford Area School District as a cafeteria employee. She enjoyed puzzles, playing solitaire, watching ice skating, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Philadelphia Phillies and especially spending time with her family. She is survived by her two sons, David Zell of Quarryville and Steven A. Zell (Yvonne) of Rising Sun, Md.; one daughter, Candace Z. Blanco of Fayetteville, N.C.; nine grandchildren; twelve greatgrandchildren; two brothers, Amos Fenstermacher and William Fenstermacher both of Unionville; and two sisters, Barbara Massey of Damascus, Md. and Joyce Parrett of Kennett Square. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Erika Perry. A graveside service was held on April 8 at the Oxford Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

MARTY GRIFFITH, JR. Marty Griffith, Jr., a resident of Cochranville, passed away on April 2 at the Reading Hospital. He was 52. He was the partner of Debra Barker-Lyall. Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Marvin G. Griffith, Sr. and the late Linda Kelly Griffith. Marty worked in the construction industry and was self-employed. He enjoyed music, fishing, and being with his family and friends. He is survived by one sister, Kimberly Osborne of Coatesville; six grandchildren; his partner, Debra BarkerLyall and her children, Jody Lyall, Sonya DiProspero and Frank DiProspero, Jr.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one son, Benjamin Cloud, and one sister, Lisa Coy. His funeral service was held on April 13. Burial will be in Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

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1 Peter 5:7 The Chester County Press features a dedicated church/religious page that can help you advertise your house of worship and/or business. The page is updated weekly with new scripture. Only $10 Weekly for this space. We are offering a special discount of 25% off each and every help wanted/ classified advertisement to any business that advertises on the PRESS church page.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News Avon Grove teen earns Presidential honor As an avid reader, Sindhuja Kanamarlapudi has been checking out stacks of books from the Avon Grove Library ever since she received her own library card. Sindhuja was registered as an Avon Grove Library teen volunteer and had attended a couple of virtual events early in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the library to close its doors and cease all inperson programming. Later that year, Avon Grove Library’s teen volunteer coordinator, Kati Davis, adapted the volunteer program to include remote and digital tasks that teens could complete from home. After discovering this opportunity, Sindhuja,

a freshman at Avon Grove Library, was the first to sign up. She immediately began utilizing her love of books to create content for the library’s website and social media, including book reviews, recommendation lists, and more. Before the year’s end, Sindhuja had accumulated 100 hours of volunteer time, 90 percent of which were completed through the virtual program. When asked about her experience with the program, Sindhuja said, “My favorite part of the virtual volunteer program is how much you can express yourself through the tasks that you do. We have tasks that are generally suited for anyone, whether it’s making

trivia questions to making a food or drink from your favorite movie! I personally delved deep into designing and making reading recommendations for the community, but there are so many options available so you never get bored or not find something to do.” Sindhuja’s service time qualified her to earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award, an achievement that honors “volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.” The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the toughest challenges the United States and the world as a whole have faced, yet individuals like Sindhuja have persevered

and sought out ways to continue giving back to their communities during this time. “Libraries were always my safe place and I could always count on the staff and the books there to introduce me to so many new subjects and information,” Sindhuja said. “Now, as a teen volunteer, I want other kids to feel the same joy that I felt in my ‘safe haven’ and foster a love for reading that will help them reach their full potential in the future.” Readers can check out some of the content created by Sindhuja and other Avon Grove Library teen volunteers at https://www. a v o n g r o v e l i b r a r y. o r g / made-by-teens.html. More

Courtesy photo

Volunteer Sindhuja Kanamarlapudi (left) and teen volunteer coordinator Kati Davis, (right) with Sindhuja’s medallion and presidential certificate of achievement.

information about the virtual volunteer program is available at https://www. avongrovelibrary.org/teenvolunteers.html. Area residents can learn

more about storytimes, classes and programs at www.avongrovelibrary.org, which is updated frequently with new programs and details.

Devon Horse Show and Country Fair cancelled for 2021 The show could not be held with current USEF spectator ban in place The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair (DHSCF) announced the cancellation of the 125th edition of this event, which had been originally scheduled from May 27 to June 6. This decision was made only after significant evaluation of the far-reaching operational and financial implications due to ongoing restrictions imposed by U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) regarding spectators and other important issues at the sanctioned events. The organizers, together with the

Board of Directors, evaluated multiple options, but were ultimately unable to operate under the current restrictions outlined by the sport’s governing body. Despite the DHSCF’s many efforts to obtain updated information, the competition was told on April 5 that new guidelines for spectators would not be available until “mid-May.” This time frame does not provide sufficient time to adequately plan and prepare for a show of the DHSCF’s size and caliber. In fairness to the competitors,

sponsors, ticket holders, vendors, volunteers and all others involved, the DHSCF believes that the decision to cancel is the best under the circumstances. “Although other equestrian events are operating during this time, the DHSCF is a non-profit organization uniquely tied to its local audience and spectator base,” said DCSCF Chairman and CEO Wayne Grafton. “This decision was made to protect the financial viability of the show for years to come. We are proud

to be a USEF-sanctioned show, but our issues were unable to be resolved in time to move forward.” In the coming weeks, the DHSCF and its organizers will be contacting all stakeholders with information regarding cancellation processes. “The health and well-being of the entire DHSCF community are always of utmost importance, and while we believed we could run a safe and successful outdoor event, the lack of movement in attendance guidelines

from USEF made it a financial impossibility even with significant fundraising efforts for the competition to continue in 2021,” said Grafton. “We are incredibly thankful for and indebted to our supporters, volunteers, exhibitors, athletes and vendors who supported us during last year’s cancellation,” Grafton continued. “We fully understand the emotional and financial investment our community makes in each year’s edition of the Devon Horse Show

and Country Fair and we are now putting our efforts toward making the 2022 event unforgettable.” One aspect of Devon will continue this year as planned: area driving clubs have graciously decided to continue their traditional Pleasure Drive on Sunday, May 30. More information about the Pleasure Drive will be on www. DevonHorseShow.net as it becomes available. For additional information, visit www. DevonHorseShow.net.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Chester County Press

Local News Girl Scout Juniors earn Bronze Award with exhibit at Brandywine River Museum COVID-19 restrictions weren’t enough to deter Junior Troop 4210 Girl Scouts from recently collaborating via Zoom to earn the Bronze Award. This is the highest award Junior Girl Scouts can earn for community service. The fifth-graders from Chadds Ford Elementary honored Betsy Wyeth and her 70-year legacy with the school by designing and

executing a 3-D, museumquality exhibit and brochure for the Brandywine River Museum. Wyeth, who passed away at the age of 98 last year, began her special connection to the initiation of Chadds Ford Art Show in 1949 and included the story of the May Fair and the debut of the May Pole dance. Each Girl Scout created and painted a wooden

peg doll version of themselves. Many of the girls modeled it after the dress they wore when they performed the Maypole dance in 2019 as third graders. The research focused on the history of the Wyeth family, Chadds Ford Elementary School, the CFES Art Show, and the Maypole Dance. These dedicated Girl Scouts were rewarded when the

Brandywine Museum agreed to display their exhibit for several months before it closed for renovations. Many Girl Scout troops continue to engage in many activities online and outside, when feasible, during the past year with good results. For more information about the Girl Scouts, contact Karen D’Agusto at kdagusto@aol.com.

The dedicated Girl Scouts were rewarded when the Brandywine Museum agreed to display their exhibit for several months.

Courtesy photos

The members of Girl Scouts Junior Troop 4210.

In Memory of Betsy Wyeth By Junior Girl Scout Troop 4210

The fifth-graders from Chadds Ford Elementary honored Betsy Wyeth and her 70-year legacy with the school by designing and executing a 3-D, museumquality exhibit and brochure for the Brandywine River Museum.

Founded in 1949 by Betsy Wyeth, the popular Chadds Ford Elementary School Art Show And Sale features works by over 65 artists from the Brandywine Valley and beyond. The first Art Show debuted at the school’s May Fair, along with the maypole dance performed by the third grade girls. Both traditions have continued at the school for more than seventy years. The girl scouts in Chadds Ford Elementary School’s fifth grade troop proudly danced the Maypole in 2019. They created this 3-D model of the performance in Betsy Wyeth’s honor. Here’s what a few of the girl scouts said: I couldn’t wait until my turn to be a part of this special dance. It’s a life-lasting memory. It’s a bonding point between all of the girls in your grade. To Betsy Wyeth, thank you for helping make the art show. I love all the amazing artwork that we are fortunate to sell every year. It is all so stunning and beautiful. Thank you so much. –Delphine P.

I was proud I got to dance the Maypole during its 70th anniversary. I also think the art show tradition is a fun way to earn money for our school and bring together family and friends. I think we should always carry on the tradition that Betsy Wyeth started. –Rebecca C. I discovered that I’m lucky enough to live in a town with so much culture and arts. –Devon M. I want other people to know that it is fun to do and exciting when you are watched by everyone else doing a perfect dance that has been done for generations. –Julianna P. It’s an amazing tradition. My favorite part was how beautiful the dance was. –Alexa M. I think that the Maypole tradition is really nice, and it’s fun to watch the ribbons create pretty patterns. I liked to perform for the community. The music was happy. –Kiera R.

Somers and Barbetta join Wisler Pearlstine, LLP The Junior Troop 4210 Girl Scouts earned the Bronze Wisler Pearlstine, LLP ate of the University of Award for the work. announced that attorneys Delaware, he earned his law

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Kyle J. Somers and Justin D. Barbetta have joined the firm as partner and associate, respectively. Kyle J. Somers has dedicated his practice to representing school districts and other public entities for over a decade. He currently serves as solicitor for a number of school districts in Pennsylvania. Matters on which he regularly advises his clients include board governance, policy development, public records, employment and labor issues, special education and student civil rights. Somers’ understanding of the day-to-day issues his school clients face is bolstered by his training as an educator. He is a Pennsylvania-certified social studies teacher and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on school law at Ursinus College and Delaware Valley University. A member of the Montgomery Bar and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, he is also a member of the Pennsylvania School Boards Solicitor Association. A gradu-

degree magna cum laude from Syracuse University in 2009. At Syracuse University, he was editorin-chief of the Syracuse Law Review. He is a resident of Limerick Township. Barbetta has represented school districts and intermediate units in matters involving civil rights, labor and employment, contract, special education, student services and tax assessment issues. He has years of trial (jury and non-jury) and litigation experience in the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania and has handled appeals before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Commonwealth Court, and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Prior to entering private practice, Barbetta handled over 100 trials (jury and non-jury) to verdict as a member of the Defender Association of Philadelphia’s team. Barbetta is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Montgomery Bar Association and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Courtesy photo

Justin D. Barbetta

He is also a member of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. He resides in Chester County. A graduate of Holy Family University, Barbetta received his law degree from Hofstra University. For 75 years, Wisler Pearlstine has provided effective, practical service to its clients through toprated lawyers in their fields of expertise. The firm has long been recognized for its prominence in the areas of education and school

law, real estate, land use and zoning, and municipal law. Additionally, the firm represents businesses and individuals throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania in various types of corporate, construction, commercial litigation, business, alternative dispute resolution (arbitration/mediation), banking, tax and estate planning, administration of estates and trusts, family law and other related matters. For more information, please see www.wislerpearlstine.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News Oxford Area High School teacher receives Heart of Learning Award Oxford Area High School math teacher Nicole Wiltrout was recently named the Oxford Area School District’s recipient of the 2021 Citadel Heart of Learning Award sponsored by Citadel Federal Credit Union and the Chester County Intermediate Unit. The annual award recognizes the outstanding job Chester County’s teachers perform in educating and caring for our young people. In addition to the award, Wiltrout received $500 for classroom use. She is also one of 15 finalists for the county-wide Heart of Learning Awards, which are presented in May to an elementary, secondary and private school teacher. Wiltrout has been teaching at the high school since 2013. She currently teaches college prep geometry and honors geometry for grades 9 and 10 and college prep statistics for

grades 11 and 12. “Nicole is a respected teacher at Oxford and always puts the needs and interests of her students first,” said Principal James Canaday. “She understands the importance of building relationships and trust with her students and their families. The core of the Citadel Heart of Learning Award is caring and service to others – both of which Mrs. Wiltrout embodies.” A native of Pittston, Pa., Wiltrout earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Kutztown University in 2012 and a master’s degree in mathematics from West Chester University in 2016. She and her husband Patrick live in the Coatesville area and have two children, Tyler, 3, and Natalie, born in February. “Receiving the Citadel Heart of Learning Award is an honor,” said Wiltrout.

Courtesy photo

Oxford Area High School math teacher Nicole Wiltrout was named the Oxford Area School District winner of the 2021 Citadel Heart of Learning Award. Pictured from left are Fallon Maloney, Citadel director of retail, Wiltrout, and Oxford Area High School principal James Canaday.

“I give 110 percent every day, every minute to my students, and building relationships with them is the most important thing to me about being a teacher. It has been said that while a lot of people are in it for the income, teachers are in

it for the outcome, which I think is totally true.” Wiltrout said she became a teacher because she always wanted to be a role model for others, especially young people. “It really comes from when I was a student and I had a lot of

teachers who I looked up to,” she said. Wiltrout came to work in Oxford after graduating from Kutztown. “I have a 40-minute daily drive from Coatesville, and a lot of people ask me when I will get myself a shorter

commute,” she said. “And I tell them that I’m happy here in Oxford. I love my co-workers and the students. We have great support from the administration, and I hope to be here many more years as a part of this great team.”

State Rep. Herrin announces grant for Chester County Library System State Rep. Dianne Herrin, (D-Chester), announced that the Chester County Library System will receive an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Professional Development Training

Grant from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries totaling $4,947.85. “The Chester County Library System has been a vital part of this community for over 50 years,” Herrin said. “We are for-

tunate enough to be part of a library system of committed people recognized for their knowledge, inspiration, and for ensuring opportunity for all. This money will directly help the system – which

includes the historic West Chester Public Library – carry out its mission of ensuring every resident has equal access to exceptional opportunities to learn, read, create, and connect with big ideas that

help us all create a better life and improve our community.” This grant will help library employees attend virtual professional development programs in principles of equity,

diversity, and inclusion – principles that the library system integrates into all of its practices and work functions. For more information, contact Herrin’s office at 610-696-4990.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

Chester County Press

Local News Chester County participates in prevention events to combat opioid epidemic In a continuing effort to prevent further opioid use disorders and accidental overdose deaths, the Chester County Department of Drug & Alcohol Services is highlighting several community events that have been coordinated during the month of April. The events include the following: • Virtual opioid epidemic and Narcan training, hosted by Chester County Hospital on Wednesday, April 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Each participant will receive training on the use of naloxone and receive a dose of naloxone at no charge. Registration is required for the training. • Mobile medication collection, hosted by Chester

County Hospital and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, April 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Chester County Hospital South Campus, 701 E Marshall Street, West Chester, PA 19380. Citizens are invited to dispose of unneeded or expired medications. • Mobile medication collection, hosted by Tredyffrin Police Department on Friday, April 23 at Surrey Services, 60 Surrey Way, Devon, Pa 19333 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Citizens are invited to dispose of unneeded or expired medications. • National DEA Drug Take Back Day, hosted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on

Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with temporary prescription drug disposal sites set up throughout Chester County. Residents are asked to please wear a mask and practice social distancing at all locations. “In order to decrease first time misuse of prescription drugs, it is crucial to begin with prevention efforts,” said Vince Brown, director of the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services. “In addition to education and awareness, prescription drug misuse prevention includes locking up or monitoring prescription medications that are in the home, and disposing of any unneeded or expired

prescription medications at a medication collection box.” Prescription painkillers such as Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, and Morphine, among others, are in the opioid classification of prescription drugs. Opioid prescription drugs essentially have the same chemical make-up as heroin, which means they affect the brain and body the same. Opioid prescription drugs have had a large hand in the opioid and heroin epidemic which the county, as well as the country, is currently facing. For those struggling with drugs or alcohol, help is available. Drug and alcohol treatment and support services, which include 12-step meet-

ings and other supports, have, and will continue to be available through the pandemic. Regardless of insurance, drug and alcohol treatment services are available in Chester County. Accessing the services will be dependent upon individual coverage. If you have insurance, including Medicaid, please call the number listed on the back of your insurance card to get information on how to access drug and alcohol services. If you do not have insurance, please call one of the following agencies which is closest to you, for help: Gaudenzia Coatesville(Coatesville) - 610-383-9600 Mirmont Outpatient (Exton) - 484-565-1130

Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems (Kennett Square) - 610-388-9225 Creative Health Services (Phoenixville) 610-933-1223 Gaudenzia West Chester (West Chester) 610-429-1414 In addition to drug and alcohol treatment, other recovery supports and human services are also still available. All event details and registrations, as well as the Chester County Human Services COVID19 Resource Guide can be found at www.chesco.org/ drugandalcohol. To access the Chester County Overdose Prevention Task Force website, go to www.stopodchesco.org.

ESTATE NOTICE

Classifieds

Legals PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE: The London Grove Township Zoning Hearing Board will conduct a public hearing on, Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., in the London Grove Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA for the following purpose: 2148 Gap Newport Pike- To hear the appeal of Eric Bloch for a special exception to build a pole barn style garage next to her driveway under section 27-303.F. This property is in the Agricultural Preservation (AP) District. William Grandizio, Chairman Zoning Hearing Board 4p -14-2t

INVITATION TO BID

Southern Chester County School Districts are soliciting a bid for Milk & Beverage items. Bid documents will be available online Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at: https://www.avongrove.org/ departments/food-services Bidding will end at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Bids should be forwarded by this date/time to: Avon Grove School District Office, Attn: Elizabeth Julian, 375 S. Jennersville Road, West Grove, PA 19390. Bids received by the deadline will be publicly reviewed on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at the Avon Grove Intermediate School,

395 S. Jennersville Road, West Grove, PA 19390. Elizabeth Julian, Avon Grove School District 4p-14-3t

PUBLIC NOTICE

T-Mobile proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 99.4’ and 109’) on the transmission tower at Lincoln Highway Rt. 30, Frazer, PA (20210399). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties 4p-14-1t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF LINDA S. PIERCE, DECEASED. Late of Upper Oxford Township, Chester County, PA,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 THERESA P. WEAVER, EXECUTRIX, 1055 Little Elk Creek Rd., Oxford, PA 19363, Or to her Attorney: ANITA M. D’AMICO, D’AMICO LAW, P.C., 65 S. Third St., Oxford, PA 19363 3p-31-3t

ESTATE OF SHIRLEY G. TRAUTMAN, DECEASED. Late of Franklin Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION 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 MIKE TRAUTMAN, ADMINISTRATOR, 237 Deepdale Dr., Kennett Square, PA 19348, Or to his Attorney: ANITA M. D’AMICO, D’AMICO LAW, P.C., 65 S. Third St., Oxford, PA 19363 3p-31-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Frank Selagy, Late of East Marlborough Township, Letters Testamentary on the above Estate having been granted to the undesigned, all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make immediate payment and those having legal claims shall present the same without delay to: F. Randall Selagy, Esquire, , 150 Beverly Drive, Kennett Square, PA 19348-1625, 610-444-6880 3p-31-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF ELIZABETH DANIELS ANTON, DECEASED. Late of Kennett Township, Chester County, PA, 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 FREDERICK W. ANTON, IV, EXECUTOR, c/o Nora E. Pomerantz, Esq., 30 S. 17th St., 5th Fl., Philadelphia, PA 19103, Or to his Attorney: NORA E. POMERANTZ, DUANE MORRIS LLP, 30 S. 17th St., 5th Fl., Philadelphia, PA 19103 3p-31-3t

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Help Wanted Seasonal & Part-Time Employment Opportunity LGT Public Works Department Are you looking for a Seasonal or Part-Time opportunity in a Township? Are you the type of person who loves diversity in your work day? London Grove Township is now hiring for Seasonal and Part Time Laborers in our Public Works Department. A Seasonal or Part-Time Public Works Employee is required to have the ability to perform a variety of different tasks including but not limited to manual labor and equipment operation under the direction of the Director of Public Works. All applicants must have a clean criminal record and be available for the hours of 7:00 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hourly rate is $10.00-$12.00 depending on experience. Please submit application to London Grove Township Attention: Director of Public Works, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA 19390 or admin@ londongrove.org For a complete job description and employment application please visit www.londongrove. org Employment Opportunities page. London Grove Township is an equal opportunity employer. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News Brandywine Battlefield property purchased for conservation North American Land Trust and partners raise $3.85 million to acquire 72 acres in Delaware County for a public preserve North American Land Trust (NALT) has acquired a historic Brandywine Battlefield property — located on Oakland Road in Delaware County — with the intent to protect the land forever under conservation easement before ultimately opening its 72 acres to the public as Brinton Run Preserve. The acquisition was announced on March 25. Originally considered for development, the property’s diverse array of plant and wildlife species and its historic significance will be forever preserved, and NALT plans to create opportunities for passive public recreation and education for the community. The effort to save this property began in 2019 when owner Mrs. Frank Baldino, Jr., Ph.D., in her preparation to sell the homestead, approached NALT to discuss open space protection as an alternative to development. “I was familiar with NALT’s mission and reputation in the field of conservation and was particularly delighted to learn of their interest in acquiring the property for a public preserve,” said Sandra Baldino. “I’m especially appreciative that through partnerships with funders and local organizations, the historical and ecological value of the land will be protected, shared and enjoyed by its neighbors and the community alike.” NALT, a national nonprofit organization known for holding conservation easements on properties — including East Bradford Township’s parks — recognized the unique significance of the land and began working diligently to not only protect it, but purchase it. “We are thrilled to finally acquire and ultimately open NALT’s very first public preserve here in our local community of Chadds Ford, especially during a time when public open space is extremely important for safe gatherings, and maintaining mental and physical health,” said NALT President Steven Carter. “NALT could not

have succeeded in such a short amount of time without our incredibly generous and collaborative partners who believed in our vision enough to support it, and we are forever grateful for them.” NALT was able to raise $3.85 million to purchase the property with financial support from the American Battlefield Trust, Chadds Ford Township, Delaware County’s Open Space and Recreation Grant Program, Mt. Cuba Center, the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Mt. Cuba Center is dedicated to preserving open spaces and native flora throughout the Brandywine Valley and surrounding region,” said Ann Rose, Mt. Cuba Center’s president. “Natural habitats of high ecological value are found at Brinton Run Preserve, including the forested areas along the southwest border of the property. We thank North American Land Trust for their leadership in this important conservation project and are gratified that our support will help protect the many species that call it home.” Located across from the historic Brinton 1704 House and just down the road from Dilworthtown Village and Historic District, Brinton Run Preserve will add to the rich history of the Brandywine Valley. The American Battlefield Trust identified Brinton Run Preserve as one of the most important unprotected tracts on the Brandywine Battlefield to be protected, thanks to the role it played in the Battle of the Brandywine; on that fateful day of September 11, 1777, a final fight took place at Brinton Run Preserve, which allowed George Washington and the Continental Army to retreat to safety and avoid suffering more losses. “With so much of the Brandywine Battlefield now lost to development, the American Battlefield Trust was proud to contribute financially to the protection

Courtesy photos

Located across from the historic Brinton 1704 House and just down the road from Dilworthtown Village and Historic District, Brinton Run Preserve will add to the rich history of the Brandywine Valley.

of Brinton Run Preserve and to help facilitate a matching grant through the federal American Battlefield Protection Program,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. At $1.8 million, that battlefield land acquisition grant is one of the largest yet awarded by the program for a Revolutionary War site. A Conservation Easement held by Chadds Ford Township will soon permanently protect the property and its natural resources, including 92 native plant species, natural habitat for a variety of pollinators, a large pond, and a tributary of Brandywine Creek that expands on the Brandywine Conservancy’s protected area of the Brandywine Creek Greenway Corridor. “Not only does Brinton Run Preserve fulfill a need for more open space in Chadds Ford Township, but its permanent protection prevents any future development,” said Frank Murphy, chairman of Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors. “I have no doubt it will become a treasured community resource.” Chadds Ford Township and Sandra Baldino have committed additional substantial support to establish an operating fund, and NALT continues to raise support for this fund. “This department is pleased to partner with the North American Land Trust and other project funders in protecting this important Brandywine Greenway and Battlefield property,” said Natural habitats of high ecological value are found at DCNR Secretary Cindy Brinton Run Preserve, including the forested areas Adams Dunn. “We applaud along the southwest border of the property.

White-tailed deer in the Brinton Run Preserve.

NALT’s ambitious plans for property restoration and connecting people to nature.” In addition to removing a modern home, NALT plans to reintroduce native plant species across the property, undertake riparian maintenance, implement a trail system and create opportunities for commu-

nity programming with a variety of local partners. Interpretive opportunities to help passive recreational users better understand the history of the Battle of Brandywine are also in the works. Through local partnerships with the Brinton 1704 House, Chadds Ford Township and other groups, NALT hopes to create a

community space where everyone is welcome to enjoy nature and appreciate the unique history of Brinton Run Preserve. Brinton Run Preserve is not yet open to the public, but to learn more and stay updated on progress, visit www.northamericanlandtrust.org/explore/ brintonrunpreserve.

About the American Battlefield Trust The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 53,000 acres in 24 states associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.

About Mt. Cuba Center Mt. Cuba Center is a botanic garden that highlights the beauty and value of native plants to inspire conservation. Once the private estate of Pamela and Lammot du Pont Copeland, the public garden opened for general admission in 2013 and now spans more than 1,000 acres. It features captivating blooms along garden pathways in formal and woodland settings, picturesque meadows and ponds with stunning vistas, and more than two miles of scenic trails throughout its natural lands. Mt. Cuba is recognized as a leader in native plant research and open space preservation, having protected more than 13,000 acres in the mid-Atlantic region. Learn more at mtcubacenter.org.

About North American Land Trust

The property’s diverse array of plant and wildlife species and its historic significance will be forever preserved.

In 1992, a small group of professionals established North American Land Trust (NALT) with the primary purpose of preserving and managing open space with ecological, agricultural or historical significance. Today, the nonprofit has protected over 135,000 acres with over 550 conservation easements across the country, thanks to a variety of partners. NALT Conservation Areas protect wetlands, grasslands, coastlines, forests and fresh water habitat and the species that depend on them. The majority of these acres are privately owned, but many are dedicated to public use. Learn more at www.nalt.org.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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