A gathering of grief and support
International Overdose Awareness Day is marked in Kennett Square
By John Chambless Staff Writer
They came in groups of two or three or four, wearing T-shirts with photos of departed family members. There were hugs of recognition and welcome, and a steady drone of conversation as the pews filled at the First Baptist Church in Kennett Square. By the time the program started on the evening of Aug. 31, there were just under 200 people who had a loved one fighting drug addiction, or a loved one
who had lost the battle.
There were far too many people.
To mark International Overdose Awareness Day, the grassroots addiction support group Kacie’s Cause held a meeting and vigil at the church. Similar meetings were held in Delaware County, Oxford and Exton, and at well over 300 other places in the nation. It was a chance to connect, to share grief and support information, and to shine a light on an epidemic that has touched nearly everyone.
Andy Rumford, whose daughter, Kacie, died of a heroin overdose four and a half years ago, opened the evening by reading a poem he reads daily for solace.
Pastor Daniel Nicewonger, who opened the First Baptist Church for the meeting, spoke about endurance in the face of turmoil.
Luis Tovar, who has joined Rumford in operating Kacie’s Cause and its outreach programs, told the audience, “I hope you find some solace in being with
New program teaching homeowners to ‘Catch the Rain’
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Lawn by lawn, neighborhood by suburban neighborhood, there is a pattern of landscaping happening in southern Chester County.
It’s the search for the perfect lawn, and while hordes of homeowners spend thousands of dollars every year to ensure that every blade of grass is in perfect harmony with every other blade of grass, the quest to duplicate the playing surface of Citizens Bank Park is, in fact, turning the water that keeps it pristine into polluted runoff. Stormwater isn’t just washing off of lawns;
The
it’s also falling from roofs, driveways, roads, parking lots and patios, and it’s become the largest source of pollution to the White Clay Creek Watershed.
Now, lawn by lawn, two conservation groups are helping to reverse that trend.
The White Clay Wild and Scenic River Program, in partnership with the Brandywine Conservancy, has developed the White Clay Creek Catch the Rain Rebate Program for homeowners who live in the 104 square miles of the White Clay Creek Watershed -which includes homes in the eastern part of Franklin Township, London Grove
Continued on Page 3A
Oxford
Car Show revs up large crowd
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Few things are more quintessentially American than a car show in a small town on Labor Day Weekend.
The Oxford Car Show, which has shifted into a higher gear each year since it debuted in September of 2014, delighted a large crowd on Sept. 1 with a showcase of some of the finest automobiles to ever roll off a Detroit assembly line―everything from gleaming Cadillacs to vintage Ford Model A’s to Chevrolet Bel-Airs to Ford Fairlanes.
According to Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. officials, there were more than 300 registered cars, bikes, and trucks for the car show this year. The crowd was slightly larger than last year, estimated to be around 5,000 visitors throughout the day.
“That is a great-looking car” was a constant refrain heard throughout the event.
Howard Roberts was one of many car owners making a return visit to the Oxford Car Show. The Lancaster, Pa. resident was displaying his 1934 Ford. He said that he rebuilt the
Unionville High School
reaches out to Texas school damaged by Hurricane Harvey
By John Chambless Staff Writer
Unionville High School’s Friday night football game will be more than just another competition. It will be a benefit for a school that was hit hard by the flooding in Texas last week.
On Sept. 1, Unionville principal Jim Conley sent an email to the school community to outline the relief effort.
“As you may already know, Unionville High School has partnered with the HardinJefferson School District in Sour Lake, Texas,” Conley wrote. “The Sour Lake Community was hit extremely hard by Hurricane Harvey. We will have a series of fundraising opportunities for our community, throughout the school year, in order to
Water was knee-deep at the middle school in the Hardin-Jefferson School District last week.
provide our extended family in Sour Lake with whatever support that they will need.
The upcoming months will be difficult for the Sour Lake community, but I know that the kindness and generosity of our UCFSD families
will be felt by the HardinJefferson families.
“Our UHS family is thrilled to kick off our fundraising efforts on Sept. 8, as our football team hosts Avon Grove High School at 7 p.m. We Courtesy photo
32nd Annual Mushroom Festival:
Mushrooms galore and a whole lot more!
By Carla Lucas Correspondent
“Mushroom Galore and a Whole Lot More!” is the theme of the 32nd Annual Mushroom Festival. As such, here’s a Top 10 list for mushroom festival ideas, plus a Top 10 list of the other highlights at Kennett Square’s fungi celebration on Sept. 9 and 10. Top 10 – Mushrooms Galore
1. Eat your way along the Street Fair. There’s so much to sample – mushroom fries, portabella cheesesteaks, mushroom soup, mushroom mac and cheese, mushroom pierogies, and mushroom spring rolls, mushroom popsicles, and mushroom ice cream, just to name a few.
2. Talk to area growers about the mushroom growing process, from raw materials and composting to
harvesting. Plus, see how all the exotic varieties of mushrooms are grown, including shiitake, maitake, royal trumpet, oyster, and beech in the Grower’s Exhibit (Broad Street on Saturday and Sunday).
3. Get great tips and recipes for cooking with mushrooms in the Culinary Tent when you attend one of the many demonstrations on the Giorgi Kitchen Stage. (Broad Street on Saturday and Sunday). Three regional chefs, winners of the 2016 James Beard Foundation Blended Burger Project, will share their winning blended burgers in the Culinary Tent on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
4. Buy the freshest mushrooms around! Visit one of the Mushroom Sales booths, place your order, and we’ll keep them cool and fresh in a refrigerated mushroom truck until you are ready to leave.
5. Devour Buona Foods’ breaded fried mushrooms as a contestant in the National Fried Mushroom Eating Championship, or cheer on the competitors in the Special Events Tent (State and Willow streets, Saturday, 3 p.m.).
6. Sample mushroom soups from local restaurants and wines from regional wineries at the Soup and Wine Event. The festival will crown 2017’s “Best Mushroom Soup in the Brandywine Valley” and “People’s Choice Best Wine” at the Mushroom Festival based on visitor votes. (Special Events Tent at State and Willow streets, Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
7. Shop ‘til you drop. The Street Fair is about one mile long and filled with hundreds of vendors – most have something mushroomthemed – from jewelry and
Photo by John Chambless
The First Baptist Church in Kennett Square was nearly filled on Aug. 31 for International Overdose Awareness Day.
The 32nd Annual Mushroom Festival will take place Sept. 9-10 in Kennett Square.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
The 2017 Oxford Car Show featured more than 300 cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
Overdose Awareness Day...
Continued from Page 1A each other tonight. We get you. We are part of 357 gatherings throughout the United States tonight. We hope you walk away with a feeling of support and love and understanding.”
Sen. Andy Dinniman cited some obstacles that those struggling with addiction face, such as 30-day insurance coverage for rehab that is far too short to be effective. He asked the audience to directly pressure their representatives to keep the addiction crisis in the spotlight. “Every day, too many people are dying,” he said. “Those whose child or relative has died – no one understands the trauma they go through every day. Together, we can educate and create change.”
Dinniman asked everyone in the pews to hold hands.
“That’s the strength you get from other people,” he said.
“That’s the only way we’re going to change things. We will do it together, in the memory of those we love.”
Tovar asked Dinniman about starting needle exchange programs to insure that addicts at least are not spreading diseases by sharing needles. Currently, Tovar said, clean needles are considered drug paraphernalia and are illegal to distribute.
“Many laws have to change,” Dinniman said. “We have a new paradigm. This is not just affecting a few people. Lots of things we’ve tried don’t work. We need to rethink things, given the dimension of this epidemic. You have to go to your legislators and tell them if they are not going to help, then you are not going to support them.”
Chief Bill Holdsworth of
the Kennett Square Police Department asked the audience, “What more can we do to help you?”
He pointed to the drug take-back program that started eight years ago, in which families bring unused prescription drugs to the police station for proper disposal.
“We have to call about every three weeks for disposal, because the box is overflowing, and it’s a big box,”
Holdsworth said. “It’s scary to see how much is collected. And it’s just a fraction of what’s out there.”
Holdsworth has been in local law enforcement for about 20 years, he said, praising the DARE program that used to educate young students about the dangers of drug abuse. “But the program didn’t continue through middle school and high school,” he said, so it gradually lost its effectiveness.
There were questions from the audience about joint police/student after-school programs, mentoring programs, and whether addicts who are arrested for drug possession should be put in jail or steered first to rehab programs.
Holdsworth said there is a new impetus to prosecute dealers who supply drugs that kill someone. Cheap and easily available heroin, now laced with lethal substances such as fentanyl, “scare the hell out of me,” Holdsworth said. “As police officers, it’s scary that a few grains of this stuff could touch your skin and you could overdose.”
Rumford mentioned safe injection sites – places where addicts could use drugs in medically supervised surroundings – as being successful in Vancouver, where 600 to 900 people a day are monitored for signs of overdose. Similar sites are set up in England, he said, and are
saving lives. Locally, there is no such site.
A former addict, Adam Lush, spoke to the families about his own experiences. Now clean and sober for 13 years, Lush said he was the son of alcoholics who showed him by their actions that drinking was fun. After drinking two beers the first time, Lush said, he woke up the next day feeling horrible.
“Whereas a normal person would not do that again, the definition of being an addict is using a substance over and over again despite negative results,” he said.
Lush said beer turned to pot, going to school stoned, and weekend parties where he felt he had to be drunk to have a good time. Eventually, the drugs got stronger and Lush had to use more and more just to maintain. “That was the point where there was no turning back,” he said. “The arrests started coming. The negative consequences were not stopping my behavior.”
At 19, as a student at West Chester University, Lush found himself paralyzed with fear about going into the hallway for a drink of water. “That’s when I realized that something was really wrong.” He broke down, called his parents and was taken to a recovery support program.
Lush works in a treatment program now, and said, “This disease is very hard to treat, but tons of help is available. Luckily, I saw that this was going to kill me. I find joy in life now.”
Tovar introduced a man named Scott who attends the weekly Kacie’s Cause support group for family members of addicts. Scott told the audience that Aug. 31 “is the day my 27-yearold son is released from jail in California. He’s been in rehabs, he’s been on the streets. He’s going to be homeless and jobless, and he’s at very high risk.”
His son’s addiction, Scott said, “takes over your life as much as the addict’s life. The main feeling of family members is hopelessness. I didn’t cause my son’s addiction, and I can’t cure it. You need to be strong for yourself, because addiction can break a family apart. Over 60,000 people died from overdoses last year. That’s more Americans than those who died in the Vietnam War. This is a national disgrace.”
Tovar reminded caregivers that “you have to work on yourself first. That’s hard to do, especially for moms, who want to fix everything. But addicts are good at lying,” he said. “They’re very good at that. That’s the
disease, that’s not your kid. It was hard for me to let go, but you’ve got to trust yourself.
“There are three options for our kids,” Tovar added.
“Recovery, jail, or death.
That’s it. The longer we continue to make it our problem, the longer we are extending their drug use. The longer they use, the harder that hole is to get out of.”
At the back of the church, a young man stood up.
“My name is T.J.,” he said.
“I have one year clean.”
Addiction, he said, took away his promise as a baseball player and Scout. “I’ve been in Kensington, shooting up under a bridge,” he said, referring to the notorious gathering place for addicts near Philadelphia. “I’m a six-foot man, but that little, powdery substance can control my life. After a while, I was just using to maintain.
That’s how dark it is. I’ve lost way too many friends, but we can stop these statistics.
This is an epidemic disease, and literally the whole country is going through it. I hate heroin. I hate opiates.”
Several people in the audience began to cry as T.J.
continued. “I’ve been to jail 10 times in the last eight years. Addicts should not be going to jail. They need help. Sorry, I’m going on too long. Now, I have way too much to live for. I have to work the program. I encourage family members to get into a group. I just had to get this out. There is hope for everyone. That’s all I have to say.” At the end of the program, the crowd of family members filed outside to the parking lot, where glow sticks and glow necklaces were distributed. Nicewonger said a final prayer in the center of the circle, and several family members mentioned aloud the names of those they had lost. While young children waved the glow sticks and darted happily back and forth, their parents, siblings and grandparents stood silently, holding each other’s hands and sharing their grief. For information about Kacie’s Cause, visit www. kaciescause.com.
To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty. com.
Parents and children shared glow necklaces and flowers at the vigil.
Photos by John Chambless
Pastor Daniel Nicewonger says a prayer at the vigil, held at the First Baptist Church in Kennett Square.
Andy Rumford, whose daughter died of a drug overdose, started Kacie’s Cause.
Former addict Adam Lush spoke about his descent into drug abuse.
Glow sticks were distributed to the crowd.
Luis Tovar (left) and Sen. Andy Dinniman (right) addressed the crowd.
Township, the western portion of New Garden Township, Avondale and West Grove, and portions of London Britain and West Marlborough townships; and Hockessin, Pike Creek and Newark in Delaware. Through workshops and individual consultations, the program is teaching homeowners to become advocates for Green Stormwater Infastructure (GSI) practices, which help capture, detain and infiltrate rain through the use of rain barrels, rain gardens, conservation landscape plantings and canopy tree plantings.
“Catch the Rain is a grassroots, small-is-beautiful program to retrofit existing suburban yards to help, rather than degrade, water quality in the White Clay,” said former Brandywine Conservancy coordinator Beth Burnham.
“Incrementally replacing 40 percent of lawns and impervious surfaces in suburbia will radically improve the White Clay Creek region for the people who live in the watershed.”
Launched last fall with two well-attended workshops, the Catch the Rain Program has already reached 23 applicants throughout
the watershed, who have received personal site visits and written reports, which include concepts for possible projects. It’s a great first step, said White Clay Creek Management Plan Coordinator Shane Morgan.
“It’s an opportunity to connect one-on-one with residents, and educate them about issues that they may not have previously been aware of,” she said. “We walk around the property and talk about things that they see. They’re the ones who live there and they have a better understanding of where the water is moving across the property and where it’s coming from.
“Some people don’t know how stormwater is generated, and this program gets them to begin thinking about their own footprint and how they can make a difference. Cumulatively, if more people did these projects, our environment would be in much better shape.”
The Catch the Rain program is based on two successful programs: the RainScapes program in Montgomery County, Md., and the Rain Check Program, run by the Philadelphia Water Department. Funding for the pilot program has been provided by grants from the Dockstader Foundation, the White Clay Watershed Association Wild and Scenic
Lieberman’s ‘73 Vega Funny Car (Broad and Cypress streets, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m).
T-shirts, stuffed Fun Gus dolls, mushroom cookbooks and more.
8. Place a bid on a Painted Mushroom. Local artists have risen to the occasion and created unique works of art with these 108-pound concrete garden stools. Check them out. Even if you don’t want to bid on one, there’s a People’s Choice award to the artist who receives the most votes. (State Street, near Broad Street).
9. Try the Official Mushroom Soup of the Mushroom Festival. Based on a local mushroom grower’s family recipe, it is a stew-like soup loaded with sliced mushrooms. Members of the Kennett Square Masonic Lodge prepare the soup and host the event in their air-conditioned meeting room. (Center and Cypress streets, Saturday and Sunday).
10. The region’s growers bring the best of their mushrooms to the Growers’ Tent on Sunday morning for the annual Mushroom Judging. Bragging rights for 2017 Best Mushrooms are on the line with the Best of Show ribbon. After judging, these best-of-the-best mushrooms go up for sale. Mushroom Judging sales starts at 1:30 p.m. These mushrooms sell out fast!
Top 10 – A Whole Lot More
1. Magic, comedy, puppet shows, music, dancing and fun are what it’s all about on the Children’s Stage. The acts are presented for the younger crowd, but enjoyable by all. New location: Lafayette Street.
2. Sit a spell and listen to talented artists and bands from across the region on the Community Stage. New location: South Union Street, near Cypress Street.
3. The Antique and Classic Car Show brings some really cool, unusual vehicles to Kennett Square. This year’s featured car is Jungle Jim
River Program and the Brandywine Conservancy.
The goal of the program, Morgan said, is to move from “interest to implementation,” a process that can help ‘green’ a neighborhood and have a long-term cumulative effect on the local environment. Transforming a lawn into GSI system can be beautiful, but it also requires a degree of work.
“I talk to people about a realistic expectation of what a naturalistic landscape is,” Morgan said. “It can be beautiful and you can keep leaves and weeds out, but it also requires maintenance. It’s understanding that you will have to live with a certain amount of naturalized plants, and you’re going to spend some time weeding.”
The Catch the Rain program provides not only
educational training and technical support to install voluntary stormwater practices, but financial assistance.
Homeowners can receive a rebate up to $2,500, which can be used however they wish -- whether it be for materials if they are doing the projects on their own, or for the services of a designer or contractor.
Part of the program’s intention is to create a infectious buzz in the neighborhoods where the program is implemented.
“We have targeted certain neighborhoods, where if people see their neighbors doing GSI practices, the idea would catch on if they liked what they saw,” Morgan said.
Right now, the Catch the Rain Program is working with some local municipali-
ties that are located in the White Clay Creek Watershed, providing them with direction on how they can institute best management practices about stormwater alleviation in their districts.
Long term, Morgan would like to see the Catch the Rain program incorporated into the environmental plans of surrounding townships and municipalities.
“If we have people who are already interested, and if we are able to cluster them in areas where there are problems, then that may end up benefitting whole municipalities, as well,” she said.
To learn more about the Catch the Rain Rebate Program, visit www. whiteclay.org or www. catchtherain.org, or to arrange a consultation contact Shane Morgan at mpc@whiteclay.org, using the subject heading “Catch the Rain” and including your name, address and contact information in the body of the email. The program is open to residents who live in the White Clay watershed only.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
4. The Annual Mushroom Run and Fun Walk is a great way to start your Mushroom Festival Sunday. Organized by the Kennett Area Parks and Recreation Board, this family-inclusive race gives everyone the chance to enjoy a run or walk along the Red Clay Creek.
5. 10,000 Maniacs are coming to the Mushroom Festival for the Saturday Evening Concert in the Special Events Tent. The Kennett Flash is producing the event and tickets, if still available, may be purchased from their website (www. kennettflash.org).
6. The Old Fashioned Carnival is a great way to extend family time in Kennett Square. Walk the midway filled with carnival foods, games, and rides. (600 S. Broad St., Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
7. Kennett Square’s shops and restaurants are excited to welcome Mushroom Festival guests. It’s a great time to check out all the
merchants and their wares as you stroll through town.
8. Take time to talk with our promotional vendors along the side streets of the festival. Most are local small businesses promoting services you might be looking for, like home improvements, schools and services.
9. Check out the CuteAs-A-Button Baby Photo Contest booth (near the Children’s Rides by Meredith Street). Vote for your favorite baby photo with your pocket change. All donations go to WSTW’s Help Our Kids Radiothon. Bragging
rights as 2017’s Cutest Button, Cutest Crimini and Cutest Portabella are earned through the most donations collected.
10. More shopping and eating. Not everything at every vendor’s booth is mushroom related. Festival foods abound, like curly fries, hot dogs, and water ice. Unique treasures and creative art pieces await the savvy shopper. Many guests find special gifts for friends and family as they stroll the Street Fair.
The Mushroom Festival’s website, www.mushroomfestival.org, has schedules,
Courtesy art
The Catch the Rain Rebate Program provides local homeowners with ideas on how they can incorporate stormwater conservation practices on their properties.
Photos by Chris Herring Scenes from the 2016 Mushroom Festival.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The Catch the Rain Rebate Program is being coordinated by White Clay Creek Management Plan Coordinator Shane Morgan.
Mushroom Festival...
maps and up-to-the-minute news. Like the Mushroom Festival on Facebook (The
Mushroom Festival) for breaking news and festival reminders.
Marvin explained. “She puts about 4,000 miles a year on the car.”
and
Butch and Mary Marvin, residents of Quarryville, Pa., entered her 1931 Ford Model A. They purchased the car in 2007 from its previous owner in Sacramento, California.
“We really ended up rebuilding it from the ground up,” Butch Marvin said. The project took about 18 months of work to complete, but it was worth it because Mary really enjoys driving the car around.
“If it’s not raining or snowing, she’s driving it,” Butch
For every vintage car, gleaming motorcycle, or shiny hot-rod at a car show, there is a unique story of how the owner came to treasure the vehicle. Definitely one of the more interesting stories about a vehicle at this year’s Oxford Car Show belonged to Patricia Purnell, a resident of Phoenixville.
In 1974, her father purchased a Harley-Davidson Police Special that had been used for a few years by the Pottstown Police Department. He bought it at Wensel’s Cycles.
“He just wanted something different,” Purnell explained. Referring to a storage compartment on the back of the motorcycle,
Purnell explained that her father enjoyed riding the bike everywhere, including to work.
“He would put his briefcase in there and go to work,” she said.
Purnell explained that her father had the motorcycle for a long time―until it was stolen in 1997, about 24 years after he initially bought it.
“He was heartbroken,” she said.
Purnell never thought she’d see the bike again after it was stolen. But then, on Christmas Eve of 2015, she was notified by authorities that the bike had been located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A Harley-Davidson dealer in Virginia had done extensive work on the motorcycle, and it was legitimately being
sold to a buyer in North Carolina. When the new buyer tried to register the motorcycle, it was determined that it had been stolen 18 years earlier. It was returned to Purnell.
Purnell said that the motorcycle was important to her father, so now she and her husband take it to as many car shows as they can― they’ve done eight or nine this year so far.
“It’s a fun hobby for us to take it to these shows,” she said. “We trailer it to wherever we want to go.” She said that she really enjoyed the Oxford Car Show.
“We’ve been through Oxford many, many times,” she said. “This is a very good car show.”
John Lawrence displayed
his 1965 Buick Skylark at the car show. He and his father became interested in acquiring a Buick when John was still in high school and they saw a 1963 Buick that was up for auction. They didn’t buy that one, but they did eventually buy a 1965 Buick Skylark.
“We’ve had it for about 20 years now,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence, the Pa. state representative of the 13th Legislative District that includes a large portion of southern Chester County and a part of Lancaster County, doesn’t get to take the Buick Skylark to many car shows, but he wanted to be at Oxford’s. He also plans to take the car to the Community Day event in Atglen later this month.
The cars, trucks, and
motorcycles were the stars of the show, of course, but there was plenty of food and fun, too.
The Jess Zimmerman Band performed near the park, and there was live music throughout the event. There were dozens of vendors, including food trucks, nonprofit organizations in the Oxford community, and merchants were selling clothing and jewelry.
Children of all ages took part in remote control car races on a track that was set up along Broad Street. Chris Clark conducted a BMX stunt show, entertaining the gathered crowd with a variety of tricks on his mountain bike.
Donna Hosler, the executive director for Oxford Mainstreet, Inc., thanked
Oxford Car Show...
There was a wide variety of vehicles for car enthusiasts to enjoy at the car show.
One by one, the classic cars rolled into town.
There was live music throughout the day.
State Rep. John Lawrence with his 1965 Buick Skylark.
“We are so thankful for the participants and visitors for coming out and spending the day with us,” Hosler added.
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
The Oxford Car Show handed out a number of awards during this year’s event. They included the following:
People’s Choice Award – Car Category, sponsored by Potchak A/C
First Place:
Owner: Jim Jones (Second win in a row for Jones, with a different car) 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone
Second Place:
Owner: Louis Borreggine 1955 Mercury Montclair
Third Place:
Owner: Leeroy Krauss 1937 Chevy Coupe
Hurricane Harvey...
Continued from Page 1A
are excited that Avon Grove will also be joining us in our fundraising efforts this Friday. The Hemmert family – Dawn Hemmert, her husband, Jack, and their three daughters -- were longtime Avon Grove residents.”
Conley shared an update from Belinda McDermand, the secretary for the Superintendent of HardinJefferson ISD, that read, in part, “Thank you just seems so inadequate for what your school and community are doing for us. This kind gesture will go a long way for our teachers and staff to get back to a somewhat normal life. The school board meet in an emergency meeting and voted to not do renovations on the middle school but to build a new campus. We had flood insurance of $1.5 million and the esti-
Patricia Purnell, a resident of Phoenixville, is pictured with the HarleyDavidson Police Special that belonged to her father for nearly 25 years before it was stolen in 1997. The motorcycle was missing for 18 years before, incredibly, it was located in North Carolina in 2015. It was subsequently returned to Purnell, and now she takes it out to car shows.
mate for restoration was $10.5 million. Administrators are working on an immediate plan to get students back to school until portable buildings can be purchased.”
McDermand sent photos of the middle school after the flooding, showing knee-deep water surrounding and flooding the building. The high school, which is on higher ground, was not flooded, although its athletic fieldhouses and sports storage areas were flooded.
Last week, Dawn Hemmert wrote in an email, “My friend, Michele Conley’s husband, Jim Conley, is the principal at Unionville High School in Chadds Ford, Pa. Jim contacted me yesterday letting me know that Unionville High School wants to help the Hardin Jefferson community and would like me to assure you that more help is on the way. Unionville High School is going to be our sister school all year long,
People’s Choice Award - Bike Category, sponsored by Oxford Plumbing and Heating
Owner: Martin Wikersham 1949 Harley Davidson Bobber
People’s Choice Award - Truck Category, sponsored by Oxford Mainstreet, Inc
Owner: Greg Wolf 2014 Dodge Ram
until we are on our feet again. They will be putting our logos on their football uniforms and helmets for the entire year. Jim also had a meeting with my old school district, Avon Grove School in Pennsylvania, and they’d like to get involved, too. At the Unionville football game this Friday night, when they play Avon Grove, there will be a video about Hurricane Harvey and its impact on our community. They will be setting up a station to donate gift cards and give cash donations to help Hardin Jefferson. This is just the beginning of what they are going to do for us.
“I got in touch with our Hardin Jefferson administration, and they have been discussing all of our needs that Unionville can assist us with,” Hemmert continued.
“Words cannot express how thankful we are for another school district that has no affiliation with HJ to reach
out and be willing to sponsor our school for this next year. This act of kindness will be helping our HJ friends and families directly! I hope this brings some positivity to our community!”
Conley wrote in his note to Chester County families that, “At this time, we are only accepting cash donations and/or gift cards from the following outlets: Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Ace Hardware, JC Penney, or Amazon. We will have a collection table set up near the ticket booth on Friday evening, so please be sure to stop by!”
For updated information about the continuing fundraising efforts, visit www. ucfsd.org.
To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty. com.
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the Car Show Committee― David Ogino, Scott Brown, Lisa Burns and Mary Lou Baily―plus the nearly 100 volunteers who made this year’s car show the biggest and most well-attended event yet.
Best Paint Award, sponsored by Collision Zone Owner: Louis Borreggine 1955 Mercury Montclair
Photos by Steven Hoffman Chris Clark conducted a BMX stunt show, entertaining the gathered crowd with a variety of tricks on his mountain bike.
There were plenty of games for children to enjoy, including remote-control car racing.
There were plenty of dining options for visitors during the car show.
Avon Grove School Board wants new enrollment study
The board also approves a land-use analysis and an agreement with a company to facilitate listening sessions this fall
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
The Avon Grove School Board recently approved three different contracts that could help district officials make decisions about how to meet the long-term facilities needs in the district.
At the Aug. 24 school board meeting, the board approved an enrollment study, a land-use analysis, and an agreement with a company to facilitate listening sessions and other community engagement activities this fall.
The three contract approvals come just weeks before the Avon Grove School District’s Facilities Input Group is expected to deliver a nonbinding recommendation to the school board regarding the school facilities. That recommendation will likely come at a committee-of-thewhole meeting that is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. at a location to be determined.
The school board decided to retain Sundance Associates to conduct a comprehensive
enrollment study that will include updated projected enrollment figures.
School board member Charles Beatty initially questioned the necessity of the enrollment study, noting that projected enrollment was included in a report from Gilbert Architects that was completed in 2015. Beatty added that he talked to several township supervisors in the area and they told him that developers have not introduced any new large housing projects that would significantly impact the projected enrollment for the foreseeable future.
“They all said that there have been no new changes since the Gilbert study,” Beatty said.
However, board member Tracy Lisi pointed out that the enrollment numbers that were included in the Gilbert Architects report were a snapshot of that time, and did not include a comprehensive enrollment study.
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Marchese agreed with Lisi’s point, saying that the Gilbert report only included
soft enrollment projections. He added that it’s good practice for a school district to have updated demographic data and enrollment projections every five years, and it has been seven years since Avon Grove’s last such study.
School board president Bonnie Wolff pointed out that with the school board in the middle of a process to develop a comprehensive plan for school facilities, so the enrollment projections could be very useful—especially since student enrollment has now passed 5,100 students, the highest point since at least 2011.
“Because of these [enrollment] changes, I think an enrollment study would be necessary if we’re going to make smart decisions about the facilities,” Wolff said.
The board approved the enrollment study unanimously after Beatty agreed that the new enrollment projections would be necessary if the data in the Gilbert report was not comprehensive enough.
Next, the board retained T
& M Associates to provide engineering services and to compile a land-use analysis on the high school and middle school campus.
District officials said that such an analysis would be necessary to determine what kind of renovation project that the school district could undertake on the high school and middle school campus and still remain in compliance with London Grove Township’s regulations.
Beatty argued against doing the land-use analysis now because it’s too late to be of use to the Facilities Input Group, which is making a recommendation to the school board.
“It serves no purpose now,” Beatty said. “We could do this through the township’s engineers if it is needed.”
The board approved the landuse analysis by a vote of 8-1.
The board then approved an agreement with Foster, Jacobs, & Johnson, Inc. to provide facilitation services for the district as Avon Grove begins
the next phase of its effort to develop a long-range facilities plan.
Beatty said that he thought bringing in an outside company to “sell” the new school idea to the community was unnecessary, especially since the district already has a communications person on staff, as well as a communications consultant.
“I see this as a long-term contract and quite premature at this time,” Beatty said. He also expressed concerns that Foster, Jacobs, & Johnson, Inc. is a firm that specializes in rallying community support for school district building projects that must be approved by referendum. Avon Grove, Beatty said, has not made a decision about any one construction project.
“I’m concerned that to do this at this time sends the wrong message to the community,” Beatty said.
School board vice president Brian Gaerity said that the purpose of retaining Foster, Jacobs, & Johnson is to facilitate the gathering of feedback
regarding the recommendation from the Facilities Input Group. The district plans to conduct listening sessions from late September through December to gather as much information as possible. It is necessary, Gaerity said, to have a facilitator to engage the community in the various ways that will be necessary. He pointed out that that task shouldn’t be handled by a superintendent or a business administrator, who have different duties to handle.
Board member Bill Wood agreed. Noting his own experience as a facilitator, Wood emphasized that facilitating goes far beyond simply communicating the details of a plan to the community. Wood said that retaining a facilitator will help ensure that the stakeholders in the district are engaged in the process.
Ultimately, the board voted 8-1 in favor of approving the contract with Foster, Jacobs, & Johnson.
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@ chestercounty.com.
Oxford welcomes new teachers
Oxford Area School District welcomed new teachers and staff for the 2017-18 year with two days of orientation activities. The new teachers met the administrative staff as well as their mentors, veteran teachers who will guide them during a two-year induction program. In addition to several training sessions, the new teachers participated in a picnic and a bus tour of the school district conducted
by retired teacher Roberta McManus, and Oxford Mainstreet Inc., treated the new teachers to a luncheon hosted by the Lighthouse Youth Center. Front from left are Superintendent David Woods; Elk Ridge Elementary School first grade teacher Danielle Duncan; Jordan Bank Elementary School kindergarten teachers Hannah Thompson, Zach Hamilton and Josh Belford;
district social worker Cortney Encarnacion; and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Margaret Billings-Jones. Second row from left are Ms. McManus; Hopewell Elementary School staff members Ronni Darragh, reading specialist; Natalie Ventura, sixth grade teacher; Karen King, speech therapist; Jackie Ruppert, school nurse; Amy Gollatz, fifth grade; and Amy Boscaino, art; and Hopewell Principal Dr. Nicole Addis, induction
program coordinator. Third row from left are Penn’s Grove School teachers Gary Mazza, special education; Mike McConomy, social studies; Sharon Cain, English as a Second Language; and Harrison Horowitz, choral music. Top row from left are Oxford Area High School teachers Bridget Cotellese, choral music; Elyse McDevitt, English; Phil Wesel, physics and chemistry; and Diane Miller, agriculture.
Eco-Site, Inc., the future of telecommunications is already here
There are two worlds of telecommunications technology.
In the first world, global advances in wireless technology -- specifically 5G broadband technology, slated to be common by 2020 -- are about to make access to data hundreds of times faster than current wireless technology.
In the first world, Qualcomm is already experimenting with LTE Direct technology that allows smartphones to communicate with other mobile devices for greater distances.
In the first world, the benefits of implementing 5G technology will permeate every part of society and will offer the potential for huge cost savings in several industries across the globe.
In the first world, 5G technology will be expected to generate $3.5 trillion in economic output and will support 22 million jobs globally, as early as 2035.
In the first world, 5G technology will offer huge possibilities in key areas such as energy, transportation and smart cities in general, contributing to better health and public safety.
In the first world, having been rendered obsolete -- and an archaic form of telecommunication -- cell towers will go the way of the dodo bird.
The second world is the world we live in, here in southern Chester County, and it’s where a cell tower company, working with T-Mobile and other telecommunications carriers, is trying to get a cell tower built in Landenberg.
Beginning with its introductory -- and to date, lone -- appearance at a conditional use hearing before the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors in April -- Eco-Site, Inc., a builder of cell towers -- has been campaigning to construct a 125-foot tower on a property on Yeatmans Mill Road, for the purpose of strengthening cell phone capacity in what many locals refer to as a dead zone of communications.
It’s a firecracker of a local topic in Landenberg these days. Indeed, the proposed cell tower has become this year’s Artesian Water Resources’ proposed activation of the Broad Run Road well, just like the well controversy eventually supplanted a proposed outdoor mall on Gap-Newport Pike that had been introduced by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) as the conversation of choice there.
As Eco-Sites, Inc. continues to mull over the placement of a cell tower in Landenberg, and while it continues to confront opposition and a seemingly endless number of delays, we encourage the company to consider the facts, that proclaim that while there are technologies that could augment cell towers, some experts in the field suggest there are ways to relay data that could replace towers altogether. Further, there is talk that tower sites will eventually be hosted in outer space.
While we agree with Eco-Site, Inc. and thousands of users throughout the area who believe that telecommunication capacity in Landenberg is woefully under-served and needs a major boost, we encourage Eco-Site, Inc. to consider an alternate means by which to achieve its goals, and plan not just for the immediate future but for generations to come, because when it comes to advancements in telecommunications technology, the future is already here.
Chester County Press
Letter to the Editor
A hotel in Kennett Square shouldn’t come at the expense of the integrity of the historic district
An open letter to Kennett Square Borough Council: be evaluated on their contribution to the historic district, by lawyers, developers or those who stand to profit from their demolition.
I am all in favor of having an upscale hotel in Kennett Square Borough but not at the expense of the continuity and integrity of our National Register Historic District. In the borough’s one square mile, there are other sites, outside the historic District, for a hotel that would still be within walking distance of the shopping and dining district.
I am opposed to the demolition of the three buildings at Cypress and Broad. The intent of the HARB ordinance is to protect and preserve the integrity of the historic district. Resources in the Historic District shouldn’t
I’ve heard arguments that there are other houses “just like” the ones that would be demolished and that no one important lived there. Both are weak defenses for demolition. At the time of their construction, the two houses and the stable were built by prominent citizens of the Borough. Washington Alexander was the first owner of 120 S. Broad Street (1872) and a founding member of Union Hill Cemetery. John C.
Yeatman, first owner of 116 S. Broad Street (1883), served in the Civil War, was a member of Kennett Square Borough Council, was an elder of Kennett monthly meeting and served on the Kennett Board of Education.
Another consideration is the effect that a fiveto seven-story building would have on the street scape of 100 block of South Broad. The beautifully restored old firehouse and the homes on the east side of S. Broad would be dwarfed—even Holly Peters’ shop and especially Tom Martin’s house on the corner would look out of place and insignificant.
As a property and business owner and former resident, I urge you to seriously consider the HARB’s recommendation on this proposed demolition. Take the time to read Chapter 9, Historic Resources in the 2010 Comprehensive Plan and the HARB ordinance which was passed in 2013, after the Comprehensive Plan was published. Vote to oppose demolition in National Register Historic District and ask the developers to choose another location in the borough.
D Lynn Sinclair Kennett Square business owner
Used book sale at Oxford Library
Oxford Library Company Friends will be holding a used book sale on Sept. 28, 29 and 30 at the Oxford Library.
The times are as follows: Thursday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sept 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The book sale will include hardbacks, paperbacks, audiobooks and
CDs and DVDs. There will be a “fill a bag” sale. The sale takes place at the library at 48 S. Second St. in Oxford.
Free bluegrass concert under the stars
Enjoy an evening of toe-tapping, knee-slapping bluegrass tunes performed by The Blades of Grass Bluegrass Band on the Oxford Area Senior Center’s
newly renovated side patio. Bring your own lawn chair, blanket and refreshments (no alcoholic beverages). Music lovers of all ages are welcome. The event takes
place on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. The Oxford Area Senior Center is located at 12 E. Locust Street. The concert is free, and any donations to the senior center will
be greatly appreciated. If it rains, the concert will be held inside the senior center. RSVP by calling 610-932-5244 or email oxsrctr@zoominternet.net.
County Planning Commission launches photo contest
The Chester County Planning Commission has launched a Landscapes3 photo contest to highlight the county’s greatest asset, its people. The Planning Commission is seeking photos of people as they live, work, visit, or play in Chester County.
The photos can focus on people in different settings, including businesses, homes, downtowns, public community events, and outdoors, among others.
The contest, “Putting a Face on Chester County,” ends at noon Oct. 13. Six
winners will be selected from the submitted photos, across adult and youth categories.
The photo contest is a great way for the public to share how they spend their time in the county, so the Planning Commission better understands what is important in the daily lives of residents as the development of Landscapes3, the county’s next longrange comprehensive plan, continues.
“We’re looking forward to getting more public input into Landscapes3
through the photo contest and seeing great images of the county and its people,” said Chester County Planning Commission executive director Brian O’Leary.
This is the second photo contest that the Planning Commission has conducted during the Landscapes3 update process. Last year, the agency asked residents for their favorite place in Chester County and received 375 entries that represented many of the best places in the county.
Support comes from Natural Lands, Longwood Gardens, Brandywine River Museum and Millstone Café, Dansko, Trek Bicycles (Exton), The American Helicopter Museum, and the Palace Bowling and Entertainment Center. Prizes from these other partners will be awarded to the selected winners in the adult and youth categories. For more information, visit www.chescoplanning. org/CompPlan/photocontest02.cfm.
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
The Oxford Hornets have started the 2017 football season the same way they ended the 2016 season—with two straight victories.
Quarterback Chandler England engineered a 72-yard drive that concluded when he battled his way into the end zone on a two-yard run with 50 seconds left to play in the game. The biggest play on
the game-winning drive came when wide receiver Brandon DeShields made a spectacular leaping catch in the middle of the field to pick up a first down on a fourth-and-eight play.
Then, a few moments later, DeShields made a diving interception to end Twin Valley’s comeback bid on the final drive, securing the victory for Oxford.
After watching his team pull out its second last-minute
win in a row, Oxford head coach Mike Means said that if he were given a choice, a blowout victory might be preferable to the last-minute variety—but the close wins could help his squad as the 2017 season unfolds.
“I think we’ll be better off because of these close wins,” Means said. “It instills character and the team learns how to close out games.”
Twin Valley, which was playing its first game of the
season, started off strong against Oxford as junior quarterback Zachary Gardner led the team on a 70-yard opening drive. Running back David Sabulsky had a nice 22-yard run and Gardner capped the drive with a threeyard run into the end zone, making it 6-0.
Oxford answered right back as England completed three straight passes—two to wide receiver Brandon McWilliams and one to running back Tim Faber—during a nine-play drive that covered 74 yards. Faber scored on a 45-yard touchdown run, and when kicker Jacob O’Connor hit the extra point, it was 7-6 in
Oxford’s favor. Twin Valley marched deep into Oxford territory on its next drive. The big play was a 24-yard pass from Gardner to Sabulsky. But two plays later, Gardner looked for a receiver along the left sideline and lofted a pass that was instead picked off by McWilliams at the one-yard line. McWilliams created the turnover opportunity by getting himself into such good position to defend the pass. It took Oxford’s offense 17 plays to move 99 yards on the next possession. It wasn’t the cleanest offensive drive— there was a sack, a fumble that was recovered by the offense, and a few penalties mixed in, but the Hornets kept moving the chains.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
The Oxford Hornets take the field to start the game.
Photo by
Oxford made it 21-6 when England threw a 31-yard touchdown to McWilliams with 3:45 left to play in the second quarter.
Twin Valley trimmed Oxford’s lead on its next drive when Gardner found wide receiver Mason Bennett with a 20-yard touchdown pass. The Raiders went for a two-point conversion and Gardner fired a pass to fullback Owen Mable, making it 21-14.
The score stayed the same until late in the third quarter when, with 1:24 left to play, Oxford increased its lead to 28-14 when Faber scored on a three-yard run.
Faber, a sophomore, ran for 100 yards against Twin Valley. He has taken on a larger role than expected as a result of an injury to standout running back Brandon Holz, but Means said that he hasn’t been fazed by the extra workload.
“He’s relaxed and evenkeeled,” Means said. “He hasn’t blinked at anything we’ve asked him to do.”
Twin Valley didn’t blink, either. Even though Oxford held a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, the Raiders continued to play hard. Gardner led Twin Valley on a 77-yard scoring drive, scoring a touchdown on a one-yard carry with 8:59 left to play in the game. It was 28-21.
England responded for Oxford, leading the Hornets on a touchdown drive that covered 53 yards on seven plays. The score came on a 14-yard touchdown run by England. Oxford led 34-21.
Twin Valley promptly embarked on an 80-yard drive that included two passes from Gardner to Bennett that covered 40 yards. Gardner found Riley Ott for a 17-yard pass play for the score. It was 34-28 with 4:50 left to play.
The Raiders boldly attempted an onside kick and it worked—they recovered the ball at the 40 of Oxford. The Hornets were then flagged for penalties on consecutive plays—a pass interference call on one and a holding call on the other—and Twin Valley was quickly at the 10-yard line. Gardner threw a strike to
Sabulsky for a touchdown, and with the extra point the Raiders led 35-34. There was 3:51 left in the game.
Oxford started its drive at the 28. England kept the ball himself on first down, rolling to the right and finding a hole big enough to pick up four yards. England threw a short pass to tight end Julian Nadachowski, but the gain was minimal as Twin Valley’s defense swarmed. England’s next pass was incomplete, bringing up a crucial fourthand-eight situation. Oxford had little choice but to go for it since there was no guarantee that they would get the ball back if they punted.
England dropped back to pass and lofted the ball toward DeShields in the middle of the field. The Oxford wide receiver leaped over a defender and hauled in the catch, moving the chains and allowing the drive to continue. On the next play, England found Nadachowski for a big gain as the Hornets moved into Twin Valley territory. They called a timeout to stop the clock with 2:36 left. Now, Oxford didn’t just want to score, they wanted to run
as much time off the clock as they could.
On the next play, England ran for 12 yards to move the ball to the 19. A four-yard carry by Faber took the ball to the 15. England called his own number again, steamrolling his way for a ten-yard gain to the five-yard line. There was 1:30 left to play. Faber gained three yards on the next play, and then England finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Oxford completed a two-point conversion when Faber ran the ball in, giving Oxford a 42-35 lead with 50 seconds to play.
After the kickoff, Twin Valley took over at the 21-yard-line, hoping for one more comeback drive. Gardner dropped back and looked to complete a pass to a receiver on the right side of the field, but DeShields read the play and got in position for a diving interception near the 30-yard-line. The ball and the victory belonged to Oxford.
Means said that when he saw DeShields pull in the interception, all he felt was relief.
“He did a great job of jumping that route,” the coach said.
Oxford’s three interceptions were instrumental in the team’s victory. “The turnover battle is the number-one factor when it comes to winning a game or losing it,” Means said. “Our defense was able to make some plays tonight to get the ball back to the offense.”
Means explained that after the 34-27 win over a good West Chester Henderson squad in Week One, the Oxford coaches talked to the players about needing to handle the success and stay focused on each opponent. For most of the game, Oxford did that—but then there was a lapse in the fourth quarter that allowed Twin Valley to make a comeback.
Means said that Oxford can’t have lapses like that during games—it’s important to play all 48 minutes of football.
One player who exemplifies giving maximum effort is certainly England, Oxford’s senior quarterback. On the night, he ran for two
touchdowns and threw for two others, finishing the game with 285 yards passing.
“He’s the hardest worker on the team,” Means said. “It’s really like having another coach on the field—he knows our offense so well. I love coaching the kid. We ask him to do a lot, and he just does it. The kid is special.”
Means said that he was impressed with the effort that Twin Valley gave—they never let up for a minute, even after falling behind.
“Hats off to Twin Valley,” Means said. “They battled every second of that game, so kudos to the players and their coaches.”
Twin Valley will face Kennett on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. Oxford, meanwhile, will look to improve to 3-0 when they host Phoenixville on Friday night, Sept. 8.
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@ chestercounty.com.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA
The following is a true and correct copy of a joint resolution of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Pennsylvania. Consistent with the procedures prescribed by Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution, the General Assembly first proposed the amendment during the 2016 session and approved it for a second time during the 2017 session of the legislature. As required by Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution and statutory law, the Secretary of the Commonwealth has caused the proposed amendment to be published here.
Pursuant to law, the Secretary of the Commonwealth will submit the proposed amendment to the electors of Pennsylvania in the form of a ballot question at the Municipal Election to be held on November 7, 2017. If a ballot question is approved by a majority of electors voting on it, the corresponding amendment becomes part of the Constitution. Those parts of the joint resolution that appear in BOLD PRINT are the words of the Constitution that are proposed by the General Assembly for addition or deletion. If an amendment were approved, the words UNDERLINED would be added to the Constitution and the words in BRACKETS (e.g., [Constitution]) would be deleted. The unbolded words would remain unchanged in the Constitution.
Following the proposed amendment is the text of the question that will be placed on the ballot. Below the question is a “Plain English Statement” prepared by the Office of Attorney General, and published as required by law, indicating the purpose, limitations and effects of the ballot question upon the people of this Commonwealth.
Anyone who needs help reading this advertisement or who needs the text of the proposed amendment in an alternative format may call or write the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation, Room 210 North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, (717) 787-5280, ra-BCEL@pa.gov.
Pedro A. Cortés
Secretary of the Commonwealth
JOINT RESOLUTION 2017-1
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for exemptions and special provisions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with the provisions of Article XI:
That section 2(b)(vi) of Article VIII be amended to read:
§ 2. Exemptions and special provisions.
* * * (b) The General Assembly may, by law:
* * * (vi) Authorize local taxing authorities to exclude from taxation an amount based on the assessed value of homestead property. The exclusions authorized by this clause shall not exceed [one-half of the median assessed value of all] 100% of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction. A local taxing authority may not increase the millage rate of its tax on real property to pay for these exclusions.
* *
*
Section 2. (a) Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of this
proposed constitutional amendment.
(b) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first primary, general or municipal election which meets the requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is passed by the General Assembly.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
AMENDING THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT EXCLUSION
Ballot Question
Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to permit the General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing local taxing authorities to exclude from taxation up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction, rather than limit the exclusion to one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead property, which is the existing law?
Plain English Statement of the Office of Attorney General
The purpose of the ballot question is to amend Article VIII, Section 2(b)(vi) of the Pennsylvania Constitution to permit the General Assembly to pass a law authorizing local taxing authorities to increase the amount of assessed value of homestead property that may be excluded when determining the real estate tax owed for homestead property. If the ballot question is approved, the General Assembly could then pass a law authorizing local taxing authorities to exclude up to one-hundred percent (100%) of the assessed value of each homestead property when calculating the real estate tax owed on homestead property.
The Pennsylvania Constitution currently permits the General Assembly to pass a law authorizing local taxing authorities to exclude only a portion of the assessed value of homestead property when determining the amount of real estate tax owed. Under current law, the amount of assessed value that may be excluded from taxation cannot exceed one-half the amount of the median assessed value of all homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction. Local taxing authorities may not increase the millage rate of its real property tax to pay for homestead property exclusions.
The effect of the ballot question would allow the General Assembly to pass a law increasing the amount of assessed value that local taxing authorities may exclude from real estate taxation for homestead property. Currently, local taxing authorities can exclude from taxation only up to one-half the amount of the median assessed value of all homestead property located in the local taxing jurisdiction. But if the ballot question is approved, the General Assembly would have authority to pass a law permitting local taxing authorities to exclude up to one-hundred percent (100%) of the assessed value of each homestead property. Local taxing authorities would continue to be prohibited from increasing the millage rate of its tax on real property to pay for the homestead exclusions.
The ballot question, by itself, does not authorize local taxing authorities to exclude up to one-hundred percent (100%) of the assessed value of each homestead property from real estate taxation. Local taxing authorities could not take such action unless and until the General Assembly passes a law authorizing them to do so. The ballot question authorizes the General Assembly to pass that law.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
The captains meet at mid-field.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Coach Mike Means and the Hornets discuss strategy.
Turning back the clock in Chadds Ford
The Chadds Ford Historical Society is hosting the 52nd annual Chadds Ford Days festival on Sept. 9 and 10. The event commemorates the Battle of the Brandywine, which took place on Sept. 11, 1777, but the festival is about much more than history.
Chadds Ford Days includes more than 50 of the area’s finest artisans. There will be a “Maker’s Marketplace” for buying handmade items, and colonial demonstrator stations where you can learn about a traditional craft like blacksmithing, lace-making or woodturning. You can try colonial dancing and learn how our ancestors socialized and flirted in the 1700s. You’ll also meet reenactors playing Gen.
George Washington and Revolutionary War soldier Ned Hector, and you can tour an 18th-century military camp, where you’ll see cannons and muskets firing, and soldiers on maneuvers.
The area’s artistic legacy is honored at the festival as the Philadelphia Watercolor Society hosts a free plein-air art show and sale in the Historical Society’s Visitors Center.
Seven local bands will provide continuous live music throughout the
festival. The bands include local favorites like The Sermon, the Steve Liberace Band, Seven Rings and Marlboro Road playing jazz, rock, Irish, bluegrass, traditional and children’s songs.
While you’re enjoying the music, you’ll want to grab a bite to eat provided by local restaurants, and relax in the tavern beer garden with offerings from Victory Brewing and Chadds Ford Winery. For younger children, there is a “Kid’s Corner” with fun activities and games, and dog training demonstrations by Clover Dog Training.
You can see cooking demonstrations in the Chads House and tour the Visitors Center, where you can visit the museum store and see the exhibit “Wanton Waste: Chadds Ford and the Battle of Brandywine.”
This year, all food and beverage transactions will be made directly with the vendors rather than with pre-purchased tickets.
Chadds Ford Days is held on the grounds of Chadds Ford Historical Society (1736 N. Creek Rd., Chadds Ford). It runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Free parking is available adjacent to the festival
grounds. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to attend, but must be on a leash. Admission is $10 for adults 18 and older, and free for children 17 and younger. Visit www. chaddsforddays.com for more information.
Skateboarders compete on Saturday in Crossan Park
The Fifth Annual ‘Rip the ElWood’ skateboard competition draws a crowd to take part, and to watch.
By John Chambless Staff Writer
You don’t have to skateboard to have a great time at the Fifth Annual “Rip the ElWood” competition on Sept. 9. The day-long skateboarding competition has grown into a big draw for Crossan Park in Landenberg. The spot was chosen by the sponsor, Faceplant Boardriders, for its paved, sloping paths. The township has supported the event for the past five years, and has had no complaints. Spectators are welcome to cheer on the skateboarders as they compete in several events at speeds of about 25 to 30 miles per hour. There are ramps, slaloms
and turns on the course, so the action can get intense.
The day starts at 9 a.m. with late registration and downhill practice. Downhill time trials start at 10 a.m., They are timed runs down a narrow path through an open field. Awards will be given.
At 12:30 p.m., contestants will start from the parking lot and sprintpush their boards uphill for a half-mile to the entrance of the park.
At 1 p.m., contestants will navigate downhill over ramps, slaloms and tight turns around cones on the course.
At 2 p.m., a slide jam will lead to semi-finals, and finals at 3:45 p.m., when skateboarders will get two
solo runs, with their names announced to the crowd. Judges will select the winners.
At 4:30 p.m., there’s a Longest Slide Competition, and awards will be announced at 5 p.m. for the winners of the Push Race, Boarder Cross Slide Jam and Longest Slide. Registration online ranges from $5 to $25 per event, and all prices increase by $5 on the day of the event. Visit www. faceplantboardriders.com for online registration forms and more information. Crossan Park is at 91 Parsons Rd., Landenberg. To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty. com.
Local artisans will sell handmade crafts both days.
Visitors can touch items from the colonial era and learn about what life was like then.
Visitors can meet Gen. Washington and other figures from the Revolutionary War era.
Revolutionary War re-enactors will have a camp set up, and will fire muskets and cannons several times during the weekend.
Sept. 9 and 10
Chadds Ford Days
Chadds Ford Days, commemorating the Battle of the Brandywine, will be held Sept. 9 and 10 at the Chadds Ford Historical Society in Chadds Ford. There will be colonial demonstrations, tours of our historic site, Revolutionary War reenactors and military drills, hayrides, antique cars, a market with more than 40 vendors offering artisan foods, art, handcrafted jewelry, and handmade crafts, as well as a Tavern Beer Garden and live music. Visit www.chaddsforddays.com.
Sept. 9
Sky Tour
Members of the Chester County Astronomical Society will guide visitors of all ages through the night sky on Sept. 9 starting at 7:30 p.m. in Nixon Park. Bring a small flashlight and dress for the weather. Members will share their telescopes, binoculars and knowledge of the stars with all those attending. The group meets at the athletic fields, off of Walnut Street, next to the park entrance in Kennett Square around sunset. For more information, contact Don Knabb by e-mail at observing@ccas.us, or Pete Kennedy at 610-444-4479 or pkiii@verizon.net.
Sept. 10
Record show
The Keystone Record Collectors Music Expo will be held at the Continental Inn (Route 30, next to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dealers and collectors will be selling records, CDs and music memorabilia from all eras. Admission and parking are free. Call 610-932-7852 or visit www.recordcollectors. org.
Sept. 10
Patriot Day concert A Patriot Day Remembrance concert and community sing-along is scheduled Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. At the Oxford United Methodist Church (Market and Addison streets, Oxford). The concert will feature music about America and music composed by Americans. Organized by the members of The Oxford Trio (Katie Slauch-Boozer, violin, Nancy Pedrick, piano, and Julia Farber, horn), the concert will feature local musicians playing modern, traditional, jazz and patriotic music. Admission is free an offering will be taken to benefit the Oxford United Methodist Church Harvest of Talents and Family Promise of Southern Chester County.
Sept. 14
‘Tavern Talks: Well Preserved’
How did Colonists prepare for the winter months? The Sept. 14 “Tavern Talk” at the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s Barns Brinton House (630 Baltimore Pike) will include demonstrations of herb drying and preservation with Terra Luna Herbals, preparing cheese with Amazing Acres Goat Dairy, spinning wool with Greenbank Mills & Philips Farm, beekeeping with Brandywine Bee Company, and learning about the power of vinegar with Keepwell Vinegar. The program is aimed at young adults and is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $20 for non-members and $15 for members. Tickets must be purchased in advance by phone, in person or online. All attendees must be 21 and older. Call 610-388-7376 or visit www.chaddsfordhistory. org.
Sept. 16
Bike Kennett ride
A Park to Park Community Bike Ride will be held Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. The course runs from Anson B. Nixon Park to Pennock Park and back again. There will be a police escort for traffic safety during the ride. All ages and abilities are welcome to the free ride, but training wheels and balance bikes are not permitted. The event is sponsored by Bike Kennett, a group that promotes safe cycling in the region.
Sept. 16
Car and Dog Wash
On Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at Oxford Feed & Lumber (112 Railroad Ave., Oxford), members of the OAHS Girls Soccer Team will be washing cars and dogs for donations. Cub Scout Pack 41 will also be selling popcorn at the event.
Sept. 16
Grange barbeque
Russellville Grange 91 (Route 896, one block north of route 10) will be having their Fall BBQ on Sept. 16 from 3 p.m. until sold out. The menu features half a chicken for adults, and a quarter chicken for children, along with potato salad, pepper cabbage, applesauce, a roll, dessert and drink. Adult take-out meals will be $10 (adult eat-in meals $12). Children’s eat-in or take-out meals will be $6. Chicken only is $6. Potato salad and pepper cabbage to go are $6 for a quart and $3 for a pint. Call 610-255-5418 for more information.
Sept. 23
One-room school reunion
The Upper Oxford Township one-room school reunion covered-dish luncheon will be held on Sept. 23 at noon at the Manor Presbyterian Church
Social Room (505 Street Rd., Route 926). There will be a video of the one-room school dedications in 2016. The History Room displaying the school’s history will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Former students should make reservations and bring a covered dish. Call 610-9329718 or email Irisgdow@ juno.com.
Sept. 30
Kennett Brewfest
The Kennett Brewfest will be held Sept. 30 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., in booths set up in downtown Kennett Square. More than 100 regional and national breweries will be serving samples, and food from area restaurants will be featured. For tickets and information, visit www. kennettbrewfest.com.
Sept. 30
Apple Festival
The Oxford Presbyterian Church’s annual Apple Festival in Oxford Memorial Park takes place on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be dozens of vendors, games for children, and entertainment. For more information, visit www.
opcapplefestival.org.
Oct. 4
Wellness workshop for seniors
The Oxford Senior Center (12 E. Locust St., Oxford) will host a Self Care Wellness Workshop on Oct. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a guided self-massage experience with massage therapist Sue Frampton, and gentle stretching with Barb McAdams, as well as tips on how to implement a daily wellness routine. Call 610-932-5244 to make reservations.
Oct. 7
Pink Hobby Horse Prance Oxford Feed & Lumber (112 Railroad Ave., Oxford) hosts a Pink Hobby Horse Prance on Oct. 7 beginnign at 9 a.m. The family day centers on making stick ponies and then riding them in a horse show. Food and raffle baskets available. Proceeds benefit local breast cancer coalitions. Call 610-932-8521 for more information or to register.
Oct. 7 Red Devil Run
The 7th annual AG Red Devil Run will be held Oct. 7,
with hundreds of runners in this family event. The registration fee is $15 until Sept. 16 ($20 from Sept. 17 through race day). T-shirts guaranteed for first 150 registrants. Postrace bib raffles, awards and refreshments will be part of the event. Race day registration is from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m., and the race st5arts at 8:30 a.m. There will be awards for first place overall male and female finishers, and top three male and female runners in each age category in 10-year increments starting at 10 and under. The course is around the Avon Grove High School campus. For more information, email reddevil5kdirector@ gmail.com.
Oct. 7 Chester County Day On Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Chester County Day tour of homes and historic buildings will be held in West Chester and northwest Chester County. Tickets are $50 and benefit The Women’s Auxiliary of the Chester County Hospital to expand the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. For information, visit www. ChesterCountyDay.com.
Bike the Brandywine explores the region on two wheels
Explore the scenery, glimpse the history, and discover the lure of the Brandywine Creek on the second annual Bike the Brandywine on Sept. 30.
Hosted during the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art’s 50th anniversary year of celebrations, this year’s Bike the Brandywine will offer three routes that take in the beautiful Brandywine Creek Greenway and surrounding countryside. Riders can choose from distances of 25, 50, and 100 miles, each with a unique experience for both the recreational and more avid
cyclist. Proceeds from the ride benefit the Brandywine Conservancy’s clean water programs. Following both the East and West Branch of the historic and scenic waterway, the 100mile loop will guide riders from Chadds Ford all the way to the creek’s headwaters in bucolic Honey Brook Township. Along the way, riders will experience iconic western Chester County vistas and views of rural landscapes, rich history, and active farmland, some of which the Brandywine Conservancy has helped preserve for future
generations. The 50-mile loop gives riders looking for a shorter experience a route that also follows both branches of the creek. Following the West Branch to The Laurels Preserve and then crossing through the valley to reach the creek’s East Branch just south of Downingtown, the route rejoins the 100-mile route and visits the historic village of Marshallton. Riders on the 50-mile route will experience the historic sites, incredible vistas, and countryside along their journey.
As an introduction to the Brandywine Creek Greenway for the recreational cyclist, the 25-mile loop closely mirrors the early routes of both the 100- and 50-mile options. Following the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek through open farmland and scenic river valleys, this route provides a trip through the historic village of Marshallton, past one of the oldest barns in Pennsylvania and through areas of the historic Brandywine Battlefield.
Each loop starts and ends at the Chadds Ford Historical Society (1736 N. Creek Rd., Chadds Ford). Cyclists of legal drinking age will be entitled to one free pint of Victory beer at the ride’s conclusion. The postride celebration at the Chadds Ford Historical Society will also feature a DJ and food available for purchase at the Victory Brewing Company food truck and the Punk’d Pineapple Ice Cream Truck. The event takes place rain or shine from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Bike the Brandywine event offers three different
seasoned and novice cyclists.
ANDREW R. MATYAS, SR.
Andrew Robert Matyas, Sr., 73, a wonderful man, husband, dad, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many, passed away on Aug. 26.
He was most proud of his family and enjoyed the time spent with them. In 2002, he and his wife moved from Newark, Del., to Ocean Pines, Md. He loved boating and fishing, and was an avid Eagles and NASCAR fan.
He was born on June 1, 1944 to Andrew and Eleanor (Jean) Matyas in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. For 39 years, he was an employee of the General Motors Wilmington Plant. He was a member of the Ocean Pines Corvette Club, MSSA Organization, and the Ocean Pines Angler’s Club.
He will be sadly missed by his wife of 34 years, Helen; daughter Denise Crossan and husband Cecil of Bear, Del.; son Michael Jones and wife Cortney of Hockessin, Del.; granddaughter Michele Williams and husband Jason of New Castle, Del.; grandsons Sean Crossan of Bear, Del., and Mason and Callum Jones of Hockessin, Del.; great-grandsons Julian Crossan and Jacob Williams of Bear, Del.; and sister Marion (Peter) of Virginia.
A celebration of life service was held Sept. 1. Interment was in Oxford Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www. elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Sept. 9
Pancake & omelet
breakfast
Shiloh Presbyterian Church (42 S. Fifth St., Oxford) hosts a pancake and omelet breakfast on Sept. 9 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tickets at the door are $7 for adults, $4 for ages 4 to 11, free for ages 3 and younger. The menu includes French toast, bacon and sausage, biscuits, potatoes, sausage gravy and more.
Sept. 23
Community yard sale
On Sept. 23, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church holds their third annual “Hidden Treasures” community yard sale at 300 State Rd., West Grove, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tables are available. Call Terri at 610-291-9938 or Donna at 484-371-8345.
Sept. 23
Open Market
On Sept. 23, West Grove
United Methodist Church will host its Second Annual Open Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors including artists, jewelers and crafters will be on site, as well as food trucks. To apply for a spot, call 610-869-9334 or email office@westgroveumc. org. Proceeds benefit the church’s outreach programs to the community.
Sept. 23
Buffet breakfast
Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford) hosts its monthly buffet breakfast for the community on Sept. 23 from 7 to 10 a.m. The menu includes buttermilk pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon, roasted potatoes, fresh fruit and more. Tickets at the door are $7 for adults and $3 for ages 3 to 10. Call 610-932-9698 for more information.
Sept. 23
An evening of music
Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford) hosts vocalist Tony Elia in a program of standard songs from the 1920s through the 1960s on Sept. 23. He will be accompanied by Pattie Markley. Pastor Mark Terry will open the show with improv comedy. The evening starts with a covered dish supper at 6 p.m., followed by the show at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Bring a dish to share. Call 610-932-9698 for more information.
Sept. 24
Community Fun Day
Grove United Methodist
MICHELLE DENISE BURT SHOCKLEY
Michele Denise Burt Shockley, 52, of Fair Hill, Md., died on Aug. 26 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del.
She was the wife of Philip K. Shockley, with whom she shared 27 years of marriage, and the loving mother of Reilee Shockley. Born in Chester, Pa., she was the daughter of Richard Burt of West Chester, and the late Lorraine (Sidlow) Burt.
Michele earned an Associates degree from Keystone Business school in Swarthmore. She was a talented dog trainer for many years, opening her own business in 2013 in Oxford. She was successful in many aspects of dog training, but specifically loved competition obedience training and herding. In recent years, she was involved with Paws For People pet therapy with her dog, Finn. Michele was incredibly artistic and loved crafting, drawing, and painting.
In addition to her father, husband, and daughter, survivors include her sister Donna Combs and her husband Ronnie of Nottingham; and her nephews Cody and Shane. She also leaves behind her three Border Collies she loved dearly – Chase, Finn, and Breezy.
A funeral service was held Sept. 1. Contributions in her memory may be made to Paws for People, PO Box 9955, Newark, DE 19714. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.
JOHNNY R. ROMINGER
ANTHONY TALAMONTI
Church (490 W. Boot Rd., north of West Chester) hosts a free Community Fun Day on Sept. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m., with hot dogs, ice cream and toppings for all. The event includes live music, a moon bounce, face painting, balloon animals and more family activities. For more information, call 610-696-2663 or visit www.grovechurch.org.
Sept. 30
Food tasting benefit
Shiloh Presbyterian Church in Oxford sponsors a food tasting event on Sept. 30 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Oxford Area High School cafeteria (705 Waterway Rd., Oxford), with crafts, vendors, door prizes and live music. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit community outreach programs. Call the church at 610-932-9256 for ticket information.
Oct. 1 Blessing of the Animals West Grove United Methodist Church hosts a “Blessing of the Animals” event on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at Harmomy Park (Harmony and N. Guernsey roads, West Grove). Community members are invited to bring their pets, large and small, for a time of prayer and blessing just for them. Dogs must be on leashes; smaller animals need to be in crates or cages. Horses, sheep, and goats are welcome as well, under the attention of their owners. For more information, call 610-869-9334 or visit www.westgroveumc.org.
Johnny Ray Rominger, 38, of West Grove, passed away on Aug. 27. Born in West Chester, he was the son of Eva Sue Dickens Rominger of West Grove and the late John Henry Rominger. In his youth, Johnny had a passion for Little League, whether it was pitching or hitting home runs. He loved the sport and his skills were outstanding. He enjoyed being with his family and friends, especially his daughter and granddaughter. He also enjoyed surfing the net, and had the nickname of Craigman. In addition to his mother, he is survived by one daughter, Adrian Rominger of Drunmore, Pa.; and one granddaughter, Abriell. His service and burial were held privately. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www. griecocares.com.
BENNY M. HOLCOMB
Benny Mack Holcomb, 65, of Oxford, passed away on July 12 of a heart attack while staying at the home of his son and his family in California. He was born in 1951 to the late LeRoy and Marguerite Holcomb of Hillsville, Va. He is survived by his wife, Dawn Evans Holcomb Oxford; his son, Curtis and Lola Holcomb Hemet, Calif.; his daughter, Kristie Holcomb Sugar Hill, Ga.; stepchildren Brett and Andrea Sydenstricker of Oxford; granddaughter Emily Holcomb of Hemet, Calif.; grandson Anthony Nasdeo Sugar Hill, Ga.; step-grandsons Chaice, Brody and Ryan of Oxford; brothers Bill Holcomb and his wife Rose of Davenport, Fla., and Olen Holcomb and his wife Faith of Oxford; sisters-in-law Betty Jean Holcomb (Robert M.) and Betty Holcomb (Lynwood), both of Virginia; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers Lynwood, Robert M. and Curtis; sisters Shirley and Betty; as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was a member of the U.S. Navy from 1969-1973. While serving his country he was one of 3,500 crew members aboard the ship USS Bon Homme Richards under the command of captain Dickson W. Alderton. The carrier spent nearly seven months in the coastal waters off Vietnam. He helped decommission the ship in Washington State on July 2, 1971. He enlisted as a Seaman and left as a Leading Seaman with honors and an honorable discharge. While living in Pennsylvania, he worked for many years at Laurel Valley Farms as a truck driver.
A celebration of his life with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute and the folding of the flag, will take place on Sept. 23 at the Lake Ridge Resort in Hillsville, Va., at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend to share fond memories of Benny with his family and friends.
Anthony “Tony T” Talamonti, 72, of Kennett Square, peacefully passed away on Aug. 26 at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of the late Betty Lou Talamonti, with whom he shared 46 years of marriage. Born in Wilmington, Del., he was the son of the late Giuseppe and Frances (DiTomasso) Talamonti. Tony worked at A. Duie Pyle, Inc., as a manager of operations, retiring after 30 years. He then went on to start his own company, World Class Fire Equipment, and became America’s No. 1 Metz Agent while working with Metz Aerials, USA Division and the Rosenbauer Group. He traveled the U.S. and abroad, making many good friends along the way. Tony was a special person, a selfless man who dedicated his life to his community and helping others. Whether it was the lifetime he spent volunteering at the Kennett Fire Company, serving as president for over 35 years, readily assisting with the cleanup effort in New York after 9/11, or helping someone in need, he never asked for anything in return or desired any recognition. Tony was a member of the Four Seasons Motorcycle Club. He also enjoyed an occasional game of golf, spending time with his grandchildren, and Saturday morning breakfasts with his buddies. A devoted family man, Tony was an incredible role model for his family. Survivors include three daughters, Pamela Talamonti, Angela Kavanaugh, and Donna Schuibbeo (Eric), all of Kennett Square; one son, Joseph Talamonti (Kim) of Cochranville; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Donna Miller (Dan) of Kennett Square; and his mother-in-law, Betty B. Harkins of Kennett Square. He was predeceased by two brothers, Luigi and Joseph Talamonti. A funeral mass was held Sept. 1. Interment was at Cathedral Cemetery in Wilmington, Del. Contributions in Tony’s memory may be made to ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter, 321 Norristown Rd., Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002; or St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To view Tony’s online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.griecocares.com.
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WAYNE F. RICE
Wayne F. Rice, 83, of Oxford, passed away quietly at his home on Aug. 28.
He will join his wife of 43 years, Doris K. Rice, who left us in June of 2013.
Originally from Quarryville he was the son of Forrest and Ruth Rice of Greentree, Pa. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Jeffery R. Hoffer; and will be cherished and remembered by his three sons, David Hoffer, James Hoffer, and Thomas Rice of Lititz. His memory will also be carried forward through his three daughters-in-law, Jody Hoffer, Karen Hoffer and Yvonne Rice; along with his nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Wayne was an employee of 38 years with RCA, and five years with Aberdeen Proving Grounds. He was a member of the Masonic Order of Oxford and a lifetime member of The Slumbering Ground Hog Lodge of Quarryville. Wayne and Doris loved to travel, their pets, and the creation of their lifelong home on Brick Road, but the majority of their lives were dedicated to their family and assisting their friends and community.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 8 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford), where friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. At the conclusion of the interment at Oxford Cemetery, friends are invited to join the family for light refreshments at the Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford). Flowers may be forwarded to the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, and online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
NICHOLAS F. REPETTO
Nicholas F. Repetto, 23, of Lincoln University, passed away suddenly on Aug. 28.
Born in West Chester, he was a son of Maureen Boyle and Joseph A. Repetto, Jr. Nicholas was a 2012 graduate of Oxford High School. He attended Cecil College, where he played soccer. In his spare time, Nicholas enjoyed playing Xbox, watching his favorite shows, and playing soccer. Nicholas was very inquisitive and “researched everything.”
Nicholas is survived by his mother, Maureen Boyle Repetto of Lincoln University; his father, Joseph A. Repetto, Jr., and his wife Nashara of Lincoln University; his maternal grandparents, Maureen and Frank Boyle of West Chester; his paternal grandfather, Joe Repetto of Beckley, W. Va.; his paternal grandmother, Sharon Repetto of Downingtown; his siblings, Zachary Repetto, Dylan Repetto, Tanner Repetto and Serena Maccombie; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A funeral service was held Sept. 3. Contributions in his memory may be made to Kacie’s Cause, 232 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348; or Oxford High School Boy’s Soccer Program, 705 Waterway Road, Oxford PA 19363. To view his online tribute and share condolences with the family, visit www.griecocares.com.
BETTY JEAN HARRIS
Betty Jean Harris, 78, a loving and devoted wife and mother, transitioned into eternal rest on Aug. 26 at home.
She was born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1938 to the late Ralph and Dorothy Harrison. Betty was co-owner of D&B Fuel Company for over 30 years.
Those who will cherish fond and precious memories of Betty are her loving husband of over 50 years, Thomas Harris; three daughters, Brenda Childs of Atlanta, Ga., Vickie Brunswick of Philadelphia, and Sharon Cummings of Philadelphia; one sister, Leola Bentley, of Atlanta, G.; five brothers, Joseph Bonner of California, and Nathan Jackson, Ralph Harrison, Clarence Harrison, and Kenneth Harrison of Atlanta, Ga.; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren; as well as other relatives and friends that will miss her. Betty was preceded in death by a son, Alan B. Cummings.
A funeral was held Sept. 1. Burial was in Media Cemetery. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.
CARLA DAWN WEAVER
Carla Dawn Weaver, 67, of Oxford, passed away on Aug. 25 at home.
She was the wife of the late Sidney R. Weaver. Born in Kingston, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Carl and June Smith Kishbaugh. Carla enjoyed spending time with her family, and especially her grandson.
She is survived by two sons, Tim A. Weaver (Sara) of Nottingham, and Tom R. Weaver of Nottingham; one daughter, Tami A. Sheets (Jeff) of Oxford; one grandson, Camden Weaver; and one brother, Preston Whitesell (Carol) of Hatfield. She was preceded in death by a sister, Sherry Wood.
Funeral services were held Sept. 1. Interment was in Union Cemetery in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Oxford Golden Bears Football, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
LOIS F. PETERSON
Lois F. Peterson, 77, of West Grove, passed on Aug. 30 at home.
She was the wife of Jonas Peterson. Born in Erwin, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Maude Breckens Hardin. She is survived by her husband; one son, Jonas Peterson of West Grove; four daughters, SheilaJo Peterson of Avondale, Joyce Peterson of Hesperia, Calif., Ima Jean Peterson of Avondale and Mary Lou Visser of North East, Md.; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Fred Hardin and Warren Hardin, both of Erwin, Tenn. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, April Burnett.
Services are private. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
CHARLES E. BRADY
Charles Edward Brady, 72, was called home to glory on Aug. 23. Charles was married to Jo-Ann White Brady and resided in North East, Md. He was born in 1944 to the late Nathaniel W. Brady, Sr., and Ann (Jones) Brady of Nottingham. After graduating from Oxford High School in 1962, he received his associates degree in business in 1964 at Goldey-Beacom College. He was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany from 1965 to 1967. Upon his return, he completed his degree in business administration at Cheyney University in 1979. Charles was employed by General Motors Assembly Plant from 1964 to 1999 (35 years). During that time, he completed his education and service to his country while working and supporting his family.
He was a member of the Mount Zoar A.M.E. Church in Conowingo, Md., since 2005. His interest in sports started at Oxford High School, where he lettered in three sports – baseball, basketball and soccer. Also, he played the trumpet and sang in the Senior Class Choir. He continued through his professional career to develop young leaders by coaching team sports. In his retirement years, Charles enjoyed playing tennis and golf.
He is survived by his wife, Jo-Ann White Brady; son, Charles Chadwick “Chad” Brady of Bear, Del.; brother, Nathaniel W. Brady, Jr. (Marie) of Oxford; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. He was blessed with an abundance of friends.
A service was held Aug. 30. Interment was in Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square. Visit www.DeBaptiste.com.
SNOWE WALSH
Snowe Walsh, 88, of Kennett Square, formerly of Avondale, passed on Aug. 25 at home.
Born in Mt. City, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late John and Bettie Smith Maxwell. She was employed with Chester County Pocopson Home in West Chester as a healthcare nursing assistant and retired in 1998. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Kennett Square and the Kennett Area Senior Center. She loved cats and flowers and was an avid reader. She is survived by one daughter, Susan Waltman of Nottingham; one son, Larry Walsh of Wilmington, Del.; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one brother, Tommy Maxwell (Bonnie) of Mt. City, Tenn. A graveside service was held Aug. 20 at the Union Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www. elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
County organizes second Color 5K to fight addiction
Following the success of the first Color 5K last year, the Chester County Commissioners, District Attorney, and members of the County’s Overdose Prevention Task Force have announced details of the second annual Color 5K run and walk, raising funds to combat the opioid and heroin epidemic.
This year’s Color 5K will take place at Everhart Park in West Chester on Saturday, Nov. 4. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. For details, visit http://chesco.org/color5k.
The 2016 Color 5K attracted more than 800
participants and supporters, and raised $25,000 to help coordinate a “warm hand-off” program with the county’s five hospitals, helping to transition those who have been saved from an overdose into treatment and counseling.
Chester County Commissioners chairwoman Michelle Kichline said, “The amazing community support that we received for last year’s Color 5K proved that there are, unfortunately, many people in Chester County who have been affected by this epidemic. This event helps to raise awareness of, and funds for,
the opioid and heroin crisis, but it also shows that those suffering from addiction, their families and friends are not alone.”
“The opioid and heroin crisis is a great concern plaguing the nation, and it’s a concern that we, as a county, have been cooperatively addressing for some time now,” said Commissioner Kathi Cozzone. “While in Chester County the number of those abusing opioids is less than other areas of the Commonwealth, we still need to provide education, counseling, and rehabilitation services to
help our residents.”
Funds raised through this year’s Color 5K will benefit a new program to provide one-to-one support for overdose survivors and their families and friends; provide overdose prevention information and outreach to first responders, hospital staff, family members and friends; and provide expedited admission into detox and a review of all treatment options for overdose survivors who agree to treatment.
“Americans are the number-one consumers of opioids and they are being abused by young
and old, rich and poor, urban and rural,” added Commissioner Terence Farrell. “Prescription drug abuse has opened the door to heroin use, especially among young people, because heroin is cheaper and easier to obtain.”
Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said, “The hard truth of the matter is that heroin and opioids have decimated this generation of American youth. In Chester County, we lock up the dealers and the pill pushers. But we also understand the need for a comprehensive approach to this health care crisis,
including drug court, naloxone in the hands of our first responders, and coordination of innovative strategies by our Overdose Prevention Task Force. We work together every day to save every life that we can.” Sponsorship opportunities at many levels are available for companies and individuals to support the Color 5K run and walk and raise awareness. For more information on levels of sponsorship, contact Rebecca Brain, Chester County communications coordinator, at 610-3446279 or email rbrain@ chesco.org.
Prayer walk for schools unites the community
On Aug. 22, a group of 21 local residents gathered to pray at the Avon Grove Schools, including the High School, Middle School, Intermediate School, Penn London, the Avon Grove Charter School, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School, and the Nazarene Academy.
Representing more than 10 churches in the area, the group included leadership and members from Avon Grove Presbyterian, West Grove Presbyterian, Kemblesville UMC, Calvary Chapel, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Media Mennonite, West Grove UMC, Christ Church at the Grove, The Power Place, and others.
The participants ranged in age from kindergarten
to senior citizens. Students prayed for their schools and teachers. Parents and grandparents walked with their children in prayer. Present with us was Marge Pickel, from Avondale Presbyterian. More than a decade ago, she organized the prayer walk with a small group. Her commitment to praying for our schools inspired the Avon Grove Ministerium to continue in commitment to the event. She shared her delight in the growth of the prayer walk at the beginning of the new school year.
After gathering for instructions and prayer, participants departed for the schools for which they have committed to pray. Some prayed around the building. Others walked through school in prayer.
Some teachers, staff and administrators invited those praying to pray for them, their classroom, and their upcoming year. Other staff and teachers asked prayers for more personal joys and concerns like weddings, illnesses, and family members.
Pastor Monica Guepet, lead pastor of West Grove UMC and Prayer Walk organizer this year, said, “It is our privilege and joy to be in prayer for our schools, students, teachers and staff on this day and throughout the year. We want our teachers, staff and administrators to hear our gratitude, as we are grateful for their dedication in educating our children and youth. We join them in caring well for our community.”
Courtesy photo
Twenty-one people prayed for local schools on Aug. 22.
tion/Termination of Parental Rights has been filed by Children and Youth Services of Delaware County as we are requesting to change the permanency goal from reunification to adoption
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Estate of, Shirley C. Morris late of West Whiteland, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Shirley C. Morris, having been grant to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: James Morris Executor, 827 Duran Ct., West Chester, PA 19380 9p-6-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Joan Marie Phillips, late of West Brandywine Township, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named, Joan Marie Phillips, having been grant to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make
payment without delay to: Elizabeth McMynaugh, Executrix, 1518 Marlboro Rd., West Chester , PA 19382 9p-6-3t
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 on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-518 Writ of Execution No. 2014-10954 DEBT $214,166.39
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot of land situate in the Borough of Kennett Square shown as Lots No. __ and No. __ on Plan of Building Lots of “Kennett Heights” as recorded in the Recorder’s Office of Chester County and being bound and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of Richard Road as originally laid
BEING
PARCEL
IMPROVEMENTS:
PLAINTIFF:
SALE ADDRESS: 530 Richards Road,
201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-530 Writ of Execution No. 2016-00825 DEBT $320,926.99
PROPERTY situate in the New Garden Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
UPI # 60-5-36.1
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: OCWEN Loan Servicing, LLC VS DEFENDANT: DAVID A. NELSON and DONNA M. NELSON
SALE ADDRESS: 506 Newark Road, Landenberg, PA 19350-9358
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN
HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP,
215-563-7000
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash, certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. The final payment must be made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. & is due twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t 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 on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-532 Writ of Execution No. 2017-00061 DEBT $177,503.31 ALL THAT CERTAIN measuge and tract of land situate in the Borough of Atglen, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a new survey made thereof as one tract, as follows:
BEGINNING at a stone, by lands of James Burley and the north side of Rosemont Avenue; thence by lands of James Burley north 06 degrees 50 minutes west (passing over an iron pin south of the Newport Pike), 335.2 feet to a spike in the Newport Pike; thence by said Newport Pike south 58 degrees 35 minutes 40 seconds east 63.66 feet to a spike; thence still by the Newport Pike south 58 degrees 31 minutes 20 seconds east, 63.72 feet to a spike; thence leaving the Newport Pike and by other lands of James Hurley south 06 degrees 50 minutes east (passing over an iron pin on the south side of the Newport Pike) 256.3 feet to an iron pin on the north side of Rosemont Avenue; thence by Rosemont Avenues’ north side south 83 degrees 10 minutes west, 100 feet to a stone and point of beginning.
TAX ID: 07-03-0005
UPI# 7-3-5
TITLE to said premises is vested in Raymond F. Arnold, Sr. and Dana L. Arnold, by Deed from William H. Roth, Jr. and Jacqueline A. Roth was recorded 05/01/1996, in the Chester County Recorder of Deeds in Book 4025, Page 0134 as Instrument Number 24580.
PLAINTIFF: U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for J.P. Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust 2006-CH2, Asset Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-CH2 c/o Special Loan Servicing, LLC VS DEFENDANT: DANA L. ARNOLD and RAYMOND F. ARNOLD
SALE ADDRESS: 427 Rosemont Avenue, Atglen, PA 19310
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: PARKER McCAY, PA, 856-596-8900
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. 10% payment must be paid in
ket Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, announced on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-541 Writ of Execution No. 2016-00328 DEBT $587,673.33
PROPERTY situate in the London Grove Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania BLR# 59-11-22.29
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: Lsf9 Master Participation Trust VS DEFENDANT: ELSA OTERO, IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF HERMINIO OTERO a/k/a HERMINIO OTERO PEREZ, DECEASED UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER HERMINIO OTERO a/k/a HERMINIO OTERO PEREZ, DECEASED & CHARLES D. ALVAREZ
SALE ADDRESS: 24 Bramble Lane, West Grove, PA 19390-9729 PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP, 215-563-7000
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash, certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. The final payment must be made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. & is due twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t 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 on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-542 Writ of Execution No. 2012-06482 DEBT $409,272.07
PROPERTY situate in the Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
BLR# 62-5-79.14
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: Mtglq Investors, L.P. VS DEFENDANT: RONALD MARKS a/k/a RONALD C. MARKS and TERI MARKS a/k/a TERI M. MARKS
SALE ADDRESS: 6 McCarthy Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317-9264
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP, 215-563-7000
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash, certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. The final payment must be made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. & is due twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t
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 on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-544
Writ of Execution No. 2015-00821
DEBT $156,922.86
ALL THAT CERTAIN messuage and tract of land, with the hereditaments and appurtenances, thereon erected, situate in the Borough of Kennett Square, Chester County, Pennsylvania, being known as 402 Ridge Avenue, Stenning Hills, bounded and described according to Plan thereof made by Reeder and Magarity, Darby, Penna., May 31, 1955 as follows:
SITUATE on the southeasterly side of Ridge Avenue (50 feet wide) at the distance of 1,115.76 feet measured south 81 degrees 15 minutes west, along same from its intersection with the southwesterly side of South Union Street (50 feet wide) both lines extended.
CONTAINING in front or breadth on the southeasterly side of Ridge Avenue, measured south 81 degrees 15 minutes west, 78 feet and extending of that width in length or depth southeastwardly between parallel lines at right angles to Ridge Avenue 150 feet to the south line of a certain 20 feet wide right of way for water main, being the Borough limit.
BEING Parcel Number 3-6-13
BLR# 3-6-13
BEING the same premises which Hector Gonzales and Mary C. Rhoades, granted and conveyed unto Hector Gonzales and Mary C. Rhoades by Deed dated August 2, 2006 and recorded August 4, 2006 in Chester County Record Book 6916, Page 723 for the consideration of $1.00
PLAINTIFF: LSF9 Master Participation Trust VS DEFENDANT: HECTOR J. GONZALEZ
a/k/a HECTOR GONZALEZ and KELLY
LYNN RUIZ, IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR AT LAW OF MARY C. RHOADES, DECEASED AND COLLEEN ANN RILEY, IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR AT LAW OF MARY C. RHOADES, DECEASED AND UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS OR ASSOCIATIONS CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER MARY C. RHOADES, DECEASED
SALE ADDRESS: 402 Ridge Avenue, Kennett Square, PA 19348
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: MARTHA E. VON ROSENSTIEL, ESQ., 610328-2887
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash, certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. The final payment must be made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. & is due twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t
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 on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-546
Writ of Execution No. 2016-09542
DEBT $64,453.29
ALL THAT CERTAIN tract of land orate in London Grove Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a survey made by George E. Regester, Jr. & Sons, Inc., Registered Land Surveyors, on June 24, 1970, as follows, to wit: BEGINNING at a spike set for a northwesterly corner of this about to be described tract and a corner of other land of Robert Wilson, grantor herein, of which this was a part, said spike being set in the center line of Public Road T-364 (being a 12’ wide dirt road) leading in a northwesterly direction to Public T-321 end a southeasterly direction to Public Road T-323, said spike being set the following two (2) courses and distances to wit from a point set in the center line of said Public Road T-364 marking the original northwesterly corner of land of Robert Wilson and a southwesterly corner of land of A. Gioffredl Et Al, and said two
(2) following courses and distances being measured along’ the center line of said Public Road T-364:
1- SOUTH 07 degrees 12 minutes 00 seconds east, 178.30’ to a spike.
2- SOUTH 08 degrees 38 minutes 00 seconds east 318.77’ to said spike of beginning; thence leaving said spike of beginning and leaving the center line of said Public Road T-364 and by land of Robert Wilson, grantor herein, of which this was a part, the following three courses and distances to wit:
1- NORTH 78 degrees 36 minutes 00 seconds east, 266.00’ to an iron pin. South 11 degrees 24 minutes 00 seconds east, 175.00’ to an iron pin.
3- SOUTH 78 degrees 36 minutes 00 seconds east, 266.00’ to a spike set for a southwesterly corner of this and being set in the center line of said Public Road T-364; thence by the center line of said Public Road T-364, north 11 degrees, 24 minutes, 00 seconds west, 175.00’ to a spike being the place of beginning.
CONTAINING 1.069 acres of land be the same more or less.
BEING the same premises which Robert T. Wilson, Jr. and Martha R. Wilson, his wife, by Deed dated 01/15/1976 and recorded 01/15/1976 in the Office of the Recorder of Deed in and for the County of Chester, in Deed Book H-47, Page 103, granted and conveyed unto Robert T. Wilson, Jr. and Edith J. Wilson, his wife, in fee.
PLAINTIFF: Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company VS DEFENDANT: EDITH J. WILSON
SALE ADDRESS: 559 South Guernsey Road, West Grove, PA 19390
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: SHAPIRO & DeNARDO, LLC, 610-278-6800
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash, certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. The final payment must be made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. & is due twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t
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 on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-554
Writ of Execution No. 2016-03799 DEBT $268,477.22
PROPERTY situate in the New London Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
BLR# 71-2-42.1
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: Wells Fargo Bank, NA VS DEFENDANT: ANTHONY A. WICKWIRE a/k/a ANTHONY WICKWIRE and JULIE ANN ENGLISH WICKWIRE a/k/a JULIE WICKWIRE
SALE ADDRESS: 815 West Avondale Road, West Grove, PA 19390-9517
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP, 215-563-7000
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash, certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. The final payment must be made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. & is due twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t 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 on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-558 Writ of Execution No. 2017-03413
DEBT $386,229.63
PROPERTY situate in the London Grove Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
BLR# 59-8-191.44
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: Mortgage Research Center, LLC d/b/a Veterans United Home Loans, A Missouri Limited Liability Company VS DEFENDANT: MARTIN HARVITZ and LISA STRATTON-HARVITZ a/k/a LISA STRATON-HARVITZ
SALE ADDRESS: 4 Wellsville Lane, Avondale, PA 19311-1322
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP, 215-563-7000
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. 10% payment must be paid in cash, certified check or money order made payable to the purchaser or Sheriff of Chester Co. The final payment must be made payable to Sheriff of Chester Co. & is due twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 8p-30-3t 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 on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 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, Office of the Sheriff, 201 West Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, Pennsylvania, a Schedule of Distribution on Monday, October 23rd, 2017. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedule unless exceptions are filed hereto within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 17-9-562 Writ of Execution No. 2013-07553 DEBT $223,370.27
ALL THAT CERTAIN, message, lot or piece of land situate on, in the Township of Sadsbury, County of Chester, State of Pennsylvania, bounded and described, as follows, to wit:
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground situate in Sadsbury Township, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania being shown and described on a Fountain As-Built Plan for Sadsbury Associates, Building Unit “Y” Drawing Number 2002219u135 dated May 7, 2003 prepared by Wilkinson Associate. Engineering/Surveying and recorded IN Plan No. 16637 as follows:
BEING Unit 139, Building “Y”, Sadsbury Village.
BEING UPI Number 37-4-40.9D
PARCEL No: 37-4-40.9D
BEING Known as: 203 Fox Trail, Parkesburg, PA 19365
BEING the same property conveyed to George Lichowid and Stephanie Lichowid who acquired title by Virtue of a Deed from Daniel Rush and Samira Rush, dated March 20, 2009, recorded March 24, 2009, at Document Number 10911296, Book 7621, Page 1903, Chester County, Pennsylvania Records.
PLAINTIFF: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
VS DEFENDANT: GEORGE LICHOWID and STEPHANIE LICHOWID
SALE ADDRESS: 203 Fox Trail,
Township punts on Modern Business Park prelim approval
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
The plans for the Modern Business Park in New Garden Township received its latest preliminary land development plan review on Aug. 30, and the consensus between developers and elected and appointed officials was that while progress is being made to get the planned project to meet conditions, there’s still a lot of pencil sharpening left to do.
After a nearly threehour presentation, the board -- in agreement with the township’s Planning Commission -- did not grant preliminary plan approval to the project, and agreed to reconvene on Sept. 28 with Gilmore & Associates, Inc. Engineering & Consulting Services, engineers for the project.
The presentation, introduced by attorney Peter Temple and moderated by Gilmore’s Executive Vice
President Christopher Burkett, was the latest meeting in a proposal that was first presented to the township on May 29, 2008, when Modern Mushroom Farm, Inc. pitched a proposal to construct a 106-acre business park near its existing mushroom farm on Newark Road, consisting of eight buildings that would provide 900,000 square feet of office and warehouse space. Since then, the road to build the site has been an eight-year period of back-and-forth of hearings, applications, conditions, appeals, projection screen sketches before the township, 13 public meetings, and an Oct. 2014 ruling by Chester County Court Judge Jacqueline Carroll Cody, who filed an opinion and order that modified certain conditions and struck down another.
Referring to two drawings -- that showed the proposed site plan in two
different stages -- Burkett said that once the conditional use [process] was done after the 13 public hearings, there was considerable discussion and negotiation that occurrred after the hearings, “in an attempt for the board of supervisors and the applicant to come together and agree on what should be constructed here and how it should be constructed,” he said.
As a guidepost for the meeting, Gilmore referred to the findings of a 26-page assessment conducted by Pennoni Associates, a Philadelphia-based multidisciplinary engineering, science, planning and consulting firm, who reviewed the project’s preiliminary subdivision and land development plan, site analysis report and preliminary post-construction stormwater management report.
Pennoni narrowed the remaining roadblocks to a small batch of key issues:
Repair of required buffers; zoning; stormwater management; access entrances to the planned park; and necessary improvements along Newark Road to accommodate business park traffic, as well as general traffic along the road. While the majority of the preliminary land development plan review dealt with coming to agreement on the minutia of buffers, berms, grading, zoning laws and meeting township ordinances -- much of which is expected to be modified in time for the next meeting -- the bigticket item on the table was addressing -- and improving -- access points and turning lanes into the proposed business park.
Gilmore’s drawings indicated that the northern entrance to the proposed park has been moved to just north of Polo Road, and will include 325-foot left-hand turn accessibility and a 175-foot right-hand turn accessibility, to allow
for truck traffic -- and a four-foot shoulder to allow for more travel space for vehicles coming from both directions.
The southern access to the park is projected to be directly across from Airport Way at the entrance to the New Garden Flying Field, that would allow for a traffic light and provide a t-shaped intersection.
Several supervisors doubted that the proposed improvements to the entrances and shoulders would not be efficient to handle the volume and space needed to accommmodate both 18- and 28-wheel tractor trailers and vehicle traffic.
It may come down to legalities, Township Solicitor Vince Pompo said.
“The legal issue as to whether improvements that are necessary to remove the truck restriction or onor off-site improvements, which the township could require if they are on site
or not require if they are off site -- was litigated in front of Judge Cody, on the issue of the legality of this condition,” Pompo told Burkett. “She quite clearly sustained the condition, so if there is any issue as to whether you’re being asked to go too far in order to do improvements to remove restrictions, I think that’s already been decided in this case.” Pompo encouraged the need for several parties -- traffic consultants, PennDOT, representatives from Gilmore & Associates, Inc. and New Garden Township supervisors and members of its planning commission -- to continue discussion about the reconfiguring of Newark Road related to access points, build out, traffic control, truck clearance and addressing possible restrictions.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
