Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 155, No. 22
INSIDE
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
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Remembering those who served
KHS students win at art show...1B
Photo by Chris Barber
Southern Chester County remembered and honored Photo by Jim Coarse of Moonloop Photography those who served on Memorial Day.
2021 Town Tours...1B
Kennett Square observed Memorial Day on Monday with small events throughout the Kennett Square area in honor of its departed military heroes. The ceremony at St. Patrick Cemetery featured a tribute to World War II veteran Tillie DiAndrea, who recently died in his mid-90s. Scores of people gathered at the event, which also included a 21-gun salute, a performance of “God Bless America” by former mayor Leon Spencer, a tribute to Tillie DiAndrea by Rev. Jim Mundell, the
laying of wreaths, and the playing of “Taps.” Pictured above, DiAndrea's widow Marie was presented with a memorial American flag by Vietnam veteran Jim Doneghan. Also pictured is Chief Master Sergeant Robert M. Stewart, Jr., who helped carry on Oxford’s proud tradition of the Memorial Day Ceremony. For the last two years, due to the pandemic, the ceremony has been a virtual ceremony (and can be viewed at: https://youtu. be/K-DQ9t7-PXs).
Speakers for this year’s Oxford Memorial Day ceremony included Stewart, Oxford Mayor Philip Harris, Pastor Larry Powell, Caleb McCartney, Alexa McCormick, Kelsey Bennett, LCpl Jeffrey A. Sanders, and TSgt. Fallon Masscotte. “Taps” was performed by Michael Miller and Caleb McCartney, and the Honor Guard featured Oxford American Legion Roy W. Gibson Post #535 members Ken Weaver, Robert Stewart. James May, Spencer Andress, Vernon
Ringler, John Mosley, John Pulgiese. The video was shared directly with Ware Presbyterian Village, Jenners Pond, Quarryville Presbyterian Village Retirement Community, Pocopson Home and the Coatesville V.A. It will be shown on Armstrong Channel 68, social media pages, and will also be housed on the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce website. Jim Coarse of Moonloop Photography is the talent behind the video. The Memorial Day
Celebration and Parade Committee members are Harris, Christine Grove of Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce, Corporal Scott Brown of the Oxford Police Department, Dr. Erin Kaupilla of Oxford Area High School, Jim Coarse of Moonloop Photography, LCpl Jeffrey A. Sanders of Keller Williams Real Estate, and many more local business owners and veterans. ~ Reporting by Chris Barber and Betsy Brewer Brantner
County-wide series of events will extend through July 4
Chester County Juneteenth Festival will explore ‘the ongoing journey’ Spotted lanternfly lecture at Galer winery...6B
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
On June 19, 1865, after a bitter Civil War of warring ideologies had threatened to rip apart the entire fabric of the United States, freedom was granted to a Opinion.......................5A group of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Obituaries........2B,3B,5B Texas. Classifieds.................4B That event led to the observance of African American Emancipation Day, or what is commonly referred to as “Juneteenth,” and while it is the oldest
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INDEX
© 2007 The Chester County Press
celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, the significance and meaning of the date has too often become overlooked, misunderstood and tacked on the peripheral end of acknowledgement when it comes to the continuing story of U.S. history. Beginning this past weekend and extending until July, a consortium of partnering organizations throughout Chester County are about to place Juneteenth at the head of the history lesson, with
a breathtaking schedule of events that will endear to kick-start a national conversation about African American life, culture and the pursuit of equality. Voices Underground – a project under the umbrella of Square Roots Collective and in partnership with Lincoln University -- is producing The Chester County Juneteenth Festival: Journeying Towards Freedom -- in collaboration with the Chester County Image courtesy of Square Roots Collective Historic Preservation The Chester County Juneteenth Festival will be held at Continued on page 2A
locations throughout the county from June 12 to July 4.
Penn Township supervisors discuss parks, including a grant for an environmental education center By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer Penn Township has been awarded a $7,500 grant from the E. Kneal Dockstader Foundation to be used toward work on an environmental education center at the township’s new sports park Specifically, the funds will go toward the creation of a story walk, in partnership with the Avon Grove Library. Last year, the township
received $10,000 from the Foundation. The award was discussed during the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 19, along with several other agenda items related to the sports park. “It really is taking off and coming along nicely,” said Karen Versuk, the township’s director of operations. Bridges have been installed in the outdoor classroom area. Two Boy Scouts will be starting
projects on that area and on benches, and two more scouts are planning projects as well. Supervisor Victor Mantegna stressed that adult oversight is required for these projects. “Anything that happens at the active park with Scouts has to be overseen by the township,” Mantegna said. The board appointed Steve Ramsay and Ralph Churchill to serve on the Active Recreation Committee.
At the township’s passive park beside the township building, the renovations to the rose gardens are underway. The area is designed to be a tribute to the military services. At the moment, there are five pathways but the merchant marines are not represented. The supervisors are considering additional walkways as part of a redesign The entrances to the restrooms at the park are also in need of work because they
are in disrepair and may not be ADA-compliant. Mantegna wants to see an engineer’s design for the new work that is needed. Also at the park, improvement plans call for replacing the flood lights at the flag pole with LED lighting. The sign at the entrance to the township building parking lot is also in need of repair, with several artificial stones coming off the framework around the
More information about all the upcoming events is available on Oxford Mainstreet’s website at downtownoxfordpa.org. “On behalf of the Oxford Mainstreet Board of Directors, we are thrilled to have received the Borough of Oxford’s support to open
back up our First Friday street fairs,” said Ed Herr, the chairman of the Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. board. “We welcome the opportunity for the public to gather now that federal restrictions have been lifted. We are dedicated to providing family friendly and safe events.”
Continued on page 4A
First Fridays return to downtown Oxford on July 2 In another sign that things are slowly returning to normal, Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. has announced that First Fridays will be returning on July 2. “We are profoundly grateful to be able to host First Friday’s again, said Christianna Hannum, the executive director of Oxford Mainstreet. “We
are dedicated to the town of Oxford’s vitality and this news is a real boost for our merchants and the public.” The July 2 First Friday event has a Summer Block Party theme. First Fridays will continue through December. Downtown Oxford will be hosting the Oxford Car Show on Sept. 3.
This is the seventh annual car show. Another highlight will certainly be the return of Oxford Country Christmas on Dec. 3. The theme for the October event is Twilight and Tractors, and an antique and modern tractor show will be featured. The theme for November’s First Friday is Hometown Heroes.