Patriotism on parade
Lawyer for Whitewing Farm owners suggests a compromise
By John Chambless Staff Writer
Attorney Ron Agulnick
extended an olive branch to neighbors of the Whitewing Farm on Monday evening at the East Marlborough Township Board of Supervisors meeting, but it was not accepted by either the board or the homeowners, who have been objecting to events held at the farm since 2012.
The prolonged standoff has led to heated confrontations between the farm’s owners, Lance and Sandra Shortt, and the neighbors who object to the traffic and noise caused by large parties on the property at 370 Valley Road.
Whitewing Farm, formerly a bed and breakfast, was purchased by the Shortts in 2012, and they planned to host events and weddings at the site, creating more noise and congestion than the inn’s previous use. A series of hearings has locked the business down to an extent, and outdoor events have been put off while the case winds its way through the legal system. The supervisors maintain that the township zoning code does not allow the large events in a residential neighborhood. The Shortts and their lawyer,
Agulnick, have argued that weddings and other large events are being held at the nearby Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery, and they object to being penalized for what they’re trying to do at Whitewing Farm.
Agulnick told the board that he sensed the judge in the case may be favoring a settlement, and “there is good reason to sit down and try to work something out,” he said. Two of the former foes of the Shortts have approached them about hosting events at Whitewing, Agulnick said, “so maybe there’s some mellowing there.”
He presented a written proposal to the board, but admitted that “every number on there is negotiable.” Indoor events held in the Whitewing Farm barn “are not disruptive,” Agulnick said, and would be held to standards for noise and traffic congestion. But his suggestion that the Shortts be allowed to hold “up to 14” outdoor events a year drew a murmur of dissent from the neighbors at the meeting.
“We appreciate your proposal,” board president Cuyler Walker told Agulnick, “but this board has concluded that our zoning ordinance does not permit these types of events at all.” The tension with neighbors has
John H. Ware IV remembered for his generosity and love for Oxford
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
The Oxford community said farewell to one of its most prominent citizens on Thursday, July 2 as friends and family gathered together for the memorial service for John H. Ware IV at the Oxford Presbyterian Church.
Ware passed away at his home on May 28, surrounded by his family and friends. He was 73.
He was remembered for his extraordinary generosity, which was great, and for his love of Oxford, which was even greater. During his lifetime, Ware offered significant financial support—estimated to be in the millions of dollars—to organizations in the Oxford area that were close to his heart. Most of these contributions were made anonymously.
He was a friend and supporter of many of the organizations that helped to improve the lives of the people of Oxford, including the Neighborhood Services Center, the Oxford Area Senior Center, the Jennersville YMCA, the Oxford Public Library, Oxford Mainstreet, Inc., the Lighthouse Youth Center, The Sacred Heart School, the Oxford Educational Foundation, and
Continued on Page 2A
Development’s
Carl Fretz, an iconic figure in Oxford, passes away at the age of 85
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Carl Fretz, the longtime president of the Peoples Bank of Oxford and a tireless advocate and supporter of the Oxford community, passed away on Thursday, July 2 at the age of 85. By all accounts, it was a life well-lived for a man who had a positive impact on not just his family and friends, but the community that he called home his entire life.
“He was a giver,” said Oxford resident and longtime business owner Charlie Hannum, who knew Fretz since childhood. “He did everything he could to please everybody, especially his church.”
Fretz was born on Feb. 19, 1930, the son of Herbert Fretz Sr and Lillian Pierce Fretz. He graduated from Oxford Area High School in 1948 and soon thereafter he applied for a entry-level clerk position at the Peoples Bank of Oxford, which had grown somewhat profitable in the years leading up to World War II. Fretz interviewed with Clyde Mason, the bank president. It was the start of a long friendship
residents still outraged about builder’s delays
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
It does not take a visitor to the Lamborn Hunt in London Grove Township very long to see the lingering warts of the development’s construction. They all protrude with easy visibility, and no matter how loud the voices of those who protest their appearance, they still haven’t gone away, which is made especially alarming, given that the last house in this 36-unit, single-home development was finished more than two years ago.
These imperfections form a lengthy punch list of embarrassment for the builder, and safety hazards for the residents. It’s all there to see: improper drainage in front of several lots, exposed water pipes, debris left in nearby wooded areas and in public areas, improper drainage areas that creates significant sidewalk pooling, trees planted by the builder that are now dead, cable and telephone boxes that are not adjusted to height regulations, large sewer pipes with no grate coverings, and more than one dozen additional infractions that have been spelled out by the Lamborn Hunt’s homeown-
ers association in a detailed list and provided to London Grove Township.
Last Wednesday, for the second time in two months, the most vocal of these residents came to the London Grove Board of Supervisors meeting and raised not only their hands in frustration, but their voices in anger.
The target of their rage?
Keystone Custom Homes, the Lamborn Hunt builder, and one of the top 100 home builders in the nation, which is ranked by the industry’s leading trade journal and is one of Central Pennsylvania’s largest independent homebuilders, with homes in 44 communities.
Township Manager Steve
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Mayor Matt Fetick is asking Kennett Square Borough Council to consider withholding the financial support that the municipality provides to the Kennett Public Library until the borough is given adequate representation on the library board.
At Monday night’s council meeting, Fetick shared a letter with borough council that explained his concerns. “As you know, the last several
months have seen some changes causing significant concern among our residents in regards to the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library now known simply as the Kennett Library,” Fetick wrote. “I can tell you that I have had more communication from residents expressing not only their concern, but their disappointment, in the Library Board, than any other issue since being elected six years ago. Our residents have a lack of faith in the current board to lead the library into the future.”
On Tuesday morning, the library on State Street in Kennett Square was buzzing with activity. Fifteen students were taking part in a science summer camp, while another 30 or so were enjoying an award-winning technology camp that the library started last year. Other local residents were browsing for books and working on the computers. It was a typical summer day for a very busy library. Standing in the middle of all the activity, library direc-
tor Donna Murray admitted that she was shocked and dismayed that borough officials are contemplating withholding the financial support that it gives—approximately $37,000 annually—for any reason.
“That would hurt the library,” Murray said. “It would hurt the operations of the library. If you’re talking about cutting our funding, you’re talking about cutting programs that we can provide to the community. It would reduce the services that Continued on Page 5A
By Uncle Irvin
One thing Oxford borough manager Betsy Brantner is good at is applying for, and getting, grant money.
That’s what she did for the borough exclusively before becoming borough manager, and that’s what she’s doing now. Oxford usually uses these grants to hire consultants to study a “problem.” Now one has popped up for another parking management study, which has been studied to death without results.
This grant, like all others, goes to a consulting firm which makes recommendations. Unfortunately, that’s where the process ends. Get the money, hire and pay a consultant, do nothing with the recommendations and keep applying for grants. This cycle has been going
John H. Ware IV
Carl Fretz
Continued on Page 4A
Brown told the supervisors at the July 1 meeting that although some minor work has been
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
This infiltration basin at the entrance to the Lamborn Hunt development has drawn the ire of many of the development’s residents for its unsafe depth.
Longwood dazzles with lights and new beer garden..............5A
Photo by Steven Hoffman Joshua Terry, 8, was one of the entrants in the bicycledecorating contest in Oxford (See page 6A.)
relaxed in recent months, Walker said, “because there have been no events for them to be impacted by.”
Walker said the board will study the proposal, “and if anything looks like it might lead to a settlement, we’ll sit down with you to discuss it, but your initial proposal several years ago was for holding fewer than 14 outdoor events. This doesn’t sound like a settlement to me.”
Agulnick said the number of events was very flexible, but Walker countered, “I haven’t heard the neighbors say they want any events.”
Several neighbors of Whitewing Farm addressed the board, unanimously saying that they had heard nothing about a softening of opinion toward the Shortts. Rob McPherson, a neighbor and the president of the homeowners association for the Beversrede development, said “there has been no groundswell of support for a change. But I do believe that Galer needs some attention,” he said. “They have been holding events there that clearly don’t comply with zoning regulations.”
Shortt, who attended the meeting with his wife.
Township manager Jane Laslo countered that the events at Galer were for charity, and amounted to “perhaps three or four over the last two years.”
She said she would contact the winery’s owner to see what types of events are being held there, and make sure that they are in compliance with the zoning rules.
In other business, the board granted an escrow amount of $2.6 million to the developer of the Union Walk community planned for Walnut Road, but there was a strong suggestion from supervisor Robert Weer that the name be changed to avoid confusion with the Union Square development when emergency services are required.
The planned development was originally called Walnut Ridge, but a change of ownership has changed the name to Union Walk. “I think there’s a strong sentiment that we hope you can find a new name,” Walker told the company representative. The development at the site includes the widening of northbound Walnut Road to create a turning lane, and the completion of demolition of a former mushroom facility on the property.
proposal to harvest 65 trees from the Krautzel property near the Village Blackshire development. Levi Stoltzfus said that one tree –a 40-inch diameter red oak – “was leaning pretty badly” and may be partially rotten, which made it eligible for removal under township regulations regarding specimen trees. The 65 trees will be selected from an 11.5-acre area that’s spread over three parcels. There is no clear-cutting, Stoltzfus said. The trees will be hauled out in four loads each day, done over five days in late August or September, he said. To insure against damage of curbing or roadways in the area, Stoltzfus agreed to a $5,000 escrow with the township, to be repaid to him after the timber harvesting is satisfactorily completed. The supervisors unanimously approved the proposal.
The board also approved a land development plan for the Upland Country Day School property that will add a two-story addition to an existing building at the school. It will house a first-floor science classroom area and second-floor gallery. The 2,600-square-foot addition is scaled to fit with the existing architecture. A starting date for construction was not announced.
Continued from Page 1A
the fire company in Oxford. He was also a member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church.
“He was a wonderful, caring, and giving human being,” said Jim McLeod, a longtime friend. “He cared about people who needed help. His heart was in the Oxford area. He lived here and he believed in Oxford.”
The Ware family has had a prominent place in the Oxford community for decades. Ware’s father, John Haines Ware III, was a successful businessman and politician who served as an executive with American Water and the Oxford Gas Company. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate for nine years and in the U.S. Congress from 1970 to 1975.
John H. Ware IV continued this legacy of public service and focused his energies on Oxford.
organizations would be able to help so many others with the contributions.
Born on October 4, 1941 in Philadelphia, Ware was the son of the late Marian Snyder Ware of Lansdowne and the late John H. Ware III of Oxford. John attended Oxford Area High School, University of Pennsylvania, and Lincoln University.
Ware was also a public servant, dedicating his energies to serving on the boards of various organizations in the Oxford area. He was a member of Oxford Borough Council, starting in 1992, for a total of 16 years, including six years when he was council president. He gave generously to the borough and its police department through the years.
In particular, a June 28 event at Galer Winery was a wedding, according to Agulnick and Lance
To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@ chestercounty.com Whitewing Farm... Continued from Page 1A
The board also heard about a
“My father’s love for the Oxford community ran very deep and he taught that to his children,” said his daughter, Nancy Ware Sapp, a few days after Ware passed away. “We were always taught to give back to the community that we live in. My father was a friend to everyone. He was the most generous man that I ever knew.”
Ware worked for Penn Fuel Gas Company of Oxford, served on the board of American Water Works, and was active in local organizations including the West Nottingham Township supervisors, Oxford Borough Council, and the Oxford Senior Center. John was an active member of the Oxford Foundation, and later founded the Oxford Area Foundation. He was a Boy Scout in his youth and was later a troop leader in Nottingham. He was a lifelong member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church.
Kerry Slinkard, the pastor of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, said that this was an occasion to remember the work that Ware did, and the lives that he touched.
“We’re all just very saddened by his death,” said Oxford Borough Manager Betsy Brantner a few days after Ware passed away. “He was a kind and generous person who was willing to help anyone for any reason.”
Brantner said that when she was hired as the first female borough manager in Oxford history, Ware was always very supportive and willing to share his knowledge and help out in any way possible.
“He was always encouraging us to be the best community that we could be,” said Brantner. “He was an example of how to love and support a community.”
Brantner said that through the philanthropy and his work to support many Oxford organizations, Ware built a lasting legacy in the town that he loved.
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During the eulogy, McLeod talked about how generous Ware was, particularly during the holiday season when non-profit organizations were desperate to meet all the needs in the community. Ware would meet with McLeod to find out about the good work that each organization was doing.
As McLeod would talk about each individual non-profit, Ware would make notes—and smile because he knew that the
McLeod talked about how he and Ware bonded over their families—Ware would always ask about McLeod’s family, and share information about his own family.
“His love of family was definitely something we shared,” McLeod explained.
McLeod got to know Ware’s parents, and said that it was easy to tell that he got his fun personality and love of people from his mother and father.
Ware also had an unforgettable sense of humor.
“His thoughts were always for the Oxford community,” Brantner explained. “I can’t say enough about the legacy that he leaves. Those things will live on, which means that he will live on.”
McLeod concluded his remarks by talking about how Ware made the community around him a better place through his willingness to help others.
“John Ware lived that ideal and believed in that ideal,” McLeod said. “For the 73 years that he lived on earth, he made it a better place.”
Paul Ware is five years younger than John, so he grew up listening to his brother make jokes. Paul said that John probably forgot more jokes than everybody else in the room ever knew. Paul said that part of John’s legacy will be that people around him enjoyed the stories that he told.
Paul also talked about how John loved to read and also had a fondness for automobiles. He suspected that his brother only became a supervisor in Nottingham because he wanted to drive the snowplow.
McLeod talked about how his friend loved electronics, especially gadgets, and joked that Ware had a large flat screen television before they were even invented.
Ware is survived by three daughters, Karen Ware of Potomac, Md., Nancy Ware Sapp of Lititz, Pa., and Debra Kline of Pequea, Pa.; ten grandchildren; his brother Paul Ware; and sisters Marilyn Ware and Carol Ware. He was predeceased by his son, John Charles.
Donations can be made in Ware’s memory to the Oxford Civic Association, P.O. Box 34, Oxford, PA 19363-0034 or the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016. Online condolences can be made at jwarecondolences@gmail.com.
John H. Ware IV...
Carl Fretz...
Continued from Page 1A and professional collaboration, and Mason helped Fretz learn about the banking industry.
In 1951, Fretz married Eleanor Nash and soon they started a family that would eventually include three daughters.
When he wasn’t working or spending time with his family, Fretz was usually singing—people said that he had a wonderful singing voice, and he was a natural showman. While he was still in high school he was involved in a local radio program called “Oxford on the Air.” He was a natural people person, and he became a well-known figure around town—in part because of his involvement with the church and other community organizations.
“He was always active in the community,” said Lawrie Drennen, whose family has owned Oxford Feed & Lumber for generations. “Carl was a classmate. We graduated together in 1948. Then he went to work at the bank and I came here.
Everybody knew Carl Fretz.”
As a lifelong resident of Oxford, Fretz was heavily invested in the Oxford community. He was a president of the Lions Club, vice president of the Union Fire Company and its ambulance association, and a founding member of the Oxford Athletic Association. He also served on the Oxford School Board and was on the board of the Oxford Area Historical Association. When Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. was founded, Fretz was a chairman of the board of directors.
As his responsibilities at the bank increased, Fretz played a role in helping many families get the loans they needed to buy their homes. The Peoples Bank of Oxford also extended a lifeline to many small businesses in the area. Fretz was a proponent of supporting local businesses, and was a catalyst for growth in the Oxford area.
“He led the Peoples Bank of Oxford into a new era,” said Vernon Ringler, a longtime business owner in Oxford. “He was always open to supporting businesses in the community.”
During a talk about the history of banking in the Oxford area in 2014, Fretz illustrated the role that the Peoples Bank of Oxford played in the business community by using Dave Eldreth as an example. Eldreth was a teacher at a local school and was seeking a $5,000 loan to pursue his dream of starting a pottery business. He had difficulty securing the funding necessary to pursue his dream, but then he met with Fretz, and was able to get the loan. He turned that $5,000 into one of the largest pottery operations in the U.S. Fretz’s stature at the Peoples Bank of Oxford grew year after year. He became an executive vice president and then, in 1972, he was selected to serve as its president. One of his primary goals was to help the bank expand its services. When a neighboring building went up for sale, Fretz was able to convince his colleagues to have the bank purchase the building so that it could be torn down to make room for parking and a drivethru window. The drive-thru window was a useful marketing
tool, and attracted many new customers.
Peoples Bank of Oxford opened its first branch on the southern part of town and the new branch proved to be popular. More branches were added throughout southern Chester County as the area experienced a commercial and residential building boom in the 1980s and 1990s. At its peak, the Peoples Bank of Oxford employed more than 120 employees at seven locations from Longwood to Oxford and captured 80 percent of Oxford’s banking business. Fretz liked to say that the Peoples Bank of Oxford was small enough to know a customer, but big enough to provide the customer with the services that he needs.
Fretz celebrated his 50th anniversary with the bank in 1998.
The milestone received a great deal of attention in the local media. He also received more than 400 cards and letters from people who had been his customers through the years.
When Oxford Area High School established its distinguished alumni program, Fretz was an obvious choice to be in the inaugural class. He was cited for not only his leadership as a banker, but for serving the community with humility, integrity, and compassion. Fretz also received Oxford’s Citizen of the Year Award.
Fretz’s banking career spanned 56 years until he retired in 2004, the same year that the Peoples Bank of Oxford merged with National Penn Bank. He and Eleanor shared 54 years of marriage until she passed away in 2006. Fretz was also a member of the Oxford Methodist Church for 71 years.
Reverend Mark Terry said that Fretz loved attending church services, and was very supportive of the church through the years.
“He stayed involved at the church through a number of different activities,” Terry explained. “He was very passionate about the music program. He loved to sing.”
Terry described Fretz as a very
likable person who treated oth-
ers well.
“I think it’s an example of you get what you give,” Terry explained. “He was a good friend and a supporter. He gave others a lot of love and encouragement, and they gave it back to him.”
Buzz Tyson met Fretz in 1995 when he became the executive director of the Lighthouse Youth Center.
Tyson recalled that when he and Lighthouse Board Chairman Barry Hostetter signed an agreement to get a loan to purchase the building on 47 South Third Street for the Lighthouse Youth Center, Fretz was interested in learning about Tyson’s family and the big plans that he had for the center.
“I learned later that Carl wanted to know my family values and work ethnic to gauge if he should give out a loan,” Tyson explained. “The fact that I grew up on a farm and had two jobs to get me through college was something that Carl appreciated, and he had a desire to help me bless the children of Oxford.”
More than a decade later, Fretz was instrumental in organizing a fundraising breakfast to bring Steve Wingfield, an evangelist from Virginia, to southern Chester County for a three-day outreach event in Jennersville.
“Carl liked to see individuals who had a big vision and ideas to bless the Oxford community,” Tyson explained. “He always wanted them to succeed. He enjoyed seeing the new Lighthouse built and liked that we were building for now as well as the future.”
Tyson said that Fretz supported the Lighthouse during various fundraisers. When the Lighthouse would sell subs or Easter Eggs during fundraisers, Fretz would buy enough to feed the children at the Lighthouse. He also made a contribution to the building project.
“Carl was known for his encouraging words and got excited to see a big vision and ideas going on in Oxford to bless the community,” Tyson said. “Carl would love to financially support these programs and love to encourage individuals to keep dreaming big in Oxford.”
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
Pie in the sky
Continued from Page 1A
and the borough has little to show for all the grant money. Where does the grant money come from? Your taxes folks, along with everyone else’s taxes, which makes these grants a boondoggle and a joke. Money is spent and nothing
Students spend their summer mornings helping children in the community
By John Chambless Staff Writer
It was hard to tell who was having more fun on Monday morning – the kindergarteners at the Mary D. Lang Center in Kennett Square who were getting a snack, or the teens who were delivering the bags of food.
The four teens – all members of the Humanitarian Club at Kennett High School -- were kicking off a new program this week. From Monday through Thursday, club members will be providing a healthy, balanced snack to students at the school as one of the many ongoing community service projects the club sponsors.
Just before 10 a.m., the students and club adviser Lisa Teixeira talked about how the club’s “Books, Bytes and Bites” program came about.
“Almost a year ago, we thought about maybe doing a summer lunch program,” Marisa Maxwell said. “There are a lot of kids in our district who get free or reduced lunch, but during the summer, they don’t have the opportunity to get lunch. We went through a couple different routes to find something that worked for us. Now we’re providing a little lunch for kids – milk, a fruit cup, fresh fruit, a granola bar and a cheese stick. We worked with the Kennett Food Cupboard, who provided all the food for our program, as well as the Chester County Food Bank.”
Maxwell, along with Kavya Shetty, actually graduated from Kennett High School last month, but since they were part of starting the summer snack program, they wanted to see it through. “This is so much fun, though,” Maxwell said with a smile. “This is what I want to be doing with my summer.” Accompanying them were younger Kennett High School students Olivia Pagliaro and Ben Skross, who will be learning the ropes and continuing the program next summer.
“It’s just nice. They say charity starts at home, so it’s nice to give back to a community that’s
given us so much,” Shetty said. “Over the year, we’ve been able to help people, but to help students who are coming up and will follow in our footsteps, it’s nice.”
“It’s great that these young people are willing to fill this need for these kids,” Teixeira said. “I know the Food Cupboard is thrilled because they have such a spike in need during the summer. Some kids at our school get breakfast and lunch at school, so all of a sudden these families have to take the same budget and come up with two extra meals a day.
Even though this is just one snack, it’s a start.”
The snacks provided to youngsters last summer were minimal – often just a granola bar and drink – and the meals provided by the Humanitarian Club are a big improvement.
At 10 a.m., the four students pulled carts loaded with bags of snacks and apples to the 18 summer classrooms, where they were met with big grins from the students. The high-school students placed the sacks where each teacher told them and quietly left the room, since lessons were in progress. The children often waved or stared in awe as the bags were delivered.
“Oh this is so much fun!” Pagliaro said as she returned to the cart for another bag.
everything for the distribution. By 10:20, the job was over and the students were free to continue their days.
At the high school, the Humanitarian Club is also overseeing a summer program at the library so that local students can come in and use the computers, work on their summer reading, check out a book and enjoy a snack during the summer. Club members are there every day to supervise.
The Humanitarian Club organizes a wide range of fundraisers and community service projects all year long, and the students listed several: A fall food drive netted eight tons of food for the Kennett Food Cupboard this year, as well as a Night of the Arts to raise money for various foundations, and a money collection to help families displaced by fires in the community. They also collected money for Nepal after the recent earthquakes, collected prom clothes for the Alternative Prom in Philadelphia, and they clean up Anson B. Nixon Park every March.
“It’s a nice marriage between the community and our club,” Teixeira said. “Hunger awareness is a big issue in our community.”
happens, and the borough itself is basically the same as it was 45 years ago, when I purchased the Oxford Press from John H. Ware III.
(Uncle Irvin’s column is his opinion only, and is not a news story.)
The team had arrived at the school at around 8:15 a.m. and transported the donated food from the Food Cupboard across the street from the school. They sorted, bagged and labeled
“It’s cool to be able to start a program like this that will hopefully last,” Maxwell said. “We’ve actually started a program in our community that will make a lasting impact.”
To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com.
Courtesy photo
Marisa Maxwell, Kavya Shetty, Olivia Pagliaro and Ben Skross prepare bags of snacks for students at the Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center.
engineers created a design that would alleviate the water levels and submitted it to the
Ragan Engineering – found the design to be inadequate. Brown said that Keystone needs to pump the water from the basins and perform the perk and soil testing to satisfy the County Conservation District and Ragan Engineering.
“Some tree work has been done. They’re going to put some additional inlets in that we asked for...but basically, not much has been done in the last month,” Brown told the supervisors.
“They (Keystone) have agreed that they are going to do some things that they have not done yet?” asked board chairman Richard Scott-Harper.
“Basically, they haven’t said ‘No’ to anything, but it’s a matter of getting them to do it,” Brown responded.
“They’re on the clock, and their clock expires at the end of the month,” which, he said, coincides with the dedication of open space in the development.
“The problem we have is that there wasn’t even a goodfaith effort by Keystone, so here we were back in April, hearing that they we going to do something, and here we are at the end of June and July,” said Lamborn Hunt resident Tony Taglione. “The weather was great through all of May, and they did absolutely nothing but put some dirt with rocks around the road and put some grass seed on it...We were willing to give them a couple of months [to complete the punch list]. It’s been four months.”
Taglione’s comments on July 1 were merely the latest chapter marker in what has become a broken record of conversation between London Grove Township and Lamborn Hunt residents. At a board meeting
on Oct, 2, 2013, a dozen residents expressed their concerns about safety in their neighborhood stemming from what they called shoddy work. On April 1 of his year, Taglione filled the supervisors in on the myriad of problems that have continued as a result of Keystone’s tardiness, which include downed trees that have not yet been removed, flooded sidewalks, storm drains that do not meet regulation standards, and the fact that some of the retention ponds in the development do not properly collect water during heavy rains.
At the time, Keystone representatives assured Brown that these issues would be resolved beginning in mid-April. After discussion, the board agreed that the township would send Keystone a default notice, giving them 90 days to finish the improvements in the development. If the punch list of projects were not completed after 90 days, the township had the right to take a financial letter of credit it holds on the development -- and bid out the cost of the remaining projects, in order to get them done as soon as possible.
At its June 3 meeting, the board stepped up their earlier plan, agreeing that the township would give Keystone until July 21 to finish the punch list or pull the plug on the financial letter of credit.
The board agreed that it would reach its decision at its Aug. 5 meeting.
“We’re both in a frustrating place,” Scott-Harper told Taglione. “You have more political power than we do, in going against the developer. But you’re going to have to spend your money and take them to court. It’s unfortunate,
but that’s the world we live in.
Until we get to the point where we’re close to a bond that’s ready to be pulled, that’s the only clout we have.”
In other township business, the board authorized the bidding process for the improvement of a bridge in Goddard Park. The bridge, located in the park near the Stonecroft development, is badly in need of repair, said Diana Werner of the township’s Park and Recreation Board.
“Right now, it’s in bad shape,” she said. “People are just making their own way across the creek, throwing in boulders and boards. It’s really turning into bog, and it’s a mess. We really need to get this connection in place, so that we can keep it both viable and aesthetically pleasing.”
Michael Cardile was appointed by the board to the township’s Environmental Advisory Council, a term that expires at the end of 2017.
The board gave approval to an annual 5K run/walk fundraising event through Goddard Park, which will be held on Sept. 19 and sponsored by The Garage Community and Youth Center. This will be third annual 5K event sponsored by The Garage at the park.
Supervisor Dave Connors said that in a recent meeting he had with Sen. Andrew Dinniman, he encouraged Dinniman to follow up with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) about the current status of PennDOT’s design concepts, that are part of a plan to upgrade the Chatham intersection.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com .
SUMMER ZEST: Beer garden opens at Longwood
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Leave it to two of Chester County’s most innovative entities to collaborate, bring a new idea to fruition, introduce it to an already-adoring public, and wrap its opening around an event that is expected to draw thousands of visitors.
Well, that is just what Longwood Gardens and the Victory Brewing Company have done by introducing a new beer garden last week that complements the start of the exhibit “Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience,” which will appear through Oct. 31 at Longwood.
Longwood Gardens executive director Paul Redman said that talks to create a beer garden began about a year ago, when Longwood’s marketing director, Marnie Conley, approached Victory with the idea of a collaboration. The idea was already familiar to Redman, who had visited a beer garden in a botanical garden in Colorado during a business trip there in 2014.
“It was an intriguing idea,” Redman said. “We were coming up with the notion of having a beer garden, but rather than just offer a domestic selection, we thought, ‘How can we do it in a way that’s beautiful and have a potential brew that is made with ingredients grown right here at Longwood Gardens?’ The key piece was determining what we would grow.”
Complemented by tasty pub fare created by Longwood chefs, the beer garden has three Victory selections on
The beer garden has three Victory Brewing Company selections on tap, including Longwood Seasons: Summer Zest, a brewed by Victory using lemons grown at Longwood.
tap, including a signature brew called Longwood Seasons: Summer Zest, a Saison beer brewed by Victory that uses lemons grown at Longwood Gardens. In September, guests will be able to enjoy Longwood Seasons: Autumn Harvest, a wheat ale featuring floral flavors from Longwoodharvested honey.
While the nighttime exhibit “Nightscape” will take guests on a tour of moving imagery and lights set to original music, the beer garden has a lineup of entertainment of its own. Several local musicians will play at the beer garden through October. Bluegrass performer Marc Silver will play on Aug. 16, Sept. 10 and Oct. 8 and 15; gypsy jazz performer Jon Dichter will perform on July 16 and 30, Aug. 27, Sept. 24 and Oct. 29; and innovative musician Angela Sheik will perform on July 23, Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 22.
For Redman, incorporating the beer garden at Longwood is the simple act of catching a wave and clinging onto it.
Courtesy photos (2) Longwood Gardens’ new beer garden will be open on selected evenings through the end of October.
“There’s definitely a trend out there where people are loving beer gardens,” he said. “What the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has done with their pop-up beer gardens has captured my attention. With Victory and the other local beers being made in our region, we thought that putting all of that energy together and placing it in our setting would be very successful. It’s a way of creating a new selling point, getting our guests to come back, and appealing to younger audiences.”
The Longwood Gardens Beer Garden will be open Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 6 to 11 p.m. through Oct. 31. Beer garden guests require a “Nightscape” ticket or member reservation to enter. For more information, visit www.longwoodgardens. org.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Library...
families use, and I think that’s misguided.”
The Kennett Public Library is enormously popular with its users. In the month of June alone, 2000 students came to the library for programs. Murray said that participation in the library’s programming is up by 31 percent over the last four years. The number of visitors has increased by 7 percent during that same time, and the number of items circulated has increased by 15 percent. All these figures defy national trends where patrons are visiting libraries less and less, said Susan Mackey-Kallis, the president of the library board.
But library officials have been criticized—by some in the community—for several major decisions over the last two years, ranging from the decision to build a new facility on property in Kennett Township to the library’s name change from the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library to Kennett Public Library. Additionally, the library board has been hindered by internal strife, with three members resigning this spring amid disagreements.
Fetick said that he attended a meeting last week that included other municipalities and concerned citizens, and there was significant concern about the library board’s ability to make decisions that are in the best interest of the community.
“The residents of Kennett Square, through our donation to the library, have a vested interest in the future of the library. With that in mind, I am requesting that Borough Council withhold
any future donations to the library until council can appoint a borough representative to the library board,” Fetick wrote.
Fetick drew a distinction between the borough council being able to appoint a representative to the library board and the library board itself vetting a candidate who lives in Kennett Square to serve on the board.
Mackey-Kallis said that the borough does now have one representative on the board as Margarita Garay Zarco was appointed to serve in June. She added that from her viewpoint Kennett Square Borough does not currently meet the criteria to have the authority to appoint a representative because the borough does not have a dedicated tax to provide stable funding for the library, nor does it contribute its “fair share” amount each year.
Kennett Square Borough’s “fair share” level would be $44,000 annually, and this year the borough is contributing about $37,000, according to library officials.
Mackey-Kallis said that the library board would like for Kennett Square Borough to offer the “fair share” level of support so that the municipality would have the opportunity to appoint a representative.
Fetick emphasized that with-
holding the funding is not a punitive measure, but rather one that is aimed at ensuring collaboration between Kennett Square and the library board.
“A library is a valuable resource for our community and I want to protect it,” he said. Fetick recommended that the borough participate in a task force with Kennett Township and other municipalities, as well as concerned residents, to “evaluate the library’s ongoing ability to meet the needs of our residents. The task force would be charged with ensuring that the greater community’s needs are being met with the current library services and future planning. Their independent study and possible recommendations will help guide us in planning for the future.”
When he made the request for borough council to withhold the funding, Fetick said that maybe council could consider the request at its next meeting on Monday, July 20.
Mackey-Kallis said that she hoped that library officials could meet with Fetick, borough manager Joseph Scalise, or other officials from Kennett Square to resolve the issue before the library’s programs and services are jeopardized.
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
Patriotism on parade
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
One of the highlights of the July 3 First Friday event in Oxford was a bicycle-decorating contest for youngsters.
Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) invited children to decorate their bikes according to a patriotic theme, and officials were overwhelmed by the creativity that was demonstrated. Participants registered their
entries at a table on Locust Street and then paraded their patriotic bikes down Third Street. Prizes were handed out in the parking lot of Pizza Hut.
“We did not expect so many incredible entries,” explained Donna Hosler, the executive director of OMI. “Next year, we’ll have to have more prizes.”
Continuing the patriotic theme, there was a celebrity bicycle race featuring local officials and business owners in a competitive, but
friendly race. Each contestant found their own way to honor America by dressing in red, white, and blue or decorating their bikes. The contestants in the celebrity bicycle race had the honor of judging the entries in the bicycle-decorating contest.
The next First Friday event in Oxford is slated for Aug. 7.
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony for Oxford Public Library
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Patrons of the Oxford Public Library have been enjoying the results of a major expansion project that added about 4,000 square feet of comfortable, welllit space to the building for about a month. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new wing of the library took place on July 3, with dozens of library supporters attending the event.
Jamie Cole, the president of the library’s board of trustees, said that the expansion project was the culmination of a lot of effort over many, many years to plan and fund the project. He said that, on behalf of the board, he wanted to thank everyone—from the little kid who gave 50 cents to the supporters who were able to give a lot more—who made the expansion project a reality.
“The community involvement has been absolutely tremendous,” Cole said, noting that local businesses helped out in numerous
ways. Oxford Feed & Lumber, for instance, donated materials for the project. Cole also thanked Nowland Associates, which handled the design and construction work, for doing a fantastic job. Work on the library is now entering its next phase. The adult collection has already been relocated to the new wing so the next step is to move the young adult and children’s collection upstairs to the space that previously housed the adult collection. That move will take place late in the summer. Overall, the size of the library is increasing from about 7,000 square feet to 11,000 square feet.
Mayor Geoff Henry called the library one of the best-kept secrets in the community.
Joseph Sherwood, the executive director of the Chester County Library System said that he was thankful to have such a great library to serve the Oxford community.
“Libraries are so important as community hubs,” he said.
The youngsters decorated their bikes with a patriotic theme and paraded them down Third Street.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Local officials and supporters gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new wing of the Oxford Public Library on July 3.
Photos (5) by Steven Hoffman
Mayor Geoff Henry hands out the trophy to the winner.
Betsy Brantner pulls ahead of mayor Geoff Henry in her tricycle that was dubbed by one spectator as Stars and Stripes Forever.
Civil War reenactors Scott Kelly, Catherine Kelly and David Hospador at the July 3 First Friday event in Oxford.
Editorial Letters to the Editor
Fretz and Ware leave lasting legacies
Carl Fretz passed away at the age of 85 on July 2, the same day that a memorial service was held for John H. Ware IV, another iconic figure in Oxford.
It’s unusual for a small community to have such generous benefactors, but the two men shared a love of Oxford. They both dedicated their time and talents to make the community a better place for everyone who lived and worked there. In one way or another, they helped many, if not all, of the organizations that work to improve the lives of Oxford residents.
Fretz spent most of his professional career as an executive with the Peoples Bank of Oxford. He was an ardent supporter and advocate of small businesses in the community, and when Fretz held a management position the bank was an unquestionable asset to the business owners during a period of growth in the Oxford area in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
Fretz was a family man and a people person who often shared his terrific singing voice during community events like the patriotic remembrances that were started after 9/11. He served on the school board, was a president of the Lions Club, a founding member of the Oxford Athletic Association, and he was an early supporter of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. when that organization got its start.
Ware, meanwhile, liked to regale acquaintances with his jokes and stories. The Ware family has held a prominent place in the Oxford community for generations, and Ware generously supported dozens of organizations in the Oxford area, contributing what is believed to be millions of dollars. Organizations like the Oxford Area Senior Center, the Jennersville YMCA, the Oxford Public Library, the Neighborhood Services Center, and the Oxford Fire Company were close to his heart.
Ware was a longtime member of Oxford Borough Council, including six years when he served as council president. He gave generously to the borough and its police department for many years.
Ware and Fretz have both left a lasting legacy of service to the community that current and future generations can emulate—but will find very difficult to duplicate.
Fretz and Ware will be missed, and their contributions to the Oxford community will long be remembered.
Chester County Press
Update on significant legislation recently passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly
By Representative John Lawrence
The past week saw three major pieces of legislation advance in the Pennsylvania General Assembly: an on-time, fiscally responsible, no-new-taxes state budget, a bill abolishing the state-run liquor store monopoly, and comprehensive public-sector pension reform for new state employees and teachers. This update gives details and a status report on each of these important measures.
ABOLISHING STATE RUN
LIQUOR STORES
For the past several years, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has repeatedly passed legislation to abolish the state liquor store system. This relic of prohibition, administered by the patronage-laden Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) and infested with all of the typical bureaucracy of any government agency is widely ridiculed by Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike across the Commonwealth. Last week, members of the House and Senate came together to pass an historic bill to finally get the state out of a business it has no business being in – the retail sale of wine and hard liquor.
The details of the proposal are straightforward: existing beer retailers (tavern licensees) can sell limited amounts of wine and spirits to-go in a similar manner to the current ability to sell beer to-go. In addition, existing beer distributors have the first opportunity at permits to sell wine and hard liquor. Permits that haven’t been issued yet would be auctioned off to the highest bidder. State liquor stores would close as private retailers come on-line. An additional and recurring $220 million from licensing fees and liquor taxes recaptured from existing border bleed would go towards the state budget.
Regrettably, Gov.Wolf vetoed this common-sense legislation to get the state out of the booze business, stating in his veto “that this plan would result in higher prices for consumers.” I strongly disagree. Market-based competition would result in lower, not higher, prices than the current state-run liquor monopoly. In my view, the Governor missed an opportunity to sign legislation that has broad support from the citizens of Pennsylvania, bringing our state into the 21st century and giving consumers the ability to purchase beer, wine, and spirits in the same location. Instead, the Governor’s veto has emboldened and rewarded the state liquor clerks union that has vocally supported the continuation of the state-run wine and liquor store system to the determent of Pennsylvania consumers.
REFORM FOR STATE-RUN PENSION SYSTEMS
Separately, the House and the Senate also passed comprehensive legislation reforming the stateadministered pension systems for state workers and teachers. This bill, now before the Governor for his consideration, would enroll all newly hired state workers and teachers into a defined-contribution retirement plan similar to what is typically offered in the private sector. Current state workers and teachers would continue in the exist-
ing defined-benefit plan, and current retirees would see no change to their benefits.
Earlier this spring, I hosted a series of eight town hall meetings across our area and spent a great deal of time at each speaking about the challenges facing the state’s two main pension plans. The State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) are underfunded by roughly $50 billion. Put another way, SERS and PSERS are currently funded at about 65 percent of the amount needed to keep all of the promises that have been made. How did this happen? It is important to state who is not at fault – state workers and school teachers, who have always made their required contributions to the pension systems. Unfortunately the state, under both Republican and Democrat governors and legislatures in the late 1990s through the mid-2000s, failed to make the necessary contributions to SERS and PSERS, instead choosing to spend that money elsewhere in the state budget. These tremendously shortsighted decisions, combined with the challenging investment environment after 9/11 and the stock market crash of 2008, bring us to the situation we face today – a $50 billion unfunded liability that has contributed to several downgrades by the national credit rating agencies and significant fiscal uncertainty for the future of the Commonwealth and its taxpayers. In my view, the state has proven it cannot be counted on to properly fund the traditional defined-benefit pension system. Indeed, many other states and local municipalities have similar pension funding issues, proving that government is rarely capable of the fiscal discipline necessary with traditional pension-based retirement plans.
As the old axiom goes, when you are in a deep hole (in this case a $50 billion hole) and you want to get out, the first step is to stop digging. The proposal before Gov. Wolf places new hires into a pay-as-you-go defined-contribution plan similar to what is offered in the private sector. Along with the defined-contribution plan, new employees would also have a cash-balance savings plan. By moving to a pay-as-you-go system, the state will be unable to defer pension funding into the future, putting the state on a more financially responsible path for the future. In addition, the pension reform plan is projected to save the Pennsylvania taxpayers nearly $11 billion over the next thirty years.
As previously mentioned, current teachers and state employees would remain in the defined-benefit plan, with the exception of elected officials. All legislators who participate in the defined-benefit state pension system will be transferred to the new defined-contribution plan under this proposal. While I have declined participation in the traditional defined-benefit state pension, I am in full agreement that it is important to lead by example, and support the move to get legislators out of the current defined-benefit system and into a defined-contribution system. And while the bill before the Governor does not solve the entire unfunded SERS and PSERS liability issue, it without question puts the state on a more sustainable financial path going forward. I strongly believe
Governor Wolf should sign this bill into law immediately.
STATE BUDGET
Perhaps the most important annual task of state government is to pass a fiscally responsible, balanced state budget. For the past several years, the state budget has been close to $30 billion, with approximately $10 billion of that figure going to fund K-12 education. Last week, the House and the Senate passed a state budget that funds government responsibly and respects the Pennsylvania taxpayer. The budget passed by the House and Senate increased funding for K-12 education by over $120 million, fully funded this year’s state contribution to teachers pensions at $1.7 billion, increased funding for higher education by three percent, provided more money for college scholarships, increased funding to Veterans homes by 10 percent, added additional monies to services for the severely disabled, and restored a number of health and agriculture related line items that the Governor’s proposal zeroed out. Rather than ask the tapped-out Pennsylvania taxpayer for higher taxes to feed the beast, the budget prioritized existing revenues and counted on additional reoccurring revenue from the sale of the state liquor store system. It is worth mentioning that there are things in this budget proposal that I find distasteful. This will always be the case in any budget, since there must be compromise to bring together enough support to pass any legislation. On the whole, it is a balanced, fiscally responsible, on-time budget that balances the costs of governing while taking seriously the often-forgotten taxpayer’s ability to pay for everything.
Regrettably, Gov. Wolf vetoed this budget immediately after it was sent for his consideration, apparently before even reading it. To put this in perspective, no governor has vetoed an entire state budget in forty years. The Governor could have exercised his line-item veto to strike only the parts of the budget he found objectionable. Nearly twothirds of the line items in the budget passed by the General Assembly were funded at the same or higher amounts than the Governor proposed in his own budget plan.
By signing the parts of the budget we all agree on, Gov. Wolf could have kept most functions of government running and minimized the impact of a budget impasse on the everyday citizen. By vetoing the entire budget, Governor Wolf has put the state of Pennsylvania on the path of a government shutdown.
As mentioned, the Governor has his own budget proposal. His budget, which in my view has good points, bad points, and unpalatable points, calls for $12.8 billion in new taxes and spending over the next two years. Remember, this is on top of an existing $30 billion state budget. The Governor’s proposed budget is an incredible expansion of government, driven by his proposal that represents one of the largest tax increases in the nation’s history.
While good people can agree or disagree on the merits of the Governor’s budget proposal, what cannot be debated is this: If you want to increase government spending, you have to find a way to pay
for it. The Governor has repeatedly stated that his proposal must be taken as a total package. In early June, Gov. Wolf’s “total package” tax increase proposal was scheduled for a vote in the state House, and it was unanimously voted down. Not even the Governor’s strongest supporters in the state House would go on the record to support his dramatic tax increases in the proposal.
So where does the state budget debate go from here? Until a budget is in place, state workers will be paid, and essential services provided by the state police and corrections officers will continue. School districts, universities, and non-profits that provide services on behalf of the Commonwealth will not see any state funding. Social services for the most vulnerable of the Commonwealth’s citizens, including intellectually disabled individuals, will come under increased pressure as the monies used to pay for services ceases.
Many of the folks in our area who have called or emailed me on the budget have strongly encouraged me to cut or at least hold the line on spending, while funding core government services responsibly. I have seen very limited support for the Governor’s “total package” of revenue increases.
While I am always willing to listen to all sides of a debate, I am not supportive of the Governor’s package of unprecedented tax increases. I stand ready to work with him and members of the legislature to put forward a budget plan that responsibly funds government while respecting taxpayers.
One of the reasons I ran for office was to keep the voice of the common citizen from being drowned out by the lobbyists in Harrisburg. Over the past few months, I have seen literally hundreds of special interest lobbyists walking the halls of the Capitol building, the vast majority of them trying to defeat reforms to the state liquor system and the state pension systems, while calling for vast increases in state spending in every line item. My interest is not with them, it is with you, your neighbors, and the residents of our area. Your thoughts and opinions on these bills, and everything else in state government, are very important to me. Please feel free to contact me at JLawrence@pahousegop.com, or call the Jennersville office at 610869-1602 or 610-593-6565 to share your thoughts on these or other state-related issues. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your voice in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
State Representative John Lawrence represents the 13th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Gov. Wolf’s energy investment initiative
funding, but would be expanded to include municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals;
It is unlikely that the Republicanled state legislature will approve any separate bills that expand renewables or otherwise promote conservation. Therefore it is important that the governor stand firm in the budget negotiations that will determine the fate of his energy investment initiative.
State Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware/ Montgomery) is Democratic chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
• $20 million in grants to facilitate construction of wind farms and support their connection to the energy grid; • $20 million in grants for farms for energy efficiency upgrades, biodigesters, and distributed wind generation; and • $50 million to improve the energy efficiency of small businesses, local governments, schools, and nonprofits. Pennsylvania produces almost one percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. By expanding renewable energy use and increasing energy conservation, the governor’s initiative would help meet our ethical responsibilities with regard to climate change and also be a good step toward complying with President Obama’s proposed Clean Power Plan. The initiative would also create jobs. At a recent House Democratic Policy Committee hearing, Jim Kurtz, president of RER Energy Group, a solar development company, testified that restoring the Sunshine Solar program could lead to 4,000 solar projects, which would create or retain 800 jobs. The plan would also help Pennsylvania homeowners, businesses, and nonprofits save money in reduced energy costs. At that same policy committee hearing, Thomas Schneider, the North Penn School District’s director of facilities and operations, testified that its energy management program already saves the district $2 million per year. The Wolf initiative could generate more savings.
CARL R. FRETZ
Carl R. Fretz, former president and vice-chairman of the Peoples Bank of Oxford, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on July 2. He was 85.
Carl (“Poppy”) was born in 1930 in Oxford. Hewas preceded in death by his beloved wife, Eleanor Nash Fretz, with whom he spent 54 years of marriage. Carl was a devoted father to Carlene Fretz of Oxford, Karen (Fretz) Andress and her husband Jay of Oxford, and Lisa (Fretz) Baughman and husband Bob of Landenberg. He was adored by his grandchildren, Joshua, Tyler, Jacob and Susanna Andress, and Alex and Carli Baughman. And his beloved dog, Mozie.
Carl was the son of Herbert Fretz, Sr., and Lillian Pierce Fretz, and is survived by his sister, Jeanne Cerro of Booneville, N.Y., and sister-in-law Shirley Nash Owens of Lincoln University. He was preceded in death by his brother, Herbert Fretz; and sister, Erma Thorne.
Carl attended Oxford area schools (Class of 1948) and earned numerous varsity sports letters, performed in many musicals and was awarded Best All-round Senior in 1948. Upon graduation, he started his 56-year career at Peoples Bank of Oxford, beginning as a file clerk and retiring as vice-chairman.
During his years as a bank executive, the bank grew to over 120 employees working at seven locations, from Longwood to South Oxford, and captured 80 percent of Oxford’s banking business. Carl was proud to witness the overwhelming success of Oxford’s first drive-through bank.
Carl happily led a life of service to the community of Oxford. He provided leadership as president of the Oxford Lions Club, member and treasurer of the Oxford Area School Board for nearly a decade, a founder of the Oxford Athletic Association, officer of the Union Fire Company and ambulance association, Oxford Area Historical Association board member, and chairman of the board of Oxford Mainstreet Inc.
Carl was a member of the Oxford United Methodist Church for over 71 years. Many will remember his expressive tenor voice that he willingly shared at church and community events, including
fundraisers, variety shows and hundreds of weddings and funerals. He was also an avid sports booster of the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and Sixers.
Carl was awarded Citizen of the Year in 1980 and received high honors when he was nominated for inclusion in the inaugural class of Distinguished Alumni of Oxford Area School District. His greatest joy was living a life in service to others. Carl will be loved and missed by all who were fortunate to know him.
A funeral was held July 7. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Methodist Church in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
WALTER N. HARRIS
Walter N. Harris, 96, a lifetime resident of Lincoln University, passed away on June 28 at Twin Pines Health Care Center in West Grove.
He was the husband of the late Virginia D. Jones Harris. Born in Lincoln University, he was the son of the late Charles Norman and Elena Susana Martin Harris. Walter was a member of the Oxford United Methodist Church. He was also a lifetime member of the Rough and Tumble Historical Association in Kinzers, Pa. Walter built his own tractors and entered them in tractor shows. He also piloted his own BT 13 plane and enjoyed collecting antiques. He is survived by one daughter, Gay Harris of Lincoln University; one son, Kenneth C. Harris and his wife Jackie of Oxford; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mildred Fisher of Strasburg and Elizabeth Brubaker of Christiana. He was preceded in death by a son, Mark N. Harris; and brother, John Harris. Funeral services were held July 3. Interment was in Oxford Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
WENDELL J. WOODS, SR
Wendell James Woods, Sr., 40 of Avondale, passed away on June 29. He was the husband of Jennifer L. Todd Woods, with whom he celebrated 19 years of marriage. Wendell was an avid fisherman. He loved animals, camping, working on cars with his boys, riding his Harley with his wife on the back, but mostly he enjoyed spending time with his family, and with friends whom he considered family.
In addition to his wife, Wendell is survived by his children, Kevin M. (Lindsay) of Lancaster, Wendell James Jr., Justin J. and Kimberly L., all at home; his granddaughter, Rylee Grace; his father and mother, Samuel and Catherine Davis Woods of Rising Sun, Md.; and his siblings, Rose Millery, Rebecca Senter, Barbara Hamptom, Bille Guinn and Sarah Burgents. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who loved him very much.
A funeral was held July 3. Interment was in the Quarryville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Wendell’s memory can be made to The Children’s Inn at NIH, 7 West Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814. Online condolences can be made at www.ruffenachfuneralhome.com.
HARL LYNN COOMES, JR.
Harl Lynn “Bud” Coomes, Jr., 84, of Nottingham, passed away after a lengthy illness on July 2 at Jennersville Regional Hospital in West Grove. He was the husband of Juanita B. Smith Coomes ,with whom he shared 58 years of marriage. Born in Nottingham, he was the son of the late Harl, Sr., and Margie Wilson Coomes. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Bud attended the Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church. He owned and operated JMB Market in Nottingham, retiring after 48 years of service. He enjoyed stock car, NASCAR and drag racing. He is survived by his wife; one son, Michael L. Coomes and his wife Debra L. of Nottingham; and one sister, Dorothy Rash of Mabank, Texas. He was preceded in death by a brother, Hubert Coomes; and a sister, Edith Roland.
Funeral services were held July 6. Interment was in Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church, 408 Bayard Rd., Kennett Square, PA 19348. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
ROCCO J. MALCHIONE
Rocco (“Rocky,” “RJ”) J. Malchione, 95, of Kennett Square, passed away on July 4 at Jenner’s Pond..
He was the loving husband of Margaret Biondi Malchione, who passed away in 2006, and with whom he shared 65 years of marriage. Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Peter and Rose Mascaro Malchione. He was a mushroom grower for 40 years, until his retirement in 1981.
Rocky was a member of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church, where he served as a hospitality minister. He pitched for the Toughkenamon “Tuffies,” and was a member of the Kennett Old-Timers Baseball Association Hall of Fame. He was an expert trout and bass fisherman and was a member of the SCCSFA Sportsmen’s Club. He is survived by two daughters, Rosemarie Marenco and her husband Fred of Avondale, and Laraine Maddalozzo and her husband Lorenzo of Kennett Square; two brothers, Mario P. Malchione of Avondale, and John L. Malchione and his wife Helen of Avondale. He was a doting grandfather to five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by one great-grandson, Lukas Kevin Kremer; and one brother, Anthony V. Malchione. A visitation with family and friends will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on July 10 at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church (8910 Gap Newport Pike, Route 41, Avondale). His funeral mass will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery (Route 82, Kennett Square). In memory of Rocky, a contribution may be made to St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church, P.O. Box 709, Avondale, PA 19311. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.
Continued on Page 9A
John
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PAIR SOUGHT AFTER CART NEAR-MISS
Kennett Square Police are looking for two boys after they were seen on surveillance footage pushing a shopping cart off of the fourth floor of the Kennett Square Parking Garage on June 21. The cart nearly struck the person who reported the incident to police. The boys were described as possibly Hispanic, thin, one wearing black-rimmed glasses and one carrying a skateboard. The investigation is continuing.
CAR STOLEN
Overnight on June 11, a green 1998 Honda Civic was stolen from the 300 block of Harvey Circle in Kennett Square, according to police. It was recovered on June 13 on Riblett Lane in Wilmington, Del. The stereo had been removed.
PASSENGER FLEES
CAB FARE
On June 20 at 7:28 p.m., New Garden Township Police responded to the 200 block of Glenfield Lane for a report of a theft. A cab driver told police he dropped off Sean Rafter, 22, of Kennett Square, in the 100 block of Crestview Drive. Rafter tried to pay the fare with a credit card, but it was declined. He told the cab driver he had cash in the house to pay, but walked through the yard of the home and into another resi-
dence. When he was located, Rafter told police he thought he had money to pay the fare but was mistaken. The fare was paid by family members and Rafter was advised that he would be getting a summons in the mail pending an appearance at Magisterial Court.
BARKING DOG LEADS TO CITATIONS
On June 15 in the 500 block of Center Street, Kennett Square Police cited Betty Brown, 52, of Kennett Square, for violating an ordinance by allowing her dog to bark continuously. She was also cited for disorderly conduct, along with Vicki Rohrer, 54, of Kennett Square, after a disturbance regarding the dog’s barking.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Pennsylvania State Police Avondale arrested Carlos Lloyd, 25, of London Grove Township after he allegedly choked his girlfriend during a domestic disturbance on July 5. He was remanded to Chester County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled July 10.
LAWN DAMAGED
The front lawn of a home at 440 Kirks Mill Road in New London was damaged by someone driving onto it overnight on July 4, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale
DUI
On June 17 at 10 p.m., New Garden Township Police saw a car traveling northbound on Newark Road swerve into the southbound lane while going around a curve. The car continued driving partially in the southbound lane and forced an oncoming car off the road. After a traffic stop, driver Andrea Kochendorfer, 38, of Kennett Square, admitted to drinking, and she failed field sobriety tests. She was arrested for DUI and released pending a court appearance.
On June 21 at 8:03 p.m., New Garden Township Police saw a car swerving while traveling east in the 1400 block of Baltimore Pike. After a traffic stop, the driver, Javier Medina-Cortez, 45, of Kennett Square, showed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. He was arrested for DUI and released pending a court appearance.
On June 19 at 10:46 p.m., New Garden Township Police saw a car being driven on Baltimore Pike near Penn Green Road with two flat tires. The driver, Abram Escobar-Guadarrama, 24, of Avondale, showed signs of impairment and he was arrested for DUI. He was released pending a court appearance.
On June 20 at 9:49 p.m., New Garden Township Police responded to the 1200 block of Newark Road for a report of an officer nearly being struck by a car while he was directing traffic for a special event. The officer said he had northbound traffic stopped when a vehicle being driven by Mona Allen, 48, of Downingtown, came toward him and almost struck him. The officer had the vehicle pull over, and
OCTORARA RESERVOIR
Allen showed signs of impairment. There was a six-pack of beer on the front seat, with two unopened bottles remaining. Allen was arrested for DUI and released pending a court appearance.
Kennett Square Police stopped Daniel Diehl, 32, of Unionville, on June 12 when he was seen driving his car in the 100 block of North Union Street with major front-end damage and the front passenger-side tire blown out. He was arrested for DUI and released pending a summons from District Court.
Timothy Johnson of West Grove was arrested for DUI by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale on July 3 at 10:45 p.m. on West Baltimore Pike in Penn Township.
Joseph Ralph Hite, 83, of East Nottingham Township, was arrested for DUI by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale on July 4 at 1:43 a.m. at a sobriety checkpoint on Route 896. DUI and related charges are pending.
Rozina Crystal Hess of Newark, Del., was arrested for DUI after a traffic stop by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale on July 6 at 1:33 a.m. on Route 1.
Miguel Angel Macias-Valdez of Elkton, Md., was arrested for DUI by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale after he was seen sitting in a vehicle with a 30-pack of beer that was halfempty on the evening of July 5 at Route 896 and Flint Hill Road in Franklin Township.
Latasha Monique Nurid-Deen, of Lansdale, Pa., was arrested for DUI and possession of marijuana after a traffic stop by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale on Route 1 on July 4 at 8:47 a.m.
JOHN KOMARNICKI, JR.
John Komarnicki, Jr., 71, of Ocean View, Del, passed away peacefully on July 2, after his nearly four-year battle with cancer. He was born in 1943, in Chester, Pa., to John Komarnicki and Janet Bowman. Before moving to Delaware in 1999, he worked in the field of non-destructive testing and owned his own business. John was a U.S. Navy veteran, Boy Scout leader and mentor, and an avid sportsman who enjoyed boating, fishing, camping, hunting, and golfing. John was a tradesman and brilliant mechanic who could fix anything. He was a friend to anyone in need, giving without hesitation.
He is survived by his life partner and best friend, Meg Haney; his daughter, Julie Redding (Brian); son, J. Scott Komarnicki (Sarah); and his grandchildren, Griffin, Ashlyn and Cohen Redding, and Addison and Fischer Komarnicki. Additionally, he will be deeply missed by his brother, Kirk (Debbie) Komarnicki and sister, Kathy (Stan) Dubin, numerous other Komarnicki and Haney family members, and countless friends.
A celebration of life will be held on July 13 at noon at the Ocean View VFW Post 7234. Donations in his name to the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania/Myeloma, can be made online by visiting: https://giving.apps.upenn.edu/giving/jsp/fast. do?program=MC&fund=843020, or by mail. To donate by mail, you must first visit http://www.penncancer.org/patients/giving/tribute-gifts/ and print the “Gifts by Mail” donation form.
AUDREY A. BOVE
Audrey A. Bove, 85, of Avondale, passed away on July 2 at the Pocopson Home.
She was the wife of Robert E. Bove, Sr., who passed away in 1993, and with whom she shared 44 years of marriage. Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Myrtle Talley Dougherty. She was a mushroom packer at Avon Heights Mushrooms in Avondale. She enjoyed watching TV, eating ice cream, and being with her family and friends.
She is survived by two sons, Robert E. Bove, Jr. and his wife Debbie of Avondale, and Steven Bove and his wife B.J. of Phillipsburg, Pa.; two daughters, Cathy Rynier and her husband William of Coatesville, and Stacey Miller and her husband Steven of Avondale; one sister, Dannette Pusey of West Grove; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren..
Her graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on July 10 at the Union Hill Cemetery (Route 82, Kennett Square). Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com
In the Spotlight
Town tours scheduled through August Cemetery tour honors abolitionists
CELEBRATING COURAGE:
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
In 1853, 56 Quakers were asked to leave the Kennett Meeting House, because it was thought that their views on slavery were too extreme regarding what was generally considered an acceptable practice of American life.
They settled less than a mile up the road -- Route 1, to be exact -- and in 1855, they settled at what is now known as the Progressive Friends Meeting House, on land owned by Quakers John and Hannah Cox, who were among those asked to leave the Kennett Meeting House. Almost immediately, it became a central meeting place for participants in the Underground Railroad, who hid and transported slaves to freedom. Years later, it became a place where the movements of temperance and women’s rights were allowed to grow.
Recently, the Kennett Township Historical Commission took more than 30 history buffs on a tour of the Longwood Cemetery across the street from the house -- now owned by Longwood Gardens -- to honor the men and women who sacrificed their safety for their ideals. The tour was the latest in a series of Town Tours & Village Walks. Led by Kennett Historical Commission members, visitors toured seven graveside stations in the Longwood Cemetery to learn about the abolitionists who are buried there. At the resting place of John and Hannah Cox, Bob Merhar spoke about the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850, which complicated the abolitionist movement. Under the law, officials were required to arrest people suspected of being a runaway slaves, and officials who did not were penalized at the modern-day equivalent of $28,000. The law also prohibited a suspected slave from asking for a jury trial or testimony, and any person aiding a runaway slave by providing food or shelter was subject to six months of imprisonment and a fine, also the equivalent of $28,000 in today’s dollars. “The proximity of the Cox home to the Mason-Dixon Line, and the boundaries between a free state and a slave state, made the meeting house an important station in the transporting of slaves,” Merhar said. “The Coxes would feed and hide the slaves in the cellar of the meeting house.”
The tour also made a stop at the grave of the Barnard family, who established their home in nearby Pocopson as a “station” on the Underground Railroad, as did the Pennock family, who helped hide runaway slaves.
“The building itself is very progressive, as were the people who came through here,” said Sara Meadows, chairwoman of the Kennett Township Historical Commission. “They may have come from other walks of life and religions, but they all came here with a common goal of trying to do something about slavery. They then worked on all kinds of reforms, such as Native American laws and women’s rights. This tour demonstrates that they were willing to sacrifice their livelihoods and reputations to help transport the slaves through the Underground Railroad.”
The tour also introduced the story of Castner Hanway, a Quaker who served as a lead defendant in a court case that tested northern support for the Fugitive Slave Act. He was arrested for treason when he refused to provide aid to slave hunters, and eventually was found not guilty and released.
To the Commission members, preparing the tour was like opening a giant vault of area history.
“When we began researching these men and women, we were all so enthusiastic about learning more, and we had to really work hard to make their stories brief,” Meadows said. “They’re all a part of the rich history of Kennett Township and beyond, and we are proud to tell their stories.”
Seven additional walking tours have been scheduled this summer, starting with “Under the Ground at Yellow Springs” on July 9, and ending with “West Whiteland Township: 250 Years of History by Trolley” on Aug. 20. For a complete listing, visit the Chester County Historical Society’s website at www.chesco.org/planning/towntours, or contact Karen Marshall at 610-344-6923, or kmarshall@chesco.org.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Photos (4) by Richard L. Gaw
Photos from top to bottom:
The Progressive Friends Meeting House, adjacent to the Longwood Cemetery, was the most recent stop of this summer’s Town Tours & Village Walks, scheduled through August.
Bob Merhar of the Kennett Township Historical Commission
introduced visitors to the many abolitionists who were part of the Underground Railroad during the 1850s. Holly Hannum discusses abolitionists Eusbius Barnard, Sarah Painter and Sarah Marsh. The tour stopped at seven graves, including this marker that commemorates Marie Hansen, the wife of Bayard Taylor.
Freedom Festival 2015
Photo by Jeanna Bissinger
Photo by Jeanna Bissinger
Photo by Jeanna Bissinger
Photo by Brenda Butt
Photo by Brenda Butt
Photo by Brenda Butt
Photo by Brenda ButtPhoto by Brenda Butt
Photo by Jeanna Bissinger
July 11
Friends of Goddard Park meeting
The Friends of Goddard Park will be meeting the first Saturday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the park kiosk from April through November. Everyone from the community is invited to attend.
July 11
Chester County
ABATE food run
The Chester County chapter of ABATE will hold a food run to benefit the Oxford Neighborhood Services Center on July 11. Food will be collected during June at several grocery stores and through personal donations. On July 11, participants in the food run will meet in Jennersville and make the short commute to Oxford, where the food will be dropped off at the Neighborhood Services Center.
July 12
Record Collectors Expo
The Keystone Record Collectors Music Expo will be held on July 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Continental Inn (2285 Lincoln Highway east, Route 30, next to Dutch Wonderland). Dealers and collectors will sell, buy and trade records, CDs and music memorabilia of all eras. Admission is free. Call 610-9327852 for more information.
July 12
‘Frozen’ Princess Party
A “Frozen” Princes Party will be held at Union Fire Company No. 1 (315 Market St., Oxford) on July 12 from noon to 2 p.m. There will be a meet and greet with Elsa, Anna and Olaf from
Chester County Press
Calendar of Events
July 22
the Disney film. Tickets are $15 for a child and one adult, including lunch. There will also be sing-alongs and raffles. For more information or tickets, call 610-932-2411 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or 610-656-7294.
July 18
‘Best of the ‘50s’ concert
The New London Community Choir will present “The Best of the ‘50s,” a concert of 1950s top hits, on July 18 at 7 p.m. at the Avon Grove High School Auditorium. For more information, call 610-869-8129 or email nlcommunitychoirpa@gmail. com.
July 18
Horse health event Oxford Feed & Lumber (112 Railroad Ave., Oxford) hosts a horse health fair and tack swap on July 18 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the day, experts will discuss equine health and safety topics. There will be a tack swap (no charge to sell). Bring a table to set up items to sell. A barbeque will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
‘Cooking For Two’
Chef Kelly Gormley, owner of Peppercorns Catering, shares recipes and tips for preparing delicious, budget-friendly, perfectly portioned meals for two on July 22 at 7 p.m. at the Oxford Area Senior Center (12 E. Locust St., Oxford). The community is welcome, and the program is free. Call for reservations at 610-932-5244.
Through Aug. 21
‘Movies in the Park’ “Movies in the Park” will return to the Oxford Memorial Park on June 19. This family-oriented event is hosted by the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by businesses in the community. The movie previews start at 8:30 p.m. Bring your own seating. This year’s screenings will be: “Big Hero 6” (July 17); “Planes: Fire and Rescue” (Aug. 21). Concessions will be available at the pavilion throughout the evening. This event is free and open to the public. In the event of rain, the event will be cancelled. Visit www.oxfordpa. org for information.
Through Aug. 12
Nixon Park concert series
Anson B. Nixon Park, on Walnut Street in Kennett Square, is the site of free concerts this summer on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. Bring your own seating. Picnic suppers are catered by local restaurants. For updated weather information, call 610-444-1416. The series includes: Celtic music by Beyond the Pale (July 8); Americana by Mason Porter (July 15); clasic rock by Kategory 5 (July 22); singersongwriter Billy Penn Burger (July 29); rock/reggae by Bullbuckers (Aug. 5); Chicago tribute band Sounds of Society (Aug. 12). Through Sept. 13
Honey Brook concerts
The Honey Brook Borough Park and Rec Committee is hosting a series of free outdoor concerts this summer at 71 Pequea Ave. (Route 10) in Honey Brook . The schedule is: The Duzzin Matta Band (July 12, 5:30 p.m.); Philadelphia-based Americana band Black Horse Motel (Aug. 9, 5:30 p.m.); Irish and Scottish influenced tunes by the trio Across the Pond (Sept. 13, 5 p.m.). The Honey Brook Lions Club will be selling food and beverages at each concert. Bring your own seating. The Honey Brook Food Pantry will be collecting food donations at each concert. Donations of nonperishable food items, toiletries and paper products will be accepted. Visit www.honeybrookborough. net for more information.
Kennett Flash schedule
The Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square) hosts regional and national artists. Tickets are
available in advance at www. kennettflash.org, or at the door. Snacks and beverages are sold, or guests can BYOB. The schedule includes: Better Than Bacon improv comedy troupe (July 9, 8 p.m., $10); The Vine Brothers (July 16, 7 p.m., $12); Young performers showcase with Nalani and Sarina, Hope’s Angels, Brooke Falls, Valerie West, Kyla Kandee, Julia Zane and Megan Flatley (July 18, 7 p.m., $12, all ages); Open Mic hosted by Sam Kwietniak (July 19, 7 p.m., $4); Mojo Stu (July 24, 8 p.m., $15); Joe Scheller (July 25, 8 p.m., $12).
The Art Spot
Through July 31
‘A Different View’
Longwood Art Gallery (200 E. State St., Kennett Square) is continuing Jack Giangiulio’s show, “A Different View,” through the end of July. For more information, call 610-444-0146 or visit www.longwoodartgallery.com.
Through July 31
Fantasy art in Kennett Square
Metamorphosis Wellness Center (331 E. State St., Kennett Square) is featuring watercolors by Jessie Barber through July 31. Barber is a self-taught fantasy artist who creates paintings inspired by the natural world, animals and fairy tales. Also on view are acrylics by Dottie Randazzo. Call 610-444-8020 or visit www.metamorphosiswellnesscenter.net.
Through Aug. 23
Cartoons at Brandywine The Brandywine River Museum of Art (Route 1, Chadds Ford) hosts “Pointed Pens: Selected Cartoons from the Permanent Collection” through Aug. 23. The exhibit includes
maze-like contraptions drawn by Rube Goldberg, political sketches by Thomas Nast, and many others that summarized and satirized current events. For more information, visit www. brandywinemuseum.org.
Through July 19
Horace Pippin retrospective
The Brandywine River Museum of Art (Route 1, Chadds Ford) hosts “Horace Pippin: The Way I See It,” a major retrospective for the West Chester folk artist, through July 19. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults; $10 for seniors; $6 for students and children ages 6 to 12; free for children age 5 and younger, and Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art members. Admission is free on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
To submit items to the Art Spot, e-mail jchambless@ chestercounty.com. There is no charge. Not every submission can be included. Items should be submitted at least two weeks before the event.
A ‘Frozen’ Princess Party will be held in Oxford on July 12 (see listing).
AGIS and Penn London students rock Reading Challenge
A total of 1,188 Avon Grove students met Rocky’s Reading Challenge this year – 678 from Avon Grove Intermediate School and 510 from Penn London Elementary School.
Students in grades K-6 are invited each spring to participate in the challenge, which is sponsored by the Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball team.
As a reward, each Avon Grove student who completed this year’s challenge received two free tickets to attend the May 14 Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game.
The purpose of the challenge is to encourage development of the lifelong habit of reading, as well as to encourage independent reading for developing readers.
To meet the challenge, students in grades three through six had to independently read 10 or more books at school or home.
Participating students recorded the book titles on a bookmark, a parent signed the reading log for verification, and the bookmark was returned to the classroom teacher.
For students in kindergarten through second grade, depending on reading level, students could read 10 books, read for an assigned number of minutes or number of chapters, or adults could read books to students if needed.
Students kept a similar log, which was verified by a parent and hand-
ed in at school.
Stacey Varone, a reading specialist at Penn London, has coordinated the K-2 school-wide event for the past seven years.
Some students completed the challenge as part of class work and some participated at home, she explained. It’s a fun program and getting to see a baseball game and the Blue Rocks mascot is a good incentive, according to Varone, who explained that during the kick-off campaign she always says, “Rocky Bluewinkle hopes to see students at the game!”
At AGIS, each student who completed the challenge had a chance to decorate a paper baseball with his/her name on it to be added to a display in the school’s front hallways.
To encourage participation, the AGIS Parent-Teacher Association created a large baseball diamond to chart the students’ progress. For every 200 students who completed the challenge, the school mascot, the AGI Phoenix, advanced one base on the baseball diamond.
The AGIS Phoenix ended the challenge just past third base. “The Phoenix almost hit one out of the park thanks to the great student readers at AGI,” said Nancy Rowan, a school reading specialist. Rowan coordinated the event at AGIS along with fellow reading specialist, Chrissie Downes.
Avon Grove student named National Merit Scholar
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced on May 6 that Avon Grove High School senior Tyler W. Mebane is a National Merit Scholarship winner.
The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program.
National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high-school seniors.
These scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.
Mebane has earned a cumulative grade point average of 4.545, and he is ranked seven out of 399 students in Avon Grove’s class of 2015.
He participated on the school’s Academic Competition Team in grades nine through 12. He was a member of the Cross Country team in grades nine through 12 and participated on the Track and Field team in grades nine through 11. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, Mebane is a Life
Scout, has been an active member of Avondale Presbyterian Church’s youth group since sixth grade, and he has also participated in the Good Neighbors Youth work camp for the past four summers helping to repair homes in the area.
Mebane plans to attend Arizona State University to study aerospace engineering. This year’s competition for National Merit Scholarships began in October 2013 when over 1.4 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools took the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. Last fall, the highest scoring participants in each state, representing less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors, were named Semifinalists on a state-representational basis. Only these 16,000 semifinalists had an opportunity to continue in the competition.
From the semifinalist group, 15,000 students met the very high academic standards and other requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition.
Author and illustrator Matt Phelan visits Nottingham School
Children’s author and illustrator Matt Phelan recently spent a day at Nottingham Elementary School, presenting assemblies for the third and fourth graders during which he discussed how his books are created, from rough sketches to printed page. Phelan, who lives in Ardmore, Pa., has illustrated 21 children’s books since 2004. and is the author and illustrator of three graphic novels, including "Around the World," which received the 2012 Carolyn W. Field Award from the Pennsylvania Library Association and two Eisner Award nominations, and "The Storm in the Barn," winner of the 2010 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction.
His latest graphic novel, “Bluffton,” has been nominated for three Eisner Awards including Best Graphic Album. Phelan told the students how his interest in drawing was sparked by the many illustrated children’s books he read and the comic books he collected while growing up, which continue to inspire him and his work today.
with
are reading specialist
and
Oxford musicians turn Elk Ridge sing along into a hootenanny
Oxford residents Kellie Allen and Pete Peterson recently led a special edition of the Elk Ridge Elementary School first and second grade sing along. Peterson and Allen performed on banjo and guitar, played their instruments to accompany regular Elk Ridge favorites, and taught the
Elk Ridge family three new songs, “The Doodlebug,” “The Fox,” and “Keep on the Sunny Side.”
“Their visit was one of the highlights of the Sing Along this year,” said music teacher Julie Farber, pictured with Allen and Peterson.
Pictured
Mr. Phelan
Jaime Swierczek, left,
assistant principal Lisa Yingst. Front from left are third graders Abby Bulfaro, Lily Fay, Elizabeth Kiernan, Sophia Schaefer, Paige Engleman, Lexi Fleisher, Gabe Andrews and Josh Lane.
New name, leadership changes at Bernardon Haber Holloway
Bernardon Haber Holloway
Architects, an architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture firm, has announced a new name, graphic identity, and leadership structure.
The firm’s new name will be simply Bernardon, a nod to the leadership of founder Arthur A. Bernardon, AIA, who began the firm in 1973. Also added to the firm’s identity are the words “Dream. Design. Succeed.” These words represent the Bernardon process, which entails the ability to listen and collaborate, to create, and to foster a collaborative environment to meet the goals of their clients..
Kerry R. Haber, AIA, will be leading the firm as president, while William E. Holloway, AIA, and Neil B. Liebman, AIA, assume the roles of vice president and managing principal, respectively. The firm’s senior leadership also includes principals Paul Andrew Sgroi, AIA, Douglas C. Hertsenberg, AIA, and Timothy J. Cassidy, PhD, RLA, as well as associate principal Michael S. McCloskey, AIA. Arthur Bernardon will assume the role of chairman.
Bernardon has designed numerous projects in the region, including the Chester County Justice Center, the Air
Liquide Delaware Technology and Research Center, Dansko Corporate Headquarters, and the restoration and renovation of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Railroad Station in Wilmington. The firm has also designed millions of square feet in the senior living, multifamily, healthcare, higher education, civil and cultural, retail, and residential sectors.
Notable current projects by Bernardon include the new North American Headquarters of Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed, Chestnut Square Apartments in West Chester, and a 1-million-square-foot distribution center for Five Below in South Jersey. Bernardon is also involved with the redesign of the Coatesville Train Station, part of the urban redevelopment efforts in the city.
“We are a growing firm, constantly improving with new leaders and colleagues.” said Haber. “We will seize opportunities to highlight the strengths of our people and showcase our abilities as a highly creative and collaborative firm.”
Bernardon has offices in Kennett Square and Wilmington, Del. For more information, contact Angel VanBennekom at 610-444-2900 or email avanbennekom@bernardon.com.
Willowdale Steeplechase donates $70,000
Dixon Stroud, chairman and founder of The Willowdale Steeplechase, has announced an increase in donations to the race’s three beneficiaries this year.
The Willowdale Steeplechase hosts a world class steeplechase event to raise funds for its benefiting charities -- the Stroud Water Research Center, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, and Quest Therapeutic Services. This year, Willowdale will donate
$70,000 to be distributed among the three charities.
The Willowdale Steeplechase, an annual event which features National Steeplechase Association sanctioned horse racing and a variety of family activities, encourages community involvement in Kennett Square and the surrounding areas. It also showcases the important role of preserving agriculture and open space, and how the stewardship of fresh
Cannoy 60th anniversary
Charlie and Mary Cannoy of Conowingo, Md., celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 10. They were married on June 10, 1955. She is the former Mary Roland of Nottingham, Pa. They have five children, 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. They are Dawna Bibey and her husband Bernard of Conowingo Md., Darlene Roland and her husband Jim of Quarryville, Pa., Rebecca Reeves of New Castle, Del., Charles Jr. and his wife Beth of Middletown, Del., and Angela Smith and her husband Jim of Mosheim, Tenn.; their grandchildren Brian, Kristen, Michael,
Daryl, Derrick, April, Ian, Jared, Amber, Ashley, Charles III, Robert Jr., Mark, Tyler and Andrew; and their great-grandchildren Haley, Hannah, Matthew, Samuel, Leah, Kaitlyn, Meghan, Abigail, Tyler, Ryan, Joshua, Isabella, Dylan, Jaxon, Peyton, Kendall and Robert III.
They have been members of Gateway Baptist Church near Conowingo, Md., since its inception 25 years ago, in 1990. Charlie has been a member of the Gospel Quartet known as the Maranatha Gospelaires for over 40 years. They are both retirees from Herr Foods, Inc., in Nottingham, Pa. Mary has six surviving siblings, John of Virginia, Bob of Maryland, Carol of Ohio, and Ed, Betty and Charlotte, all of North Carolina. Mary is a 25-year breast cancer survivor and has been receiving kidney dialysis treatment for nearly four years in Elkton, Md.
water and other natural resources benefits the community.
“Because of increased attendance and sponsorship and Friends of Willowdale, our exciting new partnership endeavor with local businesses, the race realized increased profits this year,” Stroud said. “We are pleased to be able to pass this on to our beneficiaries.
“The Willowdale Steeplechase owes its success to the generosity of our sponsors and contributors
and the efforts of over 200 volunteers,” Stroud added. “All of these people are part of the Chester County community which our beneficiaries serve. Willowdale is committed to this community and proud to be able to support Stroud Water Research, Quest and New Bolton.”
The 23rd running of The Willowdale Steeplechase took place on May 10 and had the largest turnout since it was founded in 1993.
‘Hello, Dolly!’ staged by Avon Grove Community Theater
Avon Grove Community Theater (ACT) will present “Hello, Dolly!” for two weekends at the Ware Center on the campus of Lincoln University (1570 Baltimore Pike, Lincoln University).
The winner of 10 Tony Awards in 1964, including Best Musical, “Hello, Dolly!” is a fast-paced, feel-good musical centering around the country’s most lovable matchmaker, Dolly Levi.
Dolly is back in New York not only to arrange, meddle and match-up lonely hearts, but to heal her own heart, as well.
This Avon Grove Community Theater revival stars pediatrician Jennifer McDonald (of West Chester) as Dolly Levi, and retired 25-year veteran of QVC Al Ulozas (of New London) as Horace Vandergelder.
The supporting cast includes
Bobby Hamilton (Nottingham) as Cornelius Hackl, Krysta Stefanosky (Oxford) as Irene Molloy, Cole Hanrahan (Landenberg) as Barnaby Tucker, Peri Walker (Oxford) as Minnie Fay, Danny Drennen (Landenberg) as Ambrose, Elena Graham (West Grove) as Ermengarde, and Geddes Marcano (New London) as Rudolph Reisenweber.
Performances are scheduled July 16 at 7:30 p.m., July 17 at 7:30 p.m., July 19 at 2 p.m., July 23 at 7:30 p.m., July 24 at 7:30 p.m., July 25 at 7:30 p.m., and July 26 at 2 p.m.
Tickets for reserved seating can be purchased at www.actheater. org, and at the door if available. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for students and seniors ages 62 and older.
Church Calendar Local Interest
Through Aug. 26
‘Summer Fun’ series
West Grove United Methodist Church (300 N. Guernsey Rd., West Grove) is holding a new Wednesday night “Summer Fun for Everyone” series through Aug. 26. The community is invited to attend from 6 to 8 p.m. for hot dogs, games, fellowship and a brief word from the lead pastor, Rev. Monica B. Guepet,
each week. All beverages will be supplied. Participants are invited to bring snacks, desserts or a side dish. The series is free. A box of games will be available, the youth plan to have their new 9-In-The-Air game up, a gated playground is open forsmall children, and the parking lot and grounds will provide space for kids to play. For more information, call 610-869-9334,
or visit www.westgroveumc.org.
July 11
Community breakfast
The Shiloh Presbyterian Church, formerly the Second Presbyterian Church (42 S. Fifth St., Oxford), offers a community breakfast on July 11 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., featuring pancakes and an egg and omelet station, sausage and bacon, juice and coffee. Tickets at the door are $7 for adults, $5 for ages 4 to 11, and free for children 3 and younger. For information, call 610-932-9256.
July 13 to 17
‘Everest’ vacation
Bible school
West Grove United Methodist Church (300 N. Guernsey Rd., West Grove) hosts “Everest VBS: Conquering Challenges With God’s Mighty Power!” from July 13 to 17. Kids participate in Bible-learning activities, sing songs, play teamwork-building games, make and enjoy snacks, and test out Sciency-Fun Gizmos they’ll take home. A mission project will collect school supplies for our local school districts.
Kennett Public Library to host comic convention
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
A year ago, local teenagers Allison Sclar and Wylie Florence-Bushnell approached Kennett Library program coordinator Ivy Weir with a great idea: To hold a comic book and popular culture convention at the Kennett Library. Weir thought, “No problem.”
The result? More than 500 people attended the event last July, and in the process, an entire library was turned over to an overflow audience swept up in a growing phenomenon. Subsequently, the event drew national press, drawn to the narrative that an entire convention organized by teens could be so successful.
On July 25, the comic book culture will again be taking over Kennett Square.
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• Try ourSlow Roasted Pit Roast Beef Sandwiches Half Pound Char-broiled BlackAngus Burgers Homemade Crab Cakes Boardwalk Beach Fries Steamed Shrimp!!!!
“Everest” is for ages 3 through sixth grade, and runs from 9 a.m. to noon each day. To register, visit www.westgroveumc.org or call 610-869-9334.
To submit items to the Church Calendar, e-mail jchambless@ chestercounty.com. There is no charge. Information should be received at least two weeks before the event. Not every submission can be included. Please include the address and contact information for the church in your submission.
The 2015 Insta-Con is expected to draw twice as many people this year for a full slate of activities and appearances. The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington will be selling comic books, graphic novels and toys, and will be joined by local artisans who will be selling handmade pop culture items. The event will hold a cosplay costume contest, and this year, the convention has invited internationally known Greg Pak and Brooke Allen, who will be speaking about how to break into the comic industry.
Pak is an award-winning comic book writer and filmmaker who is currently writing “Batman/Superman” and “Action Comics” for DC Comics, “Turok” for Dynamite, and “Storm” for Marvel. Pak
wrote graphic novel based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) the acclaimed “Make Comics Like the Pros” howto book. Pak was named one of 25 Filmmakers to Watch by Filmmaker Magazine, described as “a talent with a future” by the New York Times, and named “Breakout Talent” of the year by Wizard Magazine. Allen is the illustrator for the popular series “Lumberjanes,” which follows a group of girls spending summer at a scout camp, and the strange creatures and supernatural phenomena they encounter there. Originally planned as an eight-part series, the comic was quickly made an ongoing series after strong sales and critical acclaim.
In addition, Joe Kelly, the creator of the “Ben Ten” comic series, will be appearing at the convention, via Skype. Along with a spike in interest in the comic book, cosplay and gaming culture, the business of comic book conventions has risen dramatically since they were first introduced in New York City 50 years ago. It is now not uncommon to see attendances of more than 100,000 at comic book conventions in San Diego, Denver, Seattle, Chicago and New York City. Comics, cosplay and gaming, once thought to be the safe pockets of escapism populated mainly by the geek culture, has now gone mainstream, and the once heavy lines of demarkation that separated the geeks from the popular crowd are now blurred.
“Geek culture is not just a niche culture any more,” Weir said. “It’s mainstream culture now. Kids are so much more aware of it, because it’s everywhere. A lot of that is owed to the large comic books that have been translated to the big screen. You’re not so alone with your Captain America comic book anymore, because the kid sitting next to you has also seen ‘The Avengers’ and read the books.”
For those who were not able to attend last year’s event, “They can expect a lot of relentless enthusiasm,” Weir said. “Part of what I love about working in the geek culture is that everyone involved in making this event happen – whether they’re into filmmaking, comics or Doctor Who – brings with them so much energy and passion. It’s incredible to think that something this successful is being organized by people who are 14, 15, and 16 years old.”
The event will also include an appearance by Brooke Allen, illustrator of the popular ‘Lumberjanes’ series.
Internationally known Greg Pak will appear at the second Insta-Con at the Kennett Library on July 25.
UPI# 61-2-132.6C
PLAINTIFF: Capital One,
SALE
announced Thursday,July 16, 2015 at 11AM prevailing time the herein-described real estate.
Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file in her office located in the Chester County Justice Center, Sheriff’s Office, 201 West Market Street, Suite 201, West Chester, Pennsylvania a schedule of distribution on Monday August 17, 2015. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter
SALE NO. 15-7-573 Writ of Execution No. 2014-07450 DEBT $320,459.74
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground situate in Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a Final Plan of Landenberg Highlands, drawn by Hillcrest Associates, Inc., dated June 4, 1997, and last revised November 24, 1997, and Plan recorded in Chester County as Plan No. 14334, as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point on the southwesterly side of the cul de sac (of irregular width) at the terminus of Victorian Lane (50 feet wide private right of way), said point being a corner of Lot No. 28 on said Plan; thence extending from said point of beginning along Lot No. 28, south 54 degrees 25 minutes 45
to Sheriff of Chester Co. thereof, within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2pm. 6p-24-3t Sheriff Sale of
By virtue of the within mentioned writ directed to Caro-
B. Welsh, Sheriff will be sold at public sale, in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania,
11
26
192.33 feet to a point on the northwesterly side of the aforementioned cul
sac; thence extending southwestwardly, southwardly and southeastwardly along the northwesterly, westerly and southwesterly sides of said
de sac along the arc of a circle curving to the left having a radius of 50.00 feet the arc distance of 42.22 feet to the first mentioned point and
place of beginning.
Legals
BEING Lot 27 as shown on the above mentioned Plan. UPI 72-3-88
BEING Parcel #72-03-0088
BLR# 72-3-88
BEING the same premises which Pablo M. Demucha and Rosario Demucha, husband and wife, granted and conveyed unto Pablo M. Demucha, married, by Deed dated December 10, 2004 and recorded March 16, 2005 in Chester County Record Book 6436, Page 492 for the consideration of $1.00.
PLAINTIFF: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as Trustee for Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005QS3 VS DEFENDANT: PABLO M. DEMUCHA
SALE ADDRESS: 3 Victorian Lane, Landenberg, PA 19350
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: MARTHA E. VON ROSENSTIEL, P.C., 610-328-2887
-N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of the sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash,certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. and the balance made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. thereof, within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2pm. 6p-24-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writ directed to Carolyn B. Welsh, Sheriff will be sold at public sale, in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, announced Thursday,July 16, 2015 at 11AM prevailing time the herein-described real estate. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file in her
office located in the Chester County Justice Center, Sheriff’s Office, 201 West Market Street, Suite 201, West Chester, Pennsylvania a schedule of distribution on Monday August 17, 2015. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter
SALE NO. 15-7-574 Writ of Execution No. 2014-03400 DEBT $201,049.68
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground situate in the Township of East Marlborough, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a Final Minor Subdivision Plan of Weatherall Farm Lot Line Change Lots 10, 11 & 12 made by Hillcrest Associates, Inc., dated September 17, 2004, last revised October 22, 2004 and recorded in Chester County Recorder of Deeds Office as Plan No. 17322.
BEING the same premises which Laurie R. Jakubauskas by Deed dated 8/14/2009 and recorded in Chester County on 11/13/2009 in Record Book 7808, Page 1260 granted and conveyed unto Laurie Jakubauskas.
PARCEL No. 61-050219.030
PLAINTIFF: Customers Bank f/k/a New Century Bank VS DEFENDANT: LAURIE
JAKUBAUSKAS
SALE ADDRESS: 113 Halle Drive, Kennett Square, Township of East Marlborough, PA
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY:
BERGER LAW GROUP, P.C., 610-668-0800
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of the sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash,certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. and the balance made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. thereof, within twenty-one
(21) days from the date of sale by 2pm. 6p-24-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writ directed to Carolyn B. Welsh, Sheriff will be sold at public sale, in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, announced Thursday,July 16, 2015 at 11AM prevailing time the herein-described real estate. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file in her office located in the Chester County Justice Center, Sheriff’s Office, 201 West Market Street, Suite 201, West Chester, Pennsylvania a schedule of distribution on Monday August 17, 2015. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter
SALE NO. 15-7-578 Writ of Execution No. 2015-01337 DEBT $278,059.98
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot of land situate in Township of Franklin, Chester County, Pennsylvania
TAX Parcel No.: 72-04L0004.010
PLAINTIFF: PNC Bank, National Association VS DEFENDANT: RACHEL A. McCULLIN
SALE ADDRESS: 205 Fox Run Ln, Lincoln University, PA 19352
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: UDREN LAW
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
Welsh, Sheriff will be sold at public sale, in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, announced Thursday,July 16, 2015 at 11AM prevailing time the herein-described real estate. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file in her office located in the Chester County Justice Center, Sheriff’s Office, 201 West Market Street, Suite 201, West Chester, Pennsylvania a schedule of distribution on Monday August 17, 2015. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto
SALE
PROPERTY
IMPROVEMENTS
PLAINTIFF: Freedom Mortgage Corporation VS DEFENDANT: SCOTT A. WEIR and HILLERY D. WEIR a/k/a HILLERY WEIR
SALE ADDRESS: 447 Broad Street, Oxford, Pennsylvania 19363
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, P.C., 215-7901010
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of the sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash,certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. and the balance made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. thereof, within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2pm. 6p-24-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within men-
Patrick Curran
699W. Baltimore Pike,West Grove, PA19390484-748-6200Direct:
WestGrove-Nearlynewhome inBriarlea!Largefamilyroom withbuilt-insurroundsound. Beautifulkitchenwith morningroom.Custom maintenancefreedecktowith greatsunsetviews! Communitywalkingtrails. Convenienttoparksand shopping. $369,900.
FranklinTwp.Stunninghome! Largetwostoryfamilyroom w/fireplaceandfloortoceiling windows.LuxuriousOwner's bedroomsuitewithtray ceilings,triplewindows& fireplace.Finishedwalkout lowerlevelfeaturinglarge recreationrmw/wetbar& theaterroom. $399,900
Nottingham-5+/-acrefarmette with40X36polebarn.Home featuresoakfloorsthroughout firstfloor.Masterbedroom withattachedbath.Lower levelin-lawsuitewithfull kitchenandtilebath.Country locationclosetoNottingham CountyPark. $199,900
tioned writ directed to Carolyn B. Welsh, Sheriff will be sold at public sale, in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, announced Thursday,July 16, 2015 at 11AM prevailing time the herein-described real estate. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file in her office located in the Chester County Justice Center, Sheriff’s Office, 201 West Market Street, Suite 201, West Chester, Pennsylvania a schedule of distribution on Monday August 17, 2015. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter
SALE NO. 15-7-604 Writ of Execution No. 2015-02362 DEBT $380,959.34
TRACT 1
ALL THAT CERTAIN, brick store house and dwelling and lot or piece of land, situate at the southeast corner of South 3rd Street and the Hall Alley, in the Borough of Oxford, County of Chester and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a recent survey made thereof by Thomas G. Colesworthy, County Surveyor, as follows, to wit: BEGINNING at a point
and 15
