Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 154, No. 27
INSIDE
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Student’s Eagle OMI welcomes new Scout project executive director to lead revitalization efforts creates face shields Christianna Hannum has deep southern Chester County roots, comes from a family of community leaders, and brings fundraising expertise and communications skills to her new role leading Oxford Mainstreet, Inc.
Kennett Square Life
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Christianna Hannum started her new role as the executive director of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) just two weeks ago, and she has already mapped out five goals for her first 100 days on the job. One priority—and a project that she’s really excited about—is the Shoebox Theatre, an intimate 50-seat theater and Local residents discuss entertainment venue that beloved gardens...1B will be a catalyst for economic development by attracting more visitors to the downtown. Hannum is so excited about the opportunity to move this project forward that she identified it as one of the reasons that she was interested in the executive director position with OMI in the first place. OMI is the driving Continued on Page 3A
Funding for two affordable housing projects ...5A
INDEX
In a normal world, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) reguOpinion.......................5A larly checks in its 80,000 Obituaries....................2B members at its six locations in Chester County with a Classifieds..................4B simple membership card scan and a friendly greeting at the front desk. That was four months ago, before the arrival of the coronavirus led to the virtual shutdown of Pennsylvania, including the closing of the YGBW on March 15. On June 29, when the county’s entrance into the green phase of the state’s plan for reopening included fitness centers and gyms, it did not take long for the first returning members to acknowledge that the normal world of the “Y” was no longer normal. The YGBW has instituted several new protocols designed to ramp up the
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for local EMS units By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Alex Farina is about to enter his senior year at Avon Grove High School in the fall, but he has spent his summer completing a project whose impact is designed to protect the lives of dozens of EMS professionals throughout Chester County, and the lives they themselves help to save. On July 2, representatives from five area fire companies gathered at the West Grove Fire Station No. 22 to receive more than 150 protective face shields that Farina and his fellow members of Eagle Scout Troop 18 created, as part of Farina’s Eagle Scout project. The recipients of the face shields are from the Avondale, Kennett Square, Longwood, Oxford and West Grove fire companies, as well as Medic 94, and representatives from each of the units attended the event. The idea to create the face Courtesy photo shields came to Farina soon Christianna Hannum is the executive director of Oxford after the COVID-19 panMainstreet, Inc.
demic reached the United States, when he saw news reports stating that essential PPEs – such as face shields -- were in short supply. Searching online, Farina found a template for making a face shield, made modifications to it and worked with other scouts in his troop to create the shields in an assembly line process. The West Grove chapter of the Knights of Columbus of West Grove donated funding that allowed Farina to purchase the acrylic for the face shields, which he sourced from JDS Industries. “I saw on the news that all medical professions, hospitals and other groups like first responders and EMS units did not have the proper amounts of PPE that they needed, and were having to have them imported from other countries, because we didn’t have them in our own country,” Farina said. “At the same time, I began to see that small groups of people were using extra fabric Continued on Page 4A
As fitness centers reopen, ‘safety’ and ‘precaution’ are as essential as a workout By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
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safety of its members, staff and community, starting with the limited and staggered reopening of its programming and activities, wellness centers, indoor tracks, group exercise and swimming pools. Signs of the “new Y” are clearly visible at each entrance. Before entering any of the facilities, members and staff will be required to answer health-related questions and be temperature screened. Anyone showing signs of COVID-19 or who has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be permitted to enter for the safety of all members, and no guest or trial passes will be accepted. Once inside, members won’t just be working out on a treadmill or lifting weights, but practicing social distancing; most equipment is now spaced six feet apart, singleentry and single-exit points are at the main entrance and
Courtesy photo
The wellness center at the Jennersville YMCA has been redesigned in observation of regulations regarding proper social distancing.
directional signage is seen throughout each of the buildings. Masks are required in common areas but can be removed while exercising, and members will see several hand sanitizing stations placed throughout each branch. In addition, community water fountains are shut down, so members are encouraged to bring their own water bottles; and equipment must be disin-
fected before and after use, using a disinfectant solution that will be provided at each location. “The entire YGBW staff is thrilled to reopen and welcome members back to our facilities,” said Denise Day, president and CEO of YGBW. “Our team has been working hard over the past several weeks to prepare for reopening. Although things will look a bit different to protect everyone’s health
and safety, we are all excited to reopen and welcome our community back safely.” “We’re following all of the latest cleaning protocols from the CDC, have implemented a heightened disinfectant schedule, and our staff have been trained on how to disinfect equipment and high-touch points,” said Nic Legere, YGBW’s association director of safety and risk management. “It is Continued on Page 2A
Oxford Police Department responds to calls in surrounding municipalities By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Oxford Borough Council discussed the Oxford Borough Police Department, a policy for events on top of the parking garage, and recycling at the July 6 council meeting. Council member Dr. Richard Winchester talked about how the Oxford Borough Police Department provides policing services to the surrounding townships. “I just want the surrounding municipalities to realize what the Oxford Borough Police Department does
for them,” Winchester said. “I am not saying that the Borough needs to charge those townships, but I do think they should take into consideration what our police department does for them.” The Borough’s 24/7 police department is often called to assist the surrounding townships when a need for back up to the State Police is required, or in some instances, just steps up to support the municipalities. Council has discussed the costs of supporting the townships by providing police coverage for years. Borough police officers respond to calls at
the Oxford Area School District and provide coverage at some sporting events, such as football games, even though the high school is located in neighboring East Nottingham Township. When a situation arises at the Oxford Walmart or other businesses in that shopping center, which is located in Lower Oxford Township, the Oxford Borough Police Department will be asked to respond—and they do. And even though the Oxford Area School District now has its own police officers thanks to a grant, Oxford Borough police officers are still called in, depending on the situation.
However, the costs of the Oxford Borough Police Department are covered by Oxford taxpayers. Police department expenditures account for a huge piece of the Borough budget. Anyone that lives in the Borough is acutely aware of the benefit of having the department, which is the quick response, often within minutes, to dire emergencies, including fire and medical emergencies. Winchester is just looking for some recognition of what the Oxford Borough Police Department does beyond the Borough limits when they are asked to provide regional support.
Borough council also had a discussion about the use of the transportation center’s rooftop for community events. Council was tasked with setting up guidelines for a Rooftop Event Policy at the previous council meeting. The policy was discussed during the last Codes Committee meeting. Council member Ron Hershey said the event possibilities could include galas, balls, weddings and receptions and more. Concerns included insurance, garage warranties and possible emergency situations. Event size limits and Continued on Page 4A