Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 155, No. 17
INSIDE
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
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Kennett Township opens books in 2019 audit report By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer A recent audit of Kennett Township’s 2019 finances revealed “suspicious activity” and “several deficiencies,” all of which were likely to have factored in the conduct of former
township manager Lisa Moore that led to her firing in May of 2019 and later her arrest in December of 2019 on suspected charges of fraud, theft and embezzlement of more than $3.2 million in township funds. The audit and subsequent presentation was conduct-
ed by Christopher Herr, a certified public accountant with the firm of Maillie, LLP at the township’s April 21 online meeting. Among Herr’s audit findings were: • Annual budgeted contributions to local boards and authorities were not in
equal installments and limited back-up was provided. • Checks were signed using a rubber stamp signature. • Staff salaries were not approved by the Board of Supervisors, although percentage increases were approved by the board.
• Not all township invoices had evidence of approval. Each individual invoice should require a signature indicating approval for payment. • Invoices could not be located for three transactions (not related to the Continued on page 3A
Landenberg Life
Hall Building, Tubman mural to be razed to make way for new library By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer As the late-July launch date for the construction of the Kennett Library & Resource Center at the corner of State and Willow streets in Kennett Square quickly approaches, it will require A great way to honor the removal of two buildmoms for Mother’s ings located on the back of Day...1B the library’s property, which are projected to both come down in early May. The first structure will be a small green house that has fallen into disrepair and has been condemned by the Kennett Borough. The other will be the Hall Building on 212 South Willow Street that once housed the Hope Chatham Lodge and a
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Continued on page 2A
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The construction of the Kennett Library & Resource Center at the corner of State and Willow streets in Kennett Square will require the removal of two buildings located on the back of the library’s property, one of which is the Hall Building, most prominently known for its mural of Harriet Tubman. The new library will feature a new community mural that will honor Tubman and other members of southern Chester County’s cultural history.
Oxford Area School District proposes larger tax increase to cover budget shortfalls A 4.2 percent increase is on the table as the school district moves toward finalizing a spending plan for 2021-2022 By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer After keeping tax increases at a minimum—one-percent or less—for five straight years, the Oxford Area School District will likely
need a larger tax increase to balance the budget for 2021-2022. District officials said at an April 20 school board meeting that a 4.2 percent tax increase is under consideration as work continues
on the spending plan for the next fiscal year. The school board approved a proposed final budget at the meeting, and is expected to adopt a final budget next month. Pennsylvania school districts are required to
approve their budgets and set the new millage rates by June 30 each year. District officials pointed to budget shortfalls as the reason why a larger tax increase will be necessary this year.
“Our budget shortfalls are looking severe,” said school board member Robert Tenga, who serves on the district’s Finance and Budget Committee. The school district has Continued on page 4A
Two men charged Amphitheater at Saint with aggravated Anthony’s being re-imagined assault after shots as outdoor events venue were fired in home The Kennett Square Police Department has now arrested two men for their alleged involvement in an incident on April 10 where shots were fired in a home on Birch Street. Christian Sanchez-Franco, 18, and Ivan CastanoCastaneda, 17, are being charged with three counts of aggravated assault, weapons offenses, recklessly endangering another person, and other related assault offenses after an intensive investigation led police to believe that they were responsible for firing five rounds from a semiautomatic handgun into a home and in the direction of the bedroom of the house where three people were located at the time of the incident. Ivan Castano-Castaneda is being charged as an adult due to the nature of the offenses, after approval was obtained from the Chester County Continued on page 2A
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
The 2,000-seat Greekstyle amphitheater at Saint Anthony in the Hills may currently own the signs of dormancy and neglect, but thanks to the ingenuity of an independent group of visionaries, residents may be flocking to The Roman Amphitheater as early as this August to watch movies beneath the evening stars. On April 26, during their second appearance before the New Garden Township
Board of Supervisors, representatives from MPH Events, LLC unveiled their plans to provide extensive renovations to the structure as part of a broad brushstroke that re-imagines it as the future home of film screenings, live performances, school graduations and religious events. Formed in 2021, MPH Events, LLC is made up of a team of professionals with a combined 65 years of experience in producing and facilitating live events, concerts, festivals and cor-
porate meetings. In his presentation, John DiEleuterio of MPH Events gave a timeline of the company’s two-phase plan for opening. Upon approval of a lease agreement with the township, the first phase will largely be spent upgrading the venue – repairing the railing and concrete seating areas to meet all code requirements, cleaning the area of debris, installing a temporary stage and providing portable latrines. Continued on page 3A
Brandywine Backyard BBQ Festival draws more than 500 to Scouts benefit By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
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barbershop. The Hall Building’s most prominent feature is the mural of Harriet Tubman that was added to the side of the structure in 2010, when artists Dave Mass and Joe Gothelf were commissioned to create a tribute to the legendary abolitionist, depicting Tubman leading freedom seekers by the light of a glowing lantern held in her right hand. Although the removal of the mural will be one of necessity, the new library is not forgetting Tubman’s legacy and connection to Kennett Square. The new library will feature a new community mural that will honor Tubman and
Despite the morning threat of rain and the unfortunate announcement that the barbecue portion of the event will have to wait until 2022 because of the continuing pandemic, the fourth
Brandywine Backyard Barbecue drew a crowd of more than 500 to New Garden Township Park on April 25 for a five-hour appreciation of scouting. Sponsored by the Chester County Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the fourth annual event –
which serves as a major fundraiser that benefits local scouting programs through the Friends of Scouting Campaign of the Chester County Council BSA -- looked to rebound from 2020, when it was canceled due to COVID-19.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The Late Ambition plays to a large audience who attended the fourth Brandywine Backyard BBQ event on April 25 at New Garden Township Park, which served as a benefit for the Chester County Council of Continued on page 4A the Boy Scouts of America.