Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas Volume 149, No. 21
INSIDE Spring/Summer 2015
West Chester & Chadds Ford
LIFE
Magazine
60 Cents
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
London Grove residents tell supervisors, ‘No regional policing here’
Memorial Day in Kennett Square
by Alessandra Manzotti
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Inside:: Inside • A new theater is coming to West Chester • Profile of county commissioner Michelle Kichline
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life magazine
Making electricity the old-fashioned way at Pennsbury Mill.........1B
Were the order of the itinerary reversed, last Thursday’s town hall gathering at the Fred S. Engle Middle School in West Grove would have been the shortest public meeting in the history of London Grove Township. It was not, however, but after nearly 90 minutes of voicing their opposition to the possibility of introducing regional policing in the township, more than 100 residents raised their hands in one shared, collective and boisterous, ‘No!’ Chaired by Board Chairman Richard Scott-Harper and attended by the remaining supervisors and Township manager Steve Brown, the purpose of the meeting was to gather public comment as the Board weighs whether or not to join London Grove with sev-
eral other local township and municipalities in establishing a regional police force in southern Chester County. New Garden, Kennett, Kennett Township, West Grove and London Grove are the five townships and municipalities currently in the conversation to join the planned department which, if enacted, would be made up of 32 parole officers, nine administrative officers, and a police commission. London Grove Township, if it were to join, would have 24-7, roundthe-clock coverage for the township, divided into three eight-hour patrol shifts. The cost to the township, according to projections provided to the board by New Garden Township Police Chief Gerald Simpson, would be $830,000 for the first year for the township to participate in the regional police department. Continued on Page 3A
Roadmap to revitalization Landenberg author writes children’s book about rescued pets......................2B
Oxford planing a new playground for children with special needs.....................3A
INDEX Calendar of Events.......5B Opinion..........................7A Obituaries.......................8A Classified......................8B
Oxford Borough officials optimistic that updated revitalization plan is a guidepost to bright future By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer Officials are in the process of updating Oxford Borough’s revitalization plan, and a public information meeting took place on May 14 to share details with the community. Justin Smiley, AICP, and urban planner with the Chester County Planning Commission, and Jaime Larzelere, a community planner with the Chester County Planning Commission, helped borough officials reach this point in the process of updating the revitalization plan. Smiley said that a revitalization plan is a strategic planning tool designed to assist with economic development and future growth for the next five to ten years. The revitalization plan was met with enthusiasm by those who’ve reviewed it. “I’m really impressed with
what they came up with,” said Oxford Borough Council member John Thompson. “It gives us a different way to approach things,” agreed council member Susan Lombardi. “I’m looking forward to implementing this.” During the presentation, some goals and the actions necessary to achieve those goals were discussed. For example, in order for Oxford to capitalize on its location and attract and retain businesses, the borough should begin a marketing initiative specifically for downtown Oxford, including taking advantage of the locational resources for marketing. Other recommended actions to spur economic development include extending the longevity of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc., implementing downtown enhancements such as new entertainment or recreational Continued on Page 4A
The deal is retroactive to July 1, 2014 and extends through June 30, 2018 By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Photo by Carla Lucas
Bill Linke of Media, driving a vintage Jeep in the Memorial Day Parade in Kennett Square. Please see Page 2A for the story.
Albert J. McCarthy recognized for his 42 years of service By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Kennett Township Police Chief Albert McCarthy, who retired from his position on May 7, was the recipient of a retirement ceremony at the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 20, before a packed house of well-wishers and law enforcement officials at the Kennett Township Building. Kennett Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Scudder Stevens presented McCarthy with a police retirement badge, and credited him for helping the township establish its first police department, which McCarthy ran on his own from 2007, until he encouraged the township to hire officer Lydell Nolt in 2012 – who is now serving as acting police chief. “[Chief McCarthy] educated hundreds and hundreds of children throughout the years, and many of these children who still call him today to ask for help and guidance,” Stevens said. “He was always firm, fair and consistent. You knew where you stood with him. He was a good listener and delegator. He followed the maxim, ‘The best way to keep power is to share it, and the best way to influence is to listen.”
Stevens said that among the compliments he has heard about McCarthy is that he is the same person now as he was when he was first hired as a patrol officer in Kennett Square Borough 42 years ago, a stint that also included a long tenure as the Borough’s police chief. “[Chief McCarthy] wears his professional accomplishments with grace and honor,” Stevens said. “Kennett Township is a better place to live, work and visit because of Chief McCarthy’s efforts in creating and building our police department.” Joined by several members of his family – several of whom are also in law enforcement – McCarthy addressed the audience. He began by giving credit to his wife, whom he called a great partner, great friend “and the mother of some exceptional children.” He also thanked his children for not questioning why he decided to move the family when they were younger, during a time of controversy he encountered while he was the police chief for the Kennett Borough. “Even as adults, they never questioned that, and that’s what you really call support.” Continued on Page 5A
El Salvador mission gives hope Oxford couple will work with youth for a month By John Chambless Staff Writer
© 2007 The Chester County Press
After a two-hour bus ride from the city of San Salvador, and a 45-minute switchback drive up a mountain, in a community where there is no electricity or running water, Erin and Brett Lelko have found a place where their faith turns into action. The young couple lives in Oxford and attends Andrews Bridge Christian Fellowship in Christiana, where they work with youth. In mid-June, they will return to El Salvador for the third time, working in places where poverty has not dimmed the warm spirit of people who are trying to improve their future. Erin is a veteran of mission trips with her family and youth groups, beginning when she was 12. She has worked with church-affiliated groups in the Bahamas, Mexico, Lithuania,
Kenya and Zambia. She has found that the villagers in El Salvador – particularly the women and children – have a permanent place in her heart. Erin and Brett are part of Team El Salvador, a group of people representing six churches who are following up on a yearly promise to return to a country where “their nicest area would equal our slums,” Brett said. “But we felt such a strong connection with the people there.” They are working under the auspices of Christ for the City International (CFCI), which has basic hostel-type accommodations in the city of San Salvador, where there is electricity and running water. “We can’t drink the water, though, so they give us bottled warer,” Erin explained. The rooms are spartan, but when compared to the shacks shared by most of the country’s people, they are luxurious. Continued on Page 5A
Oxford School Board approves new pact with teachers
Photo by John Chambless
Erin and Brett Lelko in their Oxford home.
The Oxford School Board approved a new teachers’ contract on May 19, culminating more than 15 months of arduous negotiations. The deal is retroactive to the date when the last teachers’ contract expired, July 1, 2014, and extends through June 30, 2018. At the conclusion of the meeting where the new contract was approved, school board president Donna Arrowood summed up her feelings about the successful conclusion to the negotiations with one word—relief. “We knew that we would get there through teamwork,” said Dr. Pamela Brown, the president of the Oxford Area Education Association, the union that represents the district’s 270 teachers. The new agreement comes less than three weeks after the school board and the Oxford Area Education Association received and accepted the Fact Finder’s Report that was prepared by Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board fact finder William W. Lowe. The Fact Continued on Page 4A
State Police bosses are mum on McCarthy cover-up By Uncle Irvin Uncle Irvin’s opinion about a State Police whitewash of Kennett Township Police Chief Albert McCarthy’s two car incidents in the April 29 issue of the Chester County Press has not been challenged by State Police and/or their commanders. In addition to Avondale Barracks Commander Lt. Richard D’Ambrosio and Troop J Commander Capt. William White, Uncle Irvin wrote to the acting State Police Commissioner in Harrisburg, Col. Marcus Brown, about the cover-up. None of these public servants have responded! In 2011, as well as on April 13, 2015, McCarthy rammed a vehicle in his police car. In the first incident, McCarthy left the scene before acknowledging a “blackout.” The State Police did not cite McCarthy for hit and run or reckless driving. Again on April 13, the State Police investigator called McCarthy’s family to take him home when McCarthy told him he had the same kind of “blackout.” All over America, police are being challenged about the fairness of their dealings with the public. Continued on Page 5A