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Community responds to Kennett Area Food Cupboard fire
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
On Oct. 13 at about 4 a.m., crews from the Kennett Fire Company No. 1 and the Avondale Fire Company rushed to the Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) warehouse on West Cedar Street in Kennett Square, and quickly extinguished an electrical fire that had destroyed about half of the food at the Kennett Area Food Cupboard.
On Oct. 15, Beth Erisman, KACS’ social media coordinator, posted a notice on the organization’s Facebook page that detailed the extent of the damage from the fire, and appealed to the community to help.
“Last month, we served 1,124 people, and those people are counting on us and YOU,” the post read. “We are asking the community to come together and go above and beyond their usual generosity to help us create a stopgap until we are up and running again.”
The post called on the community to contribute $25 Giant gift cards (to allow people to get the basics like bread, milk and eggs), as well as rice, beans, cereal, sugar, flour, pasta, peanut butter, jelly and canned goods.
As of Oct. 17, the post had been read by 61,591 people and had been shared 918 times. All week long, church groups, civic organizations, youth soccer clubs
and Little League teams have made donations, the volume of which has gotten to the point where volunteers had nearly completed loading two POD moving and storage trucks worth of food that will eventually be stocked on the warehouse shelves.
KACS board member Lynn Majarian said that the St. Michael Lutheran Church in Unionville holds a community bible study every Tuesday morning. When word of the fire reached those in attendance, the group donated $1,200 to the Cupboard.
The compassion has extended to other entities.
Bike Kennett is asking all riders participating at the
Six seats on Kennett School Board to be decided on Election Day
Garcia withdraws from Kennett School Board race, leaving three people to vie for two seats in Region A Kronenberg and Joseph Meola are the candidates for the two seats on the board. Meola is an incumbent and the current school board president. In Region C, incumbent Michael Finnegan is unopposed. Ryan Bowers is a candidate for a two-year unexpired term in Region A.
By Chris Barber Correspondent
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters in the Kennett Consolidated School District will select six people to serve on the school board. The contested race is in Region A, where three people will now be vying for two seats on the board.
In Region B, David
The candidates whose names will appear on the
ballot for voters in Region A, which is comprised on Kennett Square Borough, are incumbent Republicans Dominic Perigo Jr. and Steven Ciprani and Democrats Maribel Garcia and Ann Parry. However, this has turned into a threeway race following the withdrawal of Garcia. Representatives of the
The race for Chester County offices in 2019
Commissioners
Democrat
Josh Maxwell is a lifelong resident of Chester County, and is serving in his third term as Downingtown’s mayor. First elected in 2010 as Downingtown’s youngest mayor at the age of 26, he has been an active advocate for the environment, infrastructure investment, and equality. As Mayor, Josh has balanced six straight no-tax-increase budgets, negotiated the largest public and private investment in Downingtown’s history in the form of a transit-oriented and train station development, and has been a vocal advocate for drug treatment and domestic violence charities. Besides serving in the part-time mayoral position, Josh works as a USAID
contractor, developing international development programs around the world. He holds a BA from West Chester University and an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania.
Democrat
Marian Moskowitz has dedicated the last 28 years to strengthening the community. As a local developer, Marian revitalizes properties to benefit all members of the community. She redeveloped an abandoned factory in Phoenixville into an education and business hub known as Franklin Commons. For the past 12 years, Marian has served on the board of West Chester University. Marian also serves as president of the historic Colonial Theater and has assisted organizations that provide the region
with economic and healthcare opportunities.
Republican Michelle Haris Kichline is the Chair of Chester County’s Board of County Commissioners. She has served on the Board of Commissioners since 2014, when she was appointed to fill the term previously held by Commissioner Ryan Costello. She was appointed unanimously by the judiciary of the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County. In November 2015, she was elected to a full four-year term as a Commissioner for Chester County. Commissioner Kichline was selected by her fellow commissioners to cochair VISTA 2025, Chester County’s public/private
Continued on Page 3A
Two incumbents, two challengers battle for seats on New Garden board
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Elected to the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors in 2014, Republicans Randy Geouque and Richard Ayotte are campaigning for re-election to their second six-year terms, on the heels of some major accomplishments the township has seen during their time on the board. They are being chal-
lenged by Democrats Kristie Brodowski and David Unger, who are campaigning together on a platform of increased trail systems, providing efficient and affordable police protection and preserving the township’s natural habitat. Recently, the Chester County Press met with all four candidates, to assess their campaigns and what they want to bring to the citizens of New Garden Township.
Continued on Page 10A
Plenty of people put out Halloween decorations. But then there are the Cookes, who live in Avondale. For photos and a story, see Page 8B.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Will Majarian, a volunteer for the Kennett Area Food Cupboard, helps stack boxes of food that have been donated by the public since a fire occurred at the Cupboard last Sunday morning.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Republicans Richard Ayotte and Randy Geouque are campaigning for re-election to the New Garden Board of Supervisors.
Kennett Area Food Cupboard...
Pumpkin Fun Ride on Oct. 26 to bring a can of nonperishable food that will be donated to the Cupboard.
Gallery Duo in Chadds Ford will be donating 10 percent of the sale of all loose photographic prints to the Cupboard. At the Avon Grove Intermediate School, donation boxes were set up in the front lobby area of the school.
“We communicated to our board, to our staff and vol-
unteers, and then it started – a wave of compassion and generosity that is very hard to measure right now,” said KACS Executive Director Leah Reynolds. “This organization has never had this kind of incident before, so we are learning as we go. There is a lot of work to do, but without our board, we would not have been able to get to today – Thursday.”
While the warehouse has been temporarily shut down, Reynolds said that SERVPRO began the cleaning process last Friday, which should take about one week to complete.
“Our board and our volunteers are currently sorting through the many donations that are coming in, so that eventually, we can tell the community ‘thank you’ when we get to the end of this,” Reynolds said.
Democratic headquarters in Kennett Square confirmed on Nov. 14 that Garcia had dropped out.
Kennett Area Democrats committee member Sally Braffman said it is too late to take Garcia’s name off the ballot. If the situation should arise that Garcia accumulates enough votes to win the seat then the school board will have the responsibility of appointing someone to fill the vacancy.
Parry, 40, teaches English to non-English-speaking students in Brookside Elementary School in Newark, Del. She said she has always been passionate about education, having taught in Head Start and traveled internationally.
She grew up in the area, attended Unionville High School and Long Island University. She said she considers southern Chester
County “home.”
As an educator living in Kennett Square, she said she is interested in how schools are run. She is also constantly reminded of the cultural diversity in the area as well. “We have communities that have lived side-by-side for years.
We are starting to become engaged,” she said.
Speaking as an advocate of those who have moved to the area from other countries, she said she has spent a lot of time listening to the concerns of people come here, especially from Mexico, Guatemala,
Continued from Page 1A This is the first thing that has worked for me! I sleep better and have tons of energy. I was finally addressing my hormones with the weight loss as just one benefit.”
To make a donation to the Kennett Area Food Cupboard, visit www. kacsonline.net, or call 610925-3556. Kennett Area Community Service is located at 136 West Cedar Street in Kennett Square.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru and Panama.
As a prospective member of school board, she said, “My first role is to listen and learn. I love the exchange of ideas.”
Her dream for the Kennett Consolidated School District is to create high school seniors who understand diversity is the strength.
“We’re getting there,” she explained.
Perigo, 59, is a selfemployed brick layer. He grew up in Kennett Square and has been on the Kennett School Board for 12 years.
Before that, he served 10 years on the borough council and has been heavily involved in borough activities. A 1977 graduate of Kennett High School, Perigo said that he is devoted to Kennett Square.
“I bleed blue and will fight for the town to the end,” he said.
A graduate of Williamson Trade School, he is a proponent of vocational education. He said excessive stress on academics to the exclusion to preparation for professions like plumbing, construction and repair is not productive for society.
“Who are you going to call when the heater breaks?
We need those people too,” he said.
Perigo said that he wants to see more students engaged in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and vocational programs – especially more girls. He sees as challenges school security, the need for mental health services and the continued funding of the high cost of teacher retirement controlled and billed by the state.
As a board member, he was recently involved in the choice of the new superintendent, Dr. Dolan Blakey.
Ciprani, 35, a former teacher in the West Chester School District, operates a real estate consulting firm with his wife. He was appointed to fill the unexpired term on the school board in October 2018 after Mark Bowden resigned.
Having been influenced by the politics and social activism of the Obama years, he
said he feels now is the time for him to become involved in the community. He majored in Latin and history at Villanova University, and said he is an advocate of the arts and the humanities beyond the basic sciences and technology currently popular in the STEM culture.
Ciprani is on the Curriculum Committee of the board and wants to see an education that enables students of all abilities and achievements to find out what is good for them.
He added that he is in favor of some standardized tests to track a student’s progress, within limitations.
Ciprani was also involved in the search for a new superintendent to replace retiring superintendent Dr. Barry Tomasetti.
When he was asked what he considers a challenge to the district, he said he is hopeful that positions on the school board do not become politicized.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Since the fire, the Cupboard has been overwhelmed by the contributions being made by the general public to replenish the food that was lost during the fire.
Kennett
Ann Parry
Steve Ciprani
Photos by Chris Barber Nick Perigo
Township’s Board of Supervisors from 2010 to 2013, which she chaired for the last two years of her tenure. Commissioner Kichline also served on Tredyffrin Township’s Zoning Hearing Board and was its first female chair in 2007.
Republican Terence Farrell began his first term as Commissioner in 2008, and served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015. Under his leadership, the board advanced its development of a strategic plan to increase efficiency in the county’s operations, passed a balanced budget without raising taxes and reaffirmed the county’s award-winning open space preservation program for the next decade. He believes we must meet the fiscal challenges imposed by reductions in state and federal funding to the county, while still providing the quality of services our citizens have come to expect in an accountable, responsible manner. He is also a licensed realtor, holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Carleton College, and Graduate Certificates in Public Administration and Public Personnel Administration from Indiana State University.
Court of Common Pleas Judicial Seats
1994 graduate of Temple University School of Law, spent seven years as a prosecutor at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the next 17 years as a civil litigator. In 2011, she was elected to serve as Magisterial District Judge in District Court 15-4-01 (parts of East Whiteland and Tredyffrin), where she enjoys an excellent reputation among the police, legal community, and colleagues. She hopes to continue to represent and serve the residents of Chester County as a Court of Common Pleas judge.
Democrat Bret Binder defeated an 18-year incumbent in 2017 to become the Magisterial District Judge in District 15-1-01, the busiest magisterial district court in Chester County. He is also a local attorney and the founder and managing partner of Binder & Canno, LLC, as well as a former law clerk for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. His practice focuses on small business, real estate, and commercial litigation. He earned his law degree at Villanova University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He served on the West Chester Area School District Board in 2014-15 and has been on the board of numerous local non-profits, including the Chester County OIC, which focuses on adult literacy, as well a group dedicated to preserving open space in West Chester.
is a veteran of both the United States Army and Air Force. He is the Chief of Staff for the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and has more than two decades of legal experience in both Civil and Criminal Courts. He is one of two candidates on the ballot for judge who was voted qualified by the Chester County Bar Association.
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, he started his legal career with the Judge Advocate General’s Office for the United States Air Force. In 2001, he returned to his home state of Pennsylvania and served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. In 2008, he left the District Attorney’s Office and worked as a solo practioner in Kennett Square until returning to the District Attorney’s Office in 2012.
Since returning to the DA’s Office, he has been the Chief of Staff, handling the daily management of major case investigations, supervising the specialized prosecution units and acting as the liaison between the DA’s Office and the 46 municipal and state police departments in Chester County. During his 22 years practicing law, Chuck has tried over 75 jury trials covering everything from homicide to DUI. For the last seven years Chuck has focused on fighting the opioid epidemic in Chester County. District attorney
Democrat
The
and violence. For 15 years, she
worked in the Philadelphia and Chester County District Attorneys’ Offices, and served as the Deputy District Attorney in charge of the Child Abuse Unit and Children’s Advocacy Center.
As the Chester County District Attorney, I will continue to give a voice to the voiceless and to seek justice for victims in a fair and respectful way. As your next Chester County District Attorney, she promises:
I will always place victims first.
I will promote community safety through criminal justice reform.
I will focus on prevention and education.
I will be an active partner in our community and collaborate with all stakeholders.
I will hold the District Attorney’s Office to the highest standards.
Republican
As a criminal prosecutor and First Assistant District Attorney, Michael Noone has handled cases – both in and out of the courtroom – involving murder, rape and sexual assault, child and elder abuse, drug distribution, theft and robbery, DUI, and more. He has nearly 20 years of legal experience. Highlights of his service to the Chester
County District Attorney’s Office include leading the successful prosecution of the Scotty McMillan child abuse and murder case, securing justice in one of the worst cases in Chester County history; helping found, and serving as Co-Chair of, Chester County’s Overdose Prevention Task Force that has helped reduce overdose deaths in the community; working for safer schools across Chester County as a member of the Safe Schools Summit planning committee; and preventing elder abuse in Chester County by coordinating a multidisciplinary approach as a member of the Executive Committee of the Elder Abuse Task Force. He has been overseeing the administration of the Chester County District Attorney’s Office as First Assistant District Attorney for the past eight years. He has helped implement reforms including expanding diversionary programs for non-violent, non-repeat drug offenders, implementing best practices for eye-witness investigations, supporting the use of body cameras for police, and more.
Prothonotary
Democrat In 2017, Debbie Bookman
became a member of Coatesville City Council, winning the primary election against an eight-year incumbent as a write-in on both the Democratic and Republican ballots, and later winning the general election. She is a liaison to the city’s administration, providing support for internal processes in dayto-day operations. She is also liaison to the finance department, assisting them in balancing a $10 million budget by identifying areas of savings, allowing Council to adopt a budget with no tax increase. She is a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, providing many successful events. She is also a representative on Western Chester County Council of Governments, VicePresident and Treasurer of the Community Youth and Women Alliance’s Board, and works with families and women on homelessness and drug addiction.
Republican Matt Holliday has served as Chester County Prothonotary since he was elected in 2015. The Prothonotary serves as the chief clerk of the civil and family courts for the county, and provides other services, such as U.S. passports to the public. Since his election, Holliday Continued on Page 8A
Democrat Analisa Sondergaard, a
Republican Charles “Chuck” Gaza
Democratic candidate for District Attorney, Deb Ryan, has spent her career advocating for justice on behalf of children and adults who were victimized by crime
Kennett High School to establish a Sports Wall of Fame
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Kennett High School is establishing a Sports Hall of Fame to “recognize and honor outstanding individuals and teams who have accomplished extraordinary athletic achievements.”
The Kennett School Board formally approved the creation of the Sports Hall of Fame at its meeting on Oct. 14.
Kennett High School has had numerous athletes with impressive accomplishments through the years. Just one example is Robert Morse, who was recently recognized with a plaque at Kennett’s Legacy Field. Morse was a standout in basketball during his time at Kennett and went on to play professional basketball at the international level.
A number of sports teams also left a lasting legacy— the state championship basketball team is just one example. This year’s football squad is enjoying quite a good season as well.
In other business at the meeting: In his Finance Committee report, school board member Michael Finnegan informed his colleagues that the Act 1 Index for the 2020-2021 school year will be approximately 2.6 percent. For the Kennett Consolidated School District, the adjusted Act 1 Index limit for 2020-2021
is 3 percent. The Act 1 Index limit is the maximum amount that a Pennsylvania school district can raise taxes without going to voters for approval of the tax increase through a referendum.
Finnegan noted that the timeline for preparing the budget for 20202021 will be sped up a little bit because it is a Presidential election year, and the Primary Election in Pennsylvania is taking place earlier than normal. Consequently, the school board will likely be approving a preliminary budget in January.
Finnegan emphasized that the school district, as always, will be working to limit the size of the tax increase for the next fiscal year.
Finnegan also reported that the Finance Committee had taken a look at the district-wide enrollment figures. The kindergarten enrollment has declined in recent years, and if that trend doesn’t change the overall enrollment in the school district will also drop as larger classes graduate and are replaced by smaller ones.
The school board approved a request for a new student organization to be named “Best Buddies.”
This organization, which is national, will create opportunities for oneto-one friendships with people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities.
The Student Organization Constitution for the organization has already been completed, and the high school administration, student officers, and a club advisor have also signed off on the Kennett High School chapter of the club.
The school board approved four student trips. The Kennett High School wrestling team is traveling upstate to take part in the Coal Cracker Tournament in late January. There will be a ski trip for the Kennett Ski Club next March, and a student trip to the UK and Ireland is also in the planning stages. The school board also approved a World War II trip for students who have taken World War II studies, but this trip won’t take place until March of 2021. They are planning that trip far in advance so that students and their families can prepare for the costs for the trip.
The Kennett School Board will meet again on Monday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center. This will be the final meeting of the school board before it reorganizes in early December. The newly elected school board members will be sworn in at the reorganization meeting.
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
Three dead identified in Oct. 16 accident on Route 1
A press release circulated on Oct. 17 by the Pennsylvania State Police Avondale identified the three people who were killed in the single-vehicle crash in New Garden on the afternoon of Oct. 16, that also injured eight other riders.
The following vehicle occupants were pronounced dead at the scene: Nathan Royal, Liking Soeung and Thomas Lopez -- all of Philadelphia.
Original reports about the crash said that a work van carrying 11 people was traveling in the southbound lanes of the Route 1 bypass near Newark Road on Wednesday shortly before 2:30 p.m. when the driver lost control. The van ran off the highway, ejecting at
least one of the passengers and trapping others.
During its report of the crash, NBC-10 spoke to the sister of one of the passengers, who said that her brother had been working for about seven months and loading up trucks for Herr’s Snacks, based in Nottingham.
A friend of the victim told the news station that they worked together at a temp agency that drove them from Philadelphia to Nottingham.
In a statement sent to NBC-10 on Oct. 16, a Herr’s spokesperson wrote, “It is our understanding at this time, although we have few details at this point, that this vehicle may have contained employees of a temp service we used. We
have no other information at this time. They were not full-time employees of Herrs, and this is all we know at this point.” Later, Herr’s released another statement that read: “Our Herr’s family and company is deeply saddened by this tragedy. It is truly a shocking and saddening event felt by us all. We offer our most sincere sympathy to the individuals and families involved.”
Officials have not revealed the cause of the crash, although it occurred as heavy rain fell throughout the area. Route 1 southbound was closed between Route 82 and the Toughkenamon exit due to the crash, snarling traffic for miles. It was later reopened.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The Pennsylvania State Police Avondale have identified the three people who were killed in the single-vehicle crash in New Garden on the afternoon of Oct. 16.
Celebrating Community Service.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Four signs in Kennett Township
Every year at this time, the residents of Chester County are assured of the fact that two colorful components will grace our landscape. The more attractive of the two are the fiery shades of autumn that set our region aglow in bursts of red, orange and yellow. The other, equally blessed with color but far less attractive, are the campaign signs that sprout from the earth with the glaring – and some say necessary – presence that simply will not be denied.
Dr. Richard Leff, a candidate for the Kennett Square Township Board of Supervisors, is the owner of signs that promote his campaign for reelection to the township board for another six-year term. The signs are a combination of blue lettering on a yellow background, and their wording is easy to read from a passing vehicle: WE LIKE LEFF.
A bouquet of these signs were placed recently at the corner of Bayard Road and East Hillendale Road in the township, and then, like what happens when a rambunctious child is allowed to run roughshod through a pasture of wildflowers with hands outstretched, the number of WE LIKE LEFF signs dwindled slightly.
On Oct. 3, Leff informed Police Chief Lydell Nolt of the Kennett Township Police Department of the missing signs, and on Oct. 4, in an effort to find the cause and possible culprit, Detective Amanda Wenrich placed two trail cameras near the intersection, and within an hour or so, one of the cameras caught the image of a man who held one WE LIKE LEFF sign in his hand and was attempting to pull another from the ground.
The man in the photograph was 87-year-old Michael Elling, a former chairman of the township’s board of supervisors.
Before those of you reading this editorial rush to condemn Elling for his actions, consider his motivations for performing his deed. A member in good standing of the old guard Republicans of Kennett Township, Elling was doing his part to canvas the area in support of Republican Hunter Tower, and perhaps Elling felt that the removal of WE LIKE LEFF signage from that intersection would help Tower’s campaign to upseat Leff on Nov. 5.
Perhaps he believed so strongly in the impact that campaign signage has on our local electorate that he felt compelled to root them from the earth, and therefore lessen the name recognition of Leff in Kennett Township by one intersection.
Maybe Elling’ actions were, in fact, reactionary – an anger impulse response to the changing demographics of Chester County, which have elected three Democrats to the township’s board since 2012; seen the election of four Democrats to the county seat; seen the election of Democrat Christina Sappey to the Pa. State House; and seen the landslide victory of Democrat Chrissy Houlahan to the U.S House of Representatives.
Elling’s decision to remove those four signs may have been prompted by his intense dislike of the decisions being made by the current supervisors, the tenor of which he has shared openly at board meetings about a myriad of topics like township spending, the huge tax increase that arose from the board’s decision to invest in its police force and the preservation of the historic Chandler Mill Bridge
And maybe, Michael Elling risked the chance of getting caught – and risking the complete ruination of his reputation and legacy as a long-time township leader – because he saw the action as the last vestige of an 87-year-old former political figure who will do almost anything to see his party win.
While Elling’s fingerprints were still fresh on the stolen signs, representatives from the local Democratic party rushed to lambaste Elling’s act. The press release provided a statement calling for a return to “civility” in local politics and the belief that both parties are better when they are “working together.”
This newspaper found the Democrats’ response to be the ultimate in self righteousness, and one delivered hastily and with a terrible memory. Four years ago, as township resident Ted Moxon campaigned to become the lone Republican on the township’s three-person board, local Democrats sent the local press information that attempted to slander Moxon’s name and his reputation by circulating information about Moxon’s financial history. They did so at the risk of damaging the campaign of Moxon’s opponent Whitney Hoffman, who told a member of this newspaper at her home that she was not only unaware of this action, she immediately condemned it, as well.
Since word of Elling’s incident has circulated throughout southern Chester County, he has been vilified for his actions, and while this newspaper believes that his act defies all logic of political protocol, Michael Elling was merely mirroring what our political way of life has always been about.
On Oct. 4, Michael Elling made the decision to lower his standards down to the bedrock point of stupidity and recklessness, because he believed that stealing four signs in Kennett Township would better assure that the candidate of his choice will emerge victorious in this election.
He now carries that decision with him, for all of its intentions, both good and bad.
School board politics is simply wasting millions of taxpayer dollars
Letter to the Editor:
Throughout the Avon Grove School Board election process, it is apparent that the sole purpose of several local candidates has been to delay and stop the progress of the new school. While there is now some back-pedaling claims from a couple of the candidates, their purpose for running remains the same, to unilaterally determine Avon Grove’s school facility plan. This plan reflects over five years of inclusive work with the community, teachers and expert input that explored a wide variety of options. These candidates have not considered the investment
made to ensure a thoughtful and thorough process to deliver the current plan in place today. In addition, it is evident that they have not considered or simply do not understand the disastrous financial implications of what they are proposing. The desire to change the project scope is irresponsible and self-serving. Altering the project scope could jeopardize the district’s eligibility to receive reimbursement from the state of Pennsylvania. As taxpaying residents, we all expect sound fiscal investments. Considering the millions of taxpayer dollars already invested into this project through permits, architectural design,
construction management costs, etc., this would be a complete fiscal waste and not an investment into our community. Clearly, this project is decades past overdue. The condition and overcrowding of our high school facility is unacceptable. The continued use of 26 portable classrooms is unsafe, wasteful and, again, unacceptable. The current plan provides a long term, less disruptive solution to address these needs and has recently passed through the Act 34 Hearing process. As our district is preparing bids for this project and as the election nears, I urge our community to
consider what qualifications and motivation have the candidates demonstrated. Further, consider and question why a candidate would be willing to disregard more than five years and thousands of hours spent developing this plan. Do they have the best interest of our community and our children’s education in mind? Avon Grove cannot afford to elect such wasteful and fiscally irresponsible individuals. Therefore, on Nov. 5, vote for Avon Grove. Please vote for Linn, Billig, Lisi, Wolff and Engel.
In Avon Grove, support Beatty, Stewart, and Fanning
Letter to the Editor:
On Oct. 7, 2019, the Philadelphia Inquirer published an article titled, “Wall Street wins as Pennsylvania public schools bet against interest rates.”
The article stated that at least three school districts including the Avon Grove School District decided to buy financial derivatives known as Interest Rate Swaps as part of their strategy for financing their new facilities projects. These school districts promised the banks a percentage of the money they hoped to borrow in exchange for
payments that rise (or fall) with interest rates. If interest rates rise, as the schools expected, they would collect a net profit, lowering their borrowing costs. Since interest have fallen since last year — and unless rates go back up —Avon Grove could owe the bank $1.8 million in June 2020. I recently learned that the Avon Grove school administration has stated that based on the current rates, the district could now owe the bank $3.8 million in June 2020 if interest rates stay as they currently are. If interest rates go even lower, than the Avon Grove School District
could owe the banks even more money. One has to wonder why five school board directors (Tracy Lisi, Jeff Billig, Herman Engel, Bonnie Wolff, and Bill Wood) would take such a gamble with the taxpayers’ money. On Nov. 15, 2018, they voted to approve an Interest Rate Swap Resolution. The other four school directors (John Auerbach, Charles Beatty, Rick Dumont, and Lynn Weber) voted against the resolution. The school facilities project is already $2 million over budget. Where will this additional $3.8 million come from? Critical dollars needed to
improve our schools could go to Wall Street and not to our children’s classrooms. On Nov. 5, voters will have the opportunity to elect five members to the school board. Please think long and hard if you want to return to the school board four of the five members who gambled with you taxpayer dollars and lost: i.e. Tracy Lisi, Jeff Billig, Herman Engel, and Bonnie Wolff. Instead, re-elect Charles Beatty in Region I, elect Mark Stewart in Region II and Christina Fanning in Region III.
Township
Vote for David Gerstenhaber and Mary McVeigh in Franklin Township
Letter to the Editor:
Chisel Creek Golf
Course is for sale and I’m concerned about what will happen if the current property is sold to a developer. Fifteen years ago, due to the actions of a board devoted to keeping development to the legal minimum, developers learned that Franklin Township was
not an easy pick for cheap over-development.
Our current board majority does not understand what it takes to be proactive and manage development. They have already encouraged gross neglect by developers and they even rolled out the red carpet for a hostile mushroom expansion!
It seems to me that they are just going to
turn their backs and let the bulldozers roll on in!
Development is a burden on Franklin Township’s budget and will over time result in higher taxes.
This board’s answer to everything seems to be, “it’s not our problem.”
Well, if it’s not, whose problem is it?
On Nov. 5, I will support both David Gerstenhaber and Mary McVeigh, who are running for Franklin Township Supervisors. They are not in favor of developing Franklin Township because it means more students and larger schools, plus more cars on our roads. Support Gerstenhaber and McVeigh and keep your taxes down.
It’s not about campaign signs, it’s about integrity, candidate believes
Letter to the Editor:
Allow me to thank Richard Gaw for his very accurate October 15 article in the Chester County Press regarding the theft of my campaign signs by former Kennett Supervisor Michael Elling, a wellknown supporter of my opponent, Hunter Tower. However, this article includes the following quote from Mr. Tower’s official response to the incident that I found profoundly unsettling and disingenuous:
“It has come to our attention that someone has taken down yard signs of my opponent in this election for township supervisor. We had no pre-
vious knowledge of these actions and absolutely no connection to them, whatsoever. I strongly condemn such actions and have communicated this to the Leff campaign. I fully support free speech and free and fair elections. Any attempts to use these events to connect them with our campaign are not only inaccurate, but do a disservice to the voters of Kennett Township.”
Whether Mr. Tower specifically knew about Mr. Elling’s sign-stealing before it occurred is certainly debatable. But let’s examine some undebatable facts:
1. Mr. Elling (not “someone”) was photographed by Kennett Township
police removing “We Like Leff” campaign signs and a probable cause was filed with the court explicitly naming him.
2. According to public campaign finance records, Mr. Elling was the largest early financial contributor to Mr. Tower’s campaign, clearly connecting him to it.
3. After being caught red-handed stealing my signs, Mr. Elling has been seen (and photographed) putting up additional Tower campaign signs and canvassing for the Tower campaign.
Had Mr. Tower clearly owned up to his association with Mr. Elling and then acted effectively to disassociate his campaign from Mr. Elling and his illegal actions, Mr. Tower’s avowed support of ‘free and fair elections’ might be believable. As it is, by pretending that his campaign has had nothing to do with Mr. Elling and shirking his own responsibility to properly manage his own supporters, it is Mr. Tower himself who does “a disservice to the voters of Kennett Township.” If Mr. Tower doesn’t have the integrity to tell the people of Kennett Township the truth on this issue, will he ever?
Rich Leff Candidate for re-election as Kennett Township Supervisor www.Leff4Supervisor.org
Kyle David Avon Grove resident
Donna Dea Franklin
Nan Latimer Franklin Township
Letter to the Editor
For the Avon Grove School Board, vote for qualifications, commitment and experience
Letter to the Editor:
We are fortunate to have highly qualified and dedicated candidates running for the Avon Grove School Board who, if elected, will ensure a positive trajectory for our community, our property values, and our schools.
Dorothy Linn, who is running to represent Region 1 - Franklin and London Britain townships, is a retired school district superintendent who brings a balanced perspective and ability to provide
careful oversight of school district operations. Linn is a lifelong volunteer, committed community member, grandparent of children in the district, and will provide the unifying voice for Avon Grove.
Jeff Billig and Tracy Lisi, running in region 2 - New London and Penn townships and West Grove Borough #1, are experienced working professionals who have dedicated themselves as board members for the past 4 years. They are open and responsive directors who
have steadily worked to find a solution to the overcrowding of our facilities. They are committed to keeping the comprehensive facilities solution under budget and ensuring sound financial planning.
Bonnie Wolff and Herman Engel, running in London Grove Township, Avondale and West Grove Borough #2, bring a combined 58 years in education and public schools. They are committed to ensuring our schools provide high quality educational experiences
On Nov. 5, vote for Avon Grove
Letter to the Editor:
The Avon Grove school board election is one of the most critical of elections our community will face. Why does this school board election matter so much?
First, several candidates (Charles Beatty, Christina Fanning and Mark Stewart) are attempting to gain majority control of the board so that they can elect to stop the construction of the new high school. Should they be successful, our community stands to lose millions of taxpayer dollars already invested in project.
Second, Beatty, Fanning and Stewart are bringing highly-charged partisan politics to the school board race. As candidates who could have cross-filed in the spring primary, they made a clear statement by seeking to represent only to voters of one political party and calling themselves the “true” candidates for that party. Partisan philosophies and political agendas have no place on the school board or in our schools.
Third, should the high school project be stopped at this late stage, our property values are at stake. We will become the only school district in Chester County in memory to have stopped a facilities project after an Act 34 Hearing. As a result, the reputation of our school district will suffer. Our property values depend on the reputation of our school district and we must keep the reputation strong. Our community also needs to know and under-
stand the platform and record of the candidates’ who are running to stop the project.
Charles Beatty is a current school board member and his voting record speaks to his disregard for our schools. Mr. Beatty voted against the project funding level (April 2018), against hiring the construction management firm (June 2018), and against the borrowing parameters for the high school project (October 2018). Further in the four years he has served as a school board director, he did not once vote in favor our school budget. Mr. Beatty voted “no” to school budget (June 2016), “no” to the proposed 2019-2020 budget in April 2019, and was absent from the final district budget votes in June 2017, June 2018 and June 2019. He has repeatedly fallen on his responsibility to be both present for critically important votes and to vote for initiatives that will support our schools.
Mark Stewart’s published campaign materials clearly state, multiple times and in multiple ways, that he intends to stop the new high school. His fundraising page created in August 2019 states he will “enact a new facilities plan.” In October 2019, Mark Stewart implied in an editorial that he has always supported the facilities plan. To attempt to cover his actual platform, he then took down his webpage and removed his Facebook page. This clear attempt to manipulate voters is highly concerning.
Christina Fanning has stated in her campaign literature that she wants to “balance needs versus wants.” She has no Facebook page, no webpage, and has attended only a single school board meeting in the past year. By January 2020, the high school project bids will be put together, and shovels are expected to hit the ground by spring of 2020. Fanning’s intention to alter the scope of the project will stop the process and will have significant financial consequences for taxpayers. The high school project remains on a timeline that cannot be stopped if taxpayers wish our school district to remain eligible to receive up to $19 million back in State PlanCon reimbursement. To be certain, the balancing process of needs versus wants has been ongoing and will be complete by the time she would begin as a board member.
On Nov. 5, join our community in voting for candidates who represent fiscal responsibility and will see through the very needed comprehensive facilities plan. Vote to keep partisan politics off of our school board. Vote for strong property values. Vote to secure a positive path for the future of our students, our schools and our community. On Nov. 5, vote for Avon Grove. Vote Dorothy Linn for Region 1. Vote Jeff Billig and Tracy Lisi for Region 2. Vote Bonnie Wolff and Herman Engel for Region 3.
Carolyn Hammerschmidt
Avon Grove Community for Strong Schools
for students. They also offer a deep knowledge of school operations and bring the expertise to ensure our new high school facility offers our students and community what it needs.
On Nov. 5, I respectfully ask our community to vote for our schools, our children and our community. There is much at stake in this contentious election. Should the candidates running on the platform to stop this much needed high school project get elected, our community will be in
Correcting two errors in story about Oxford candidates
Letter to the Editor:
Thank you for the detailed and well-written article on Oct. 9 describing the contest for the two-year seat on Oxford’s Borough Council. Since the Chester County Press will no doubt be the only paper of record on this matter, let me correct two minor errors. My service on the
the hands of individuals whose short-sighted and fiscally irresponsible plans will cause our community to suffer.
On Nov. 5, vote for education. Vote for our kids. They
Oxford School Board was for 8 years, not 10, and I was president of that board for one year, not four. In each case, the larger numbers define my work on the board of the Oxford Educational Foundation, most of which occurred after I left the school board.
Winchester Oxford
The importance of a good deed
Why do people run for political office? Ideally, it should be to serve the public and put the public’s interest above all other interests, including your own.
I think of Sophocles’ famous quote, “To be doing good deeds is man’s most glorious task.” I have always tried to keep this in mind. As a veteran, I have served my country. As a Township Supervisor, I have served my township. As a lawyer, I served my clients and local nonprofits. Now I would like to offer my entire skill set to serve Chester County as your next Recorder of Deeds.
Unless you have experienced certain events in your life – military discharge, purchasing a home, recording a power of attorney -- you probably have not interacted with the Recorder of Deeds office, but I have. Being an attorney, I often work with this office, and I strongly believe it’s time we have an open and honest conversation about how it has been run.
I believe full-time taxpayers deserve a fulltime Recorder of Deeds. There is no way to lay the foundation for future success in this office without being there full-time. Unfortunately, records recently obtained from Right to Know requests initiated in April 2019, seem to indicate that this is not the case with your current Recorder and Republican County Chairman Rick Loughery.
From my own personal
Franklin Township needs new leadership
Letter to the Editor:
Every 10 years, well-run townships eagerly develop a comprehensive plan to serve as the guiding light for future decision making by elected representatives. One of the many positives of an up-to-date comprehensive plan is that its creation involves a request for input from all residents, via a survey. This way, the comp plan, and thus the future
Vote for David Gerstenhaber and Mary McVeigh on Election Day direction of the township, reflects what’s desired by a majority of the residents, not just the biases of a few. Even though it’s way past the ten-year mark, the current Franklin Township. Board of Supervisors has refused to do an updated comp plan. With about onethird of Franklin Township’s 8,200 acres available for development, why would the current board fail to comply with such an obvi-
ous responsibility and obligation? Could it be that a majority of the board knows that their pro-development and anti-open space approach is completely at odds with what the comprehensive plan survey results will no doubt indicate? In any case, regardless of why the current board has totally failed to perform, enough is enough.
When sworn into office, one of the first things David
Gerstenhaber and Mary McVeigh have pledged to do is to seek input from all Franklin Township residents via a long-overdue comprehensive plan survey. Please join me in voting on Nov. 5 for David Gerstenhaber and Mary McVeigh, the new leadership that Franklin Township sorely needs.
Helen Hurilla Franklin Township
experience as a lawyer, every time I would file a deed or conduct a transaction, Mr. Loughery was not present. This was disturbing to me because I feel strongly that a public servant should be available to serve his/her constituents and lead the department on a full-time basis. After all, the salary is approximately $75,000 a year, with full benefits. For the average working citizen, this is a considerable income and therefore deserves a substantial commitment. This is a commitment I look forward to making.
The title of Recorder of Deeds is preceded by the term “Honorable” as in the Honorable Jane Doe–Recorder of Deeds. Truthfully, it is an honor to be elected and to serve in a position of public trust. As a West Goshen Township Supervisor, it is an honor to have worked with Republicans and Democrats to balance budgets every year I served. Moreover, I had the honor to serve my country in the U.S. Army and my county as a correctional officer and court-appointed attorney.
If given the opportunity to be elected this November as your next Recorder of Deeds, it will be an honor to innovate and improve the office’s accessibility, affordability, and efficiency for every taxpayer. At the same time, it will be an honor to implement stronger protections for our most vulnerable seniors from theft and fraud and improve our Veterans ID discount program.
Sadly, it seems that Mr. Loughery doesn’t think getting paid a full-time; taxpayer-based salary deserves his full attention. In fact, his entry and exit
logs into the Recorder of Deeds office, produced by his employee badge swipes, seem to indicate that he has been absent approximately 287 days since June 2018 (The Chester County Solicitor’s Office states that records do not exist before June 2018). That’s an astounding 37 days of work out of 324 calendar workdays. Even worse, according to Right to Know documents, he has no record of entry and exits from the Recorder of Deeds office from June 12, 2019 to Sept. 16, 2019. This is inexcusable and you deserve better leadership. Where has he been during these absences? Ask him, if you can find him. You as a taxpayer shouldn’t have to track down your elected officials to see if they are showing up to work while collecting a county salary on your dime. Honestly, who is serving whom here? This isn’t a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. This is a common sense issue of fairness and decency … and doing good deeds. You deserve someone who works to earn the title “Honorable.” That is why I am asking for your vote on Nov. 5 as Recorder of Deeds.
Chris Pielli, Esq. West Goshen Township
Pielli
are the future of our nation. Vote for our community. Vote for Linn. Billig. Lisi. Wolff. Engel.
Beth Mariner London Grove Township
Richard
has implemented an e-filing process for court documents, acceptance of credit cards as a form of payment in the office, begun digitizing of all the old microfilm, and set up a system for the staff to scan in old cases into the system so that files from the 1980s and 1990s can be searchable on a database and the images are available to the public.
He also closed 1,857 inactive cases that were left open by the previous administration. Under Holliday’s leadership, the office has also improved their county website to give better instructions regarding passport applications. He brought the office expenses in under the department’s budgeted amount for 2017 and 2018 without eliminating staff, and while still providing raises to everyone in the department each year.
Holliday serves on 13 boards of local non-profits. He is the past president of both the West Chester Public Library and the West Chester University Alumni Association. He is the current president of two organizations: the DVCCC and the West Chester Downtown Foundation. He will also become the president of the West Chester Rotary Club and Friends
Association for Care and Protection of Children in July 2019. Recorder of Deeds
Democrat Chris Pielli is a West Goshen Township Supervisor, and has been twice elected Democratic State Committeeperson. He is a U.S. Army veteran and a longtime Chester County resident. He attended Temple University Law School while working at the Chester County Prison, where he was employed as a Correctional Officer and Correctional Counselor. He also served as a parttime Chester County Public Defender for five years while establishing his own practice. Chris is now employed at the law firm of Pine & Pine, LLP, specializing in estate and probate matters, including recording of deeds. He has been a Program Coordinator for the Chester County OIC Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, Workforce Reintegration Program, and the atrisk youth Career Corps Program.
Republican Amber Little-Turner’s career in public service began when she worked for former Magisterial District Judge Gwenn Knapp in her West Chester office. She also worked closely with Harry Lewis during his time as a State Representative in the 74th District. In 2010, Amber started her own business as an independent contractor, helping local residents gain access to legal services and navigate the legal system. She currently works as a field representative for Senator Pat Toomey. A resident of Coatesville, she has been an active member of the Republican Committee of Chester County, holding various positions such as Republican Committee of Chester County Committeewoman, Vice Chair of the Republican Woman of Chester County, and Executive Board Secretary of the RCCC. Register of Wills
ogy leader, Michele Vaughn has more than 30 years of management experience. In her current position as a Consumer Medical Technology Leader, she is responsible for shaping IT strategies, managing projects and developing programs. In her role as a Township Supervisor, she oversaw the management of more than 50 employees, addressed personnel issues, and worked with union and legal representatives to ensure employees were working effectively and being paid fairly. She also launched East Whiteland Township’s first Community Health Day and Senior Citizens Day to connect individuals in the community with health resources they desperately needed. Through a partnership with Fox Chase Cancer Center, free mammograms were provided to uninsured and under-insured women throughout Chester County.
School District and was a West Chester Area School District Board Director. She has been an active member of the Republican Party by holding two chair positions and working on numerous campaign committees. Since taking office in 2011, her initiatives have included enabling the office to accept credit card payment, converting old microfilm to searchable PDF documents, and setting up a new guardian tracking system that protects seniors from physical and financial abuse. She also makes off-site visits to bedridden people, many of them veterans, who need marriage licenses. The Register of Wills Office continues to cut their discretionary spending budget in order to help the county avoid raising taxes.
Sheriff
University School of Law and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from West Chester University. She pledges to restore trust between law enforcement and culturally diverse groups, while returning oversight and accountability to the Sheriff’s Office.
Republican Jim Fitzgerald is a newcomer to the political arena. He is a retired special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He served the FBI for more than 26 years, and was on active duty in the Marines for 10 years prior to that time. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on an NROTC scholarship and earned a Master of Science Degree in management from Troy State University. He was an active supporter of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts when his children were younger. He was also active for approximately 15 years as a coach, age commissioner, and referee with the West Chester United Soccer Club. Having already worked closely with many of the police departments in the county, he will maximize the contribution of the Sheriff’s office to the overall law enforcement effort in the county. Chester County offices...
Democrat As a business and technol-
Republican Terri Clark is the Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court. She was elected in 2011 and is seeking re-election in 2019. Before holding office, she worked as Executive Assistant to the Controller at the Chester County Controller’s Office. She has previously worked in the West Chester Area
Democrat Fredda Maddox is one of the first women to serve as a Pennsylvania State Trooper in Chester County. A narcotics agent for the Bureau of Narcotics in the PA Office of the Attorney General, she served in the Bureau of Criminal Investigations as a special agent. A law enforcement veteran and practicing attorney of 20-plus years, she holds a law degree from Widener
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Richard Ayotte and Randy Geouque
When Richard Ayotte and Randy Geouque were elected to their respective six-year terms in 2014, the township had half the police force it does now, and the concept of forming a regional police force was still a talking point that then -New Garden Township Police Chief Gerald Simpson carried with him everywhere. At about that same time, the department was about to move into temporary trailers, forced to do so when their barracks was contaminated with asbestos.
At that same time, the 137acre property of St. Anthony in the Hills still belonged to St. Anthony of Padua in Wilmington; the township still owned their vastly outdated wastewater system; and the township’s comprehensive plan was still very much in the pencil sketch stage. Additionally, there seemed to be no firm contingency plan in place that could easily tap dedicated reserves in the event of an emergency.
As they campaign for re-election to the board, Ayotte and Geouque go door to door armed with the polished resumes of accomplishment. On their watch and with their vote, the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department was formed; plans to create a state-of-the-art facility for the regional police were approved; and they oversaw the funding for the new facility, which was dedicated and opened in September. In addition, they helped broker the township’s purchase of St. Anthony in the Hills; and kick-started the long-term design plan for Toughkenamon Village, which
serves as a large component of the 2018 Comprehensive Plan for New Garden Township, which Ayotte and Geouque helped pass.
“The current board has brought a more business-like approach to running the township,” Geouque said. “We have become more proactive, by setting up the capital reserve fund that funnels about $180,000 every year to handle any emergencies that may arise. We’ve had six years with no property tax increases, so we’ve been able to balance the revenues with spending.”
Perhaps the largest accomplishment the township has made on Ayotte’s and Geouque’s watch has been the negotiations that are leading to the eventual sale of the township’s wastewater system to Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. While approval of the sale continues to be funneled through the courts and regulatory agencies, the final sale will net a $29.5 million payment for the township.
Once the deal is finalized and the money is rolled into the township’s resources, Ayotte and Geouque both believe that the board’s proactive approach to spending will serve them well in determining where to allocate these additional funds.
“We will pay off what we owe on the construction of the police facility, pay for two bridges that need to be replaced on Little Egypt and Bancroft roads,” Geouque said, “and also be able to set aside resources for people whose homes will be serviced by Aqua, in order to help offset rate increases they are likely to be faced with in the future.”
For Ayotte and Geouque, their top priority for the immediate future of the St. Anthony in the Hills is to invest in the
removal of potential liabilities there, for the purpose of making the property safe for the general public. Although they eventually see refurbished soccer fields and new baseball diamonds melded with a trail system and open space, determining how the property’s additional infrastructure will be utilized will likely involve partnerships with outside agencies who could manage the pool, its ampitheater and its horse stable.
“When you look at St. Anthony’s, there is nothing but development around it, and when the PREIT property is developed, the property will serve as an oasis wrapped entirely by sprawl,” Ayotte said. “The sooner the better for our ideas to germinate, but if it takes 20 years to develop it, I’d rather see it done right than sooner.
“In the end, I think St. Anthony’s will be seen as an absolute steal for the township from a cost point of view,” Ayotte continued. “Eventually, for what we paid for it and what we will put in it, it’s going to be a gold mine for the people of the township.”
Despite the accomplishments made by the two incumbents over the past six years, “there are a lot of things still left undone,” Ayotte said, “and we want to see all of these things get finished.”
Kristie Brodowski and David Unger Campaigning together on a platform of “Parks, Police and Preservation,” Kristie Brodowski and David Unger enter their campaign to serve on the New Garden board with an overlap of issues that dot their To-Do lists. Chiefly, however, they wish to become the “new voices” on the board.
“Six years is a long term, and I think bringing a fresh view to the township will help both the board and the community,” said Brodowski, who is a project manager in the pharmaceutical industry. “My analytic and project management background will allow me to ask the right and appropriate questions, particularly on colossal projects like the future of St. Anthony in the Hills.
“As the mother of a small child, I want to make sure that the neighborhoods we live in are preserved for her future,” she added. “It’s important for me to be a role model, to be someone who walks the walk.”
“I think there is a lot that I think we both can do for New Garden,” Unger said. “We want to make sure that St. Anthony’s in the Hills is turned into a park we can all enjoy. We want to help continue to assure that the regional police are supported and that their new facility gets put to good use, and that the Village of Toughkenamon becomes a vital part of the Route 41 corridor vicinity.”
If he is elected to the board in November, another key component of Unger’s goals will be to regulate the projected plans for the former PREIT property on Route 41. Now in the hands of new owner JP Morgan Chase, it has been rumored that the bank wishes to develop the land as a mixed-use property that will see both residences and businesses built along the corridor.
“That would not be ideal for me, and I would work with [JP Morgan Chase] to avoid the residential route because of the strain on local school districts,” he said. “By adding an additional 300 to 400 students to the Kennett Consolidated School District, you’re going
to have the same problem that the Avon Grove School District has, in being over-crowded.”
Their priorities don’t end there. Unger and Brodowski want to draw more attention to assuring that the stormwater run-off that begins at the St. Anthony’s property and extends to Somerset Lake is cleaned up. They also want to work with the regional police to possibly expand the department by recruiting additional local police units, and want to engage outside agencies to help in the management of St. Anthony’s that would, they believe, establish the property as a key identity for the township.
While “Parks, Police and Preservation” serves as their campaign’s motto, Brodowski and Unger are adding another “P” to their slogan: People.
“It’s not always an easy conversation to have, but it is important that we continue to be inclusive of the township’s diversity,” Brodowski said.
“It’s about bringing their challenges to the board, and see things through the perspective of our underrepresented communities, because once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
“I will bring a fresh perspective that will help ask questions that can bring about
different results, that will hopefully impact the future of many more people.”
“Sometimes I feel that New Garden is a township with no identity,” Unger added, “that it’s an afterthought to the diversity of Kennett Square, but here a lot of people in our community who have challenges that need to be represented. That’s our identity, and we need to help this community determine what their future is going to be like, for them.”
The campaign that Brodowksi and Unger have undertaken, they said, is not an “Us vs. Them” platform against their opponents. More importantly, they said, their campaign is being undertaken with the idea of providing more opportunity for everyone – and that includes the nonwhite population.
“Just because you’re running against someone, you don’t have to campaign on a platform of disagreeing with them on everything that they have done,” Brodowksi said. “Rich and Randy have done a good job, but we can do more, and help impact the lives of New Garden residents.”
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@ chestercounty.com.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw Democrats Kristie Brodowski and David Unger are campaigning on a platform of “Parks, Police and Preservation.”
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2019
Avon Grove celebrates Homecoming
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
The picture-perfect fall weather provided a nice backdrop for a full day of activities as the Avon Grove community came together last Saturday to celebrate Homecoming.
The day began with the Red Devil 5K race in the morning. Next, the members of the Homecoming Court— Megan Hepworth, Mitchell Conrad, Jana Klinger, Sarah Hottenstein, Cole Walker and Ryan Rowlands— were featured in a parade along State Road to the school campus. A large crowd gathered along the parade route to watch the festivities, and many of the spectators were wearing the maroon and gold of Avon Grove to show their school spirit.
The Avon Grove High School Marching Band led the parade, followed by members of the Homecoming Court, the cheerleaders, and a line of floats carrying members of various clubs and sports teams. Each high school class decorated a float with a musical theme. The West Grove Fire Company had a large contingent of vehicles in the parade, too.
On the school campus, school groups were operating a wide variety of food and entertainment booths for people to enjoy throughout the day.
As the time for the football game approached, Avon Grove High School athletic director Vanessa Robtison welcomed the crowd to the sports stadium and introduced the members of the Homecoming Court.
Avon Grove High School principal Scott DeShong talked about how great the full week of Homecomingrelated activities were. Martin Campagna, the Student Council President, introduced Shirley Schenker, this year’s selection as the grand marshal of the Avon Grove
Homecoming Parade. Schenker, who retired last year after 30 years in the Avon Grove School District, thanked everyone for the honor of being named the grand marshal for the Homecoming Parade. She talked about how much she enjoyed working in the school district. Even before she embarked on her career as an educator, Schenker was a student-teacher in Avon Grove. She was then hired to teach social studies in the school district, first at the middle school for a year, and then at the high school.
For a period of time in the 1990s, she was an assistant
principal at the high school, handling the athletic director and activities director responsibilities. After a few years in that role, she decided that she wanted to be back in a classroom where she could work directly with students.
Schenker offered a comparison of what Avon Grove was like when she was first hired and what it was like when she retired. “When I first came to Avon Grove as a teacher,”
Continued on Page 5B
Despite strong showing by Avon Grove, Unionville picks up a win
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
The Avon Grove Red Devils treated their large Homecoming crowd to a number of highlights in last Saturday’s game against Unionville.
Avon Grove Running back Sean Glatts scored on an 11-yard touchdown run just two minutes into the game as the Red Devils capitalized on a Unionville turnover. Running back Colby Riddell rumbled for 40 yards on the first play of the third quarter, igniting a drive that would result in a touchdown.
the drive stalled and they sent kicker Bobby Smith out to boot a 22-yard field goal. That kick trimmed Unionville’s lead to 14-10.
Wide receiver Zach Brown caught a pass from JT McDonald and turned it into an electrifying 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. But the visiting team matched each big play by Avon Grove with one of its own, emerging with a hard-fought 31-23 victory.
The win improved Unionville’s record to 5-4, and the team has now won three of its last four games as they work to build momentum for another playoff run.
“You like to be playing well late in the year,” Unionville head coach Pat Clark said after the victory. Against Avon Grove, Unionville demonstrated an ability to answer back whenever they were pushed.
When Avon Grove jumped out to a 7-0 lead
following the turnover, it took the Indians just three plays to tie the game.
Running back Connor Schilling bolted 21 yards on one play, and then quarterback Blake Charlton threw a 25-yard touchdown to Stefan Twombly.
Twombly hauled in a 15-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to
cap a 12-play, 72-yard drive that gave Unionville a 14-7 lead.
On Avon Grove’s next offensive series, Brown made a leaping catch on a McDonald pass in the middle of the field and raced to the 25-yard line for a 41-yard gain. Avon Grove moved the ball inside the 10-yard line, but
The Indians put together another long drive late in the second quarter. Charlton demonstrated his running ability—twice he picked up a first down by scrambling for good gains as the Indians moved into Avon Grove territory. Schilling carried the ball on three straight plays, picking up 19 yards, and then Charlton raced in for a nine-yard touchdown. It was 21-10 with 1:38 left to play in the second quarter. Avon Grove wanted to make the most of the opportunity to score before halftime so on first down
Continued on Page 5B
Photo by Steven Hoffman
The Avon Grove Marching Band led the parade and performed at halftime of the football game.
Photo by Steven Hoffman Shirley Schenker was selected as the grand marshal of the Avon Grove Homecoming Parade.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Megan Hepworth and Mitchell Conrad were selected to the Homecoming Court.
Photo by Steven Hoffman Homecoming Court members Cole Walker and Ryan Rowlands ride in the parade.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Jana Klinger and Sarah Hottenstein, members of the Homecoming Court, ride in the parade.
Photo by Steven Hoffman Avon Grove quarterback JT McDonald looks for a receiver during first quarter action.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Colby Riddell had a big game for Avon Grove.
WILLIAM I. SHOWALTER
William I. Showalter passed away Oct. 15 at his residence in West Grove.
He was born in 1948 in Ridley Park, and raised Methodist. A graduate of Chester High School, he was former president of the Concord Area JC’s, focusing on community outreach and fundraising. Before relocating to West Grove 19 years ago from Aston, he owned Showalter Associates General Contracting Company. He was always there for family and friends, and loved and provided for his wife, children and grandchildren. He loved going to the mountains, hunting and fishing, staying busy in his workshop, and doing projects for his family’s homes.
Survivors include his adoring wife, Bette Showalter; loving children William “Billy” Showalter (Cheryl) and Lynn Rogers; sisters Ruth Voss and Charlotte Clark (Ron); three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Oct. 25 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Foulk Funeral Home (200 Rose Hill Rd., West Grove), followed by a 10 a.m. memorial service. In lieu of flowers, send memorial contributions to the American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY, 13220-3049.
ROBERT KING, JR.
Robert King Jr., 51, of Yorklyn, Del., passed away on Oct. 16, surrounded by his loved ones. He was the husband of Tabitha (Best) King, with whom he shared almost 24 years of marriage. Robert was born in Elkton, Md., to the late Kathleen and Robert King. He graduated from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology with an associate’s degree in electronics. Robert was an assembler for AMT and Synthes for many years and worked for GE. He loved the U.S. Navy, touring battleships and aircraft carriers, building models and watching anything to do with the subject. Robert’s greatest love was his son, Alexander, with whom he spent much of his time. Alexander describes his dad as “everything good in one person.” Robert loved Thanksgiving with all the trimmings and listened to Christmas music all year long.
Robert is survived by his wife, Tabitha; his son, Alexander; “his girls” Greta and Kira Dzedzy; Goddaughters, Kellyanne and Dana Palmer; Godsons, Logan Palmer and Keith Ross; his buddy Cooper Smith; six sisters, Ann, Debbie, Patty, Robin, Pearl and Becky; one brother, Ronald; numerous, beloved nieces and nephews; and countless friends. He was preceded in death by one sister, Vicky.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 22 at Kuzo Funeral Home (250 W. State St., Kennett Square). His funeral service will follow at noon. Interment will be at Union Hill Cemetery. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www. kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
TERRY L. MATTHEWS
DR. WILLIAM J. STEGEMAN
Dr. William Jackson Stegeman, 77, passed away peacefully, and surrounded by loved ones, on Oct. 13 at the Friends Home in Kennett Square. He was born in 1942 and raised in Rochester, N.Y. He was a popular student and an avid swimmer, winning many awards on his school swim teams. Growing up he also enjoyed boating, camping, youth groups, and singing in his church choir. Bill graduated from John Marshall High School in 1960. He attended the University of Maine, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in botany. It was there that he met his wife, Elizabeth Ann Thomas of Ocean Park, Maine, and they were married in 1962.
Bill went on to earn his master’s degree in botany from the University of Massachusetts, where he worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He earned his PhD in microbiology from Rutgers University, and completed his post-doc work in immunology at Temple University. Soon thereafter, while working at Cappell Laboratories in Cochranville, he discovered how to manufacture a product which inspired him to found Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Inc., in 1982. He started the company in a room in a neighbor’s barn, then moved to a rented building in Avondale, where he expanded into an international corporation, then finally to the headquarters he built in Jennersville. He was particularly interested in advancing cancer research.
Although Bill always considered New England his home, he spent most of his adult life in Kemblesville, Landenberg, and most recently, New London, until he retired at Jenner’s Pond and then Friends Home in Kennett Square.
William J. Turner 120 Doe Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348 302-760-3190 wjt4th@outlook.com sipplemonuments.com
Terry Linwood Matthews, 56, of Norfolk, Va., passed away on Sept. 26 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del. Born in Portsmouth, Va., he was the son of Margaret Jones Gemberling of Norfolk, Va., and the late Linwood Hardy. Terry enjoyed spending time with his family and watching the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
He is survived by his mother; one son, Taylor Matthews of Oxford; one brother, Bo Matthews of Norfolk, Va.; and four grandchildren. A graveside service was held Oct. 11 at Oxford Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Oct. 26 Buffet breakfast
The Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford) presents a community buffet breakfast on Oct. 26 from 7 to 10 a.m. The menu includes pancakes,
Bill enjoyed many hobbies, including scuba diving, traveling, gardening, stargazing, photography, trap shooting, playing his violin, sampling microbrews, attending classical music concerts, and bicycling with his team, Riders for Research. He especially loved spending time with his growing family and his diverse group of friends. He was beloved by everyone that met him as he was warm, kind, witty, modest, and generous. His altruistic nature led him to support many organizations including the University of Delaware, The Arts at Trinity, Music School of Delaware, Jennersville YMCA, SCC Youth Shooting League, St. Jude’s Children Hospital, Lighthouse Youth Center, Hockessin United Methodist Church, and the Brandywine Valley SPCA. He is survived by daughter Amy Louise Stegeman of New London; son James Raymond Stegeman (Linda) of Montgomery, Texas; two grandsons James Andrew Stegeman also of Montgomery and Thomas Jackson Stegeman of Harrison, Maine; two granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter. His wife, Bette, passed away in 2007. He was also predeceased by his father Raymond Frederich Ernst Stegeman; mother, Marian Jackson Stegeman Neary; and brother, Frederick Ernst Stegeman.
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Because Bill did not wish to have any type of memorial service, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org; the Parkinson’s Foundation at parkinsons.org; Humanity Gifts Registry of PA at hgrpa.org; or the American Cancer Society at cancer.org.
Obituary submissions
French toast, bacon and sausage, roasted potatoes, scrambled eggs and more. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for ages 3 to 10. Proceeds benefit the church. Another breakfast will be held Nov. 23 at the chuch. Call 610-932-9698. The Chester County Press publishes obituaries, free of charge, for those with a connection to southern Chester County. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received, space permitting. They also are posted on www.chestercounty. com. Photos should be sent as .jpg attachments to the obituary text. To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press , email the information to: jchambless@ chestercounty.com.
Kennett High School sponsors annual food drive
With the holiday season approaching, the Kennett High School Humanitarian Club has kicked off its annual food drive to benefit the Kennett Area Community Services (KACS) Food Cupboard. Food drive chairpersons Delaney Marin-Tapia and Jerry Avalos, both seniors, have created opportunities
for community members to contribute to the effort.
The food drive began on Oct. 14, and KHS students can bring their non-perishable donations to their advisory teacher any time before Nov. 15.
The club hosted its yearly Fall Fest on Oct. 18 in front of the high school. This event, open only to students,
featured s’mores, games, face painting, and a bonfire supervised by members of the Kennett Fire Company. The price of admission was five cans, and at the end of the evening, nearly 500 cans and more than $400 were collected for the Food Cupboard.
On Oct. 25, the last home football game of the season, the Humanitarian Club hosted “Cans for Pat” to honor the memory of Patrick Mallon, Kennett High School Class of 2010. Pat, who played on both the offensive and defensive lines on the KHS football team, organized various food drives through the National Honor Society during his time at Kennett. He was a passionate advocate for social justice and believed that no person
should ever go hungry.
Although the Humanitarian Club is always devoted to wiping out food insecurity, there is a greater sense of urgency to their mission this year due to the recent fire at the Food Cupboard. For that reason, Jake Adelman, a Humanitarian Club and National Honor Society member, is organizing an additional opportunity: NHS members will trickor-treat for canned goods on Halloween night to give more people the chance to participate in the fight against hunger.
“The Kennett community always takes care of its own,” said Lisa Teixeira, Humanitarian Club advisor and school librarian.
For more information, email Lisa Teixeira at lteixeira@kcsd.org.
Candidate takes part in meet-and-greet
the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Lynn D. Carrero, Executor, Or Attorney:Joellen Meckley, Begley Law Group, 509 S. Lenola Rd. Bldg. 7 Moorestown, NJ 08057. 10p-9-3t
NOTICE Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE COMMISSIONER, Volunteer Loan Assistance Program, 1310 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 171109364, (717) 651-2200 or 800-6703473. The Avondale Fire Company #1hereby announces its intention to apply for a loan from the Volunteer Loan Assistance Program administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. The Avondale Fire Company #1hereby certifies that: 1. The Avondale Fire Company #1 by-laws do not discriminate against applicants for membership on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age or handicap; and 2. There is not an unwritten policy of discrimination for membership in the Avondale Fire Company #1. Comments on this application should be forwarded 23 Firehouse Way Avondale, PA 19311 and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, Volunteer Loan Assistance Program, 1310 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. 10p-23-1t
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Elk Township Board of Supervisors will hold their 2020 Budget Work Meeting on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 6:30 PM at the Elk Township Building, 952 Chesterville Road, Lewisville, PA 19351. If you are a person with a disability and wish to attend the meeting and require auxiliary aide, service or other accommodation to participate in this meeting, please contact Terri Kukoda at 610-255-0634 to discuss how Elk Township may best accommodate your needs.
10p-23-1t
FICTITIOUS NAME
REGISTRATION
An application for registration of the fictitious name somewhere for dogs, 1101 Maine Cir., Downingtown, PA 19335 has been filed in the Department of State at Harrisburg, PA, File Date 09/09/2019 pursuant to the Fictitious Names Act, Act 1982-295. The name and address of the person who is a party to the registration is Edyta Ehmann, 1101 Maine Cir., Downingtown, PA 19335.
10p-23-1t
INCORPORATION NOTICE
Westtown Child Services, Inc. has been incorporated under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988. Brutscher, Foley, Milliner, Land & Kelly, LLP, 213 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 10p-23-1t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF CLIFFORD A. DRAPER, JR., DECEASED. Late of the Township of Lower Oxford, Chester County, PA, LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to GENEVA A. DRAPER, ADMINISTRATRIX, c/o Anita M. D’Amico, Esq., 204 N. Union St., Kennett Square, PA 19348, Or to her Attorney: ANITA M. D’AMICO, D’AMICO LAW PC, 204 N. Union St., Kennett Square, PA 19348 10p-23-3t
the Chairman of the
Township Board of Supervisors,
Community Day, held
a
the New
on Oct. 19. The event also featured live
hayrides, scarecrow making, pumpkin and face painting, as well as displays by local law enforcement. The event also featured “The New Garden Lyceum Hall: Its Past, Present and Future,” a presentation delivered by Dr. Market “Peg” Jones of the township’s Historical Commission and several other speakers.
Courtesy photo
A meet-and-greet with John Emmons, a candidate for U.S. Congress, in the PA 6th District, was hosted at the Oxford home of Edie Suimner on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Emmons told the group about himself and why he is running for Congress. Pictured are John Emmons, Virginia Radcliffe, Edie Sumner, and Kenny Sumner.
Courtesy photo
Steve Allaband,
New Garden
enjoys
pony ride at
Garden
at New Garden Park
music,
Humanitarian Club food drive chairpersons Jerry Avalos and Delaney Marin-Tapia.
Giddy up, Mr. Chairman
they pulled out a trick play—a hook-and-ladder pass play. Unfortunately for Avon Grove, Twombly, now playing defensive back, was in the right place at the right time: He plucked the ball out of midair for an interception near midfield.
Charlton threw a 15-yard pass to Twombly and a 20-yard pass to Weston Grim to get the team in position for a field goal attempt. Twombly booted a 24-yarder, making it 24-10.
Avon Grove got the ball to start the third quarter. Riddell’s 40-yard gain on first down started a nineplay drive that culminated with Riddell scoring from six yards out. It was now 24-17.
Unionville answered right back, relying on Schilling, a senior running back, for a few big plays. He picked up 23 yards on a pass play from Charlton and gained 16 more on a good run to move the ball into Avon Grove territory. Two plays later, he scored on a 22-yard run, making it 31-17 with 3:29 to play in the third. Schilling finished the game with 144 rushing yards.
There was no quit in Avon Grove. As the third quarter turned into the fourth
quarter, the Red Devils’ offense was on the move again. On a fourth-and-five from the 45, McDonald scrambled to pick up nine yards and a first down. He later moved the chains on an 11-yard gain with another bootleg play. A few plays later, with Avon Grove in the Red Zone, McDonald lofted a pass toward a receiver in the end zone.
Unionville defensive back Declan Boyle had a good read on the ball and picked it off in the end zone, ending the scoring threat. The touch-back gave Unionville the ball at the 20-yard line. Boyle, a senior, has been making big plays for Unionville for four years.
“He is the third Boyle brother to play for us,” Clark said. “He knows what’s expected. We ask a lot of him. We count on him to steady the ship, and that’s what he did for us.”
Avon Grove scored one more time—a 65-yard pass play where McDonald rolled out to his right and found Brown open as he ran a crossing pattern. Brown raced down the sideline and into the end zone, cutting Unionville’s lead to 31-23 with just under six minutes to play.
The Indians took about half that time off the clock with its next drive, but Avon Grove’s defense came up with a big stop on a critical
fourth-and-three play to give the team one more chance to tie the game with 2:49 left to play.
This time, it was the Indians’ defense that made a stand, preventing Avon Grove from moving the chains on the next four plays. Avon Grove also had to utilize their timeouts so when Unionville took over again, all they had to do was run the clock out. After three snaps, Unionville wrapped up the win.
Afterward, Clark was proud of his own team, but also praised how Avon Grove played.
Homecoming Parade
Continued from Page 1B
she explained, “there were less than 1,000 students here. There were six social studies teachers and there were six different social studies courses.”
At the time of her retirement, Schenker explained, there were 12 social studies teachers and 17 different social studies courses. The high school student population had
“Avon Grove’s record is deceptive,” Clark said. “Their schedule has been a gauntlet. They are a much better team than their record indicates. We were able to make a few key stops and hold on for the win.”
The Indians finish the regular season with a home game against Sun Valley on Friday night. A win would put Unionville in a good position for the district playoffs once again, despite the fact that the 2019 team is on the young side. The Indians have also been working to overcome some injuries. Clark credited
nearly doubled.
Reflecting on her career as an educator, Schenker said that parents play a very important role in supporting students. She also lauded the school district’s staff for how hard they work to make a difference in the lives of students.
“I was privileged to be part of a team that cared deeply about students,” she said.
Schenker said that, after retiring last year and having some time to reflect on her
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the assistant coaches with helping to get the younger players ready to go. Avon Grove is also playing well as the season heads toward its conclusion. They went toe-to-toe with a team that has a winning tradition and is once again heading to the playoffs.
“I’m proud of the team and the way we played,” Avon Grove head coach Harry O’ Neill said. “I’m happy with the effort. We’re getting better each week.”
There were a lot of positives for Avon Grove to take away. McDonald had a very efficient game at quarterback. He also combined with Glatts, and Riddell to account for nearly 200 yards on the ground. Avon Grove’s defense turned in a very solid effort. Best of all, Avon Grove is a young team and many of its key contributors, including the talented running back tandem of Riddell and Glatts, will be returning next year. Avon Grove closes out the 2019 campaign with a home game against Downingtown West on Friday night. To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
time at Avon Grove, she misses the students most of all.
“I miss their energy and I miss their inspiration,” she said. “I miss my colleagues, too. Everyone was very supportive. It’s a real community here.”
She concluded her remarks to the crowd by encouraging everyone to, “Keep up that spirit of Avon Grove.”
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor @ chestercounty .com.
Photo by Steven Hoffman Avon Grove kicker Bobby Smith booted a field goal during the game.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Unionville quarterback Blake Charlton attempts to avoid linebacker Nate Belifiore while offensive tackle Austin Weeber works to keep another defender away from his quarterback.
Photo by Steven Hoffman Connor Schilling was a rushing and receiving threat for Unionville. He gained 144 yards on the ground. Avon Grove vs
Photo by Steven Hoffman
The floats all had themes related to music, including one float featuring country music.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
The rock and roll float.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
The Avon Grove boys’ soccer team was one of numerous sports teams that participated in the parade.
Kennett Library fundraiser draws capacity audience
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
While the vision of the new Kennett Library appeared on the far reaches of imagination for the more than 250 in attendance at the library’s third annual fundraiser on Oct. 17, the festivities at The Stone Barn in Unionville served as a chapter marker that paused from the development of the new facility to raise a little more money and have a lot of fun.
In between silent and live auctions, a cocktail hour, and a lively presentation by guest speaker Victoria Wyeth, the focus of the event was to continue to whittle away on a capital campaign that, once completed, hopes to raise the $15 million needed for the construction of the new 25,000-squarefoot facility on East State Street and South Willow Lane in Kennett Square.
Once completed, the new library will replace the current and outdated 11,000-square-foot building, and add 30-seat classrooms; a multipurpose room; tutor, group and quiet rooms; a 110-seat auditorium with a stage; 37 parking spaces; and offer state-of-the art technology tools, access to information and bigger footprint for the more than 1,000 programs the library offers every year.
While the campaign intends to get between $8 million and $10 million from private donations, it’s only one of several funding sources the library
is counting on, which also include state and county grants, library reserves, the projected sale of the current site on West State Street, and more than $3 million in projected support from municipalities that the library serves.
The current campaign stands at $5.3 million, which includes checks totaling as high as $385,000 and $1 million from library supporters. Jeff Yetter, vice president of the library’s board, told the audience that library board members have pledged $235,000 toward the $15 million.
In addition, the library also netted $10,000 from the silent auction at the event.
“The Glory of the Sea” was the theme of the event, and gave a few courageous attendees the opportunity to dress in the regalia of seafaring pirates, as guests
were treated to their choice of baked salmon, pork tenderloin or a Portabello mushroom entrée. After dinner, former Kennett Square Mayor Leon Spencer moderated a live auction, which was followed by Wyeth’s presentation that took the audience on a journey into the creativity, inspiration and imagination found in the work of her grandfather, Andrew, and her uncle, Jamie.
Wyeth recently visited the Kennett Library dressed in full pirate costume, where she read from an edition of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson that was illustrated by her greatgrandfather, N.C. Wyeth.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
A capacity audience attended the annual fundraiser for the Kennett Library, held Oct. 17 at the Stone Barn in Unionville.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
Former Kennett Square Mayor Leon Spencer served as the master of ceremonies during the event’s live auction.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw Several attendees dressed in costumes consistent with the pirate theme of the evening.
Kennett Run Charities, Inc., awards $43,580 to area organizations
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Kennett Run Charities, Inc., the fundraising component of the annual Kennett Run, distributed a total of $43,580 to 37 Kennett-area organizations, in a ceremony held at the Genesis Healthcare atrium on Oct. 16.
Kennett Run race director JJ Simon told the audience that it is the spirit of the community that has enabled the annual race to continue to thrive over the past 30 years, and in the process, raise more than $1 million for local nonprofit organizations since it began in 1989.
“It’s rare for a race to last this long,” he said. “Races tend to die off from the loss of energy by the one or two people who kept them going, but this race has its own momentum, and your energy level always keeps us going.”
Simon introduced Bob Merkle, the new president of Kennett Run Charities, Inc., who replaces outgoing president Christopher Daney, who had served in the capacity for the past five years. Merkle, who began his term in September, called Kennett Run Charities, Inc., a mechanism to “invest in others.
“This is an opportunity to support a lot of people who provide a lot of great services to a lot of people,” he said. “We are a community event, and our focus now is to try and figure out how
to stay that way, and get more involvement from community groups and runners from the southern Chester County region. That’s what it’s going to take to keep us alive and well, and be able to fund these charities.”
During his opening comments, Daney – who will still remain on the Kennett Charities, Inc., Board of Directors –extended his thanks to several partners who assisted in the 30th annual Kennett Run, held on May 11. They were the East Marlborough, Kennett Township and Kennett Borough police departments; the Kennett Borough Public Works Department; the Kennett, Avondale and Longwood fire companies; and the staff at Anson B. Nixon Park.
In 2019, the Kennett Run, held on May 11, raised $100,000 from sponsor contributions and runner fees. In addition to providing grants for local organizations, proceeds from the race have been dedicated to several structural improvements made in Anson B. Nixon Park in the past few years.
At its 2018 grant ceremony, Kennett Run Charities, Inc., awarded a $20,000 grant to the park that helped fund landscaping, asphalt paving, and erosion and drainage improvement projects.
To contact Staff Writer
Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com
The list of 2019 grant award recipients
Avondale Fire Company
Barn at the Spring Brook Farm Camp Dreamcatcher
Chester County Art Association
Chester County Food Bank
Crime Victims Center of Chester County
Domestic Violence Center of Chester County
Family Service of Chester County
Garage Community Youth Centers of Kennett Square and West Grove
Good Neighbors, Inc.
Historic Kennett Square
Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society
Kennett After School Association
Kennett Area Park Authority
Kennett Area Senior Center
Kennett Area YMCA
Kennett Consoldiated School District’s WIN Program
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Kennett Education Foundation
Kennett Fire Company No. 1
Kennett Flash
Kennett Library
La Communidad Hispana
Lions Club of Kennett Square
Living Bridges
Longwood Fire Company
Maternal and Child Health Consortium
Meals on Wheels of Chester County
Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center
Pro-Mar-Lin Fire Company
Rotary Club of Kennett Square
Spanish Health Ministry
Stroud Water Research Center
Unionville Community Fair
Wings for Success
Young Moms of Chester County
Youth Moving Forward
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Bob Merkle (center), the new president of Kennett Run Charities, Inc., stands with Kennett Run race director
JJ Simon and outgoing Kennett Run Charities, Inc., president Christopher Daney at the organization’s annual gift-giving ceremony on Oct. 16.
Plenty of people put out Halloween decorations. But then there are the Cookes.
The family – Alayna and Jeff, and their son Tanner, 12 – has lived in London Croft in
A home for Halloween
The Cooke family in Avondale goes all out for the holiday
Avondale for 14 years. Every year, their haunted front lawn gets more detailed, and it now draws curious visitors for several weeks before Halloween.
Jeff designs and builds
most of the props, Alayna said. “We always put up a cemetery out front, but try to add or change up the theme every year,” she said this week. “Last year we had a mad scientist lab, and this year we built
a ghost pirate ship in the front yard, with the mast extending up through the porch roof, complete with skeleton pirates.”
The outdoor work starts a month in advance, and the family also sets up a walk-through dungeon scene in their basement.
“We love the creating, building and decorating, but most all we love to see the kids that come to our house with wide eyes, taking everything in,” Alayna continued. “It’s funny to see how some kids were afraid to come up to the front door, and then eventually, as they grow older, finally make it up to the door.
“It warms my heart to think of the wonderful memories that these kids will have of trickor-treating at our house over the years, and will then grow up to tell their kids about our Halloween haunted house as adults.”
National Juried Exhibition brings surprises to Oxford gallery
By John Chambless Staff Writer
The National Juried Exhibition always brings some surprises to the Oxford Arts Alliance, and the fifth annual show delivers a welcome mix of the dazzling and the puzzling. The show opened on Oct. 18 and continues through Nov. 8, bringing works by artists from across the country to our area. There are some outstanding high points, including Kelly Micca’s large painting, “Studio 922,” which captures a woman – possibly the artist herself – seated at a table, gazing to the right of the frame, with painting supplies before her. She has an unguarded,
contemplative and perhaps slightly peeved expression that invites your interpretation.
Equally riveting is the nude “Prostitute,” by Daniel Hustwit. The figure, reclining on a bed in slanting light, meets the viewer’s gaze with frankness, a half-smile and a weariness in her eyes. It’s sad, seductive and brutally honest.
“The Night Visitors,” by Lauren Litwa, is a typically enigmatic composition that tells a mysterious story. Otherworldly beams of light from the sky play over the yard surrounding a farmhouse as a fox darts away in the foreground. The tiny house in the distance – in flames –brings home the menace posed by the unseen source of the beams.
“Yearbook,” by L. Iveit, is a fascinating page of manipulated photos, each face superimposed with some odd element, stitched or cut or tinted, and all of them underlaid by unreadable script. It’s
wonderfully odd.
Speaking of enigmatic, “Map of Departure,” by Lynda Schmid, has a horse, a hand appearing out of torn paper, and a brown stain that gives the piece the look of a half-remembered dream.
There’s also “Waking,” a terrific nude done in chalk by Jason Weaver; and a richly painted oil, “Solitude,” by Joseph Bellofatto, that looks like an icon with a modern twist.
Robert Jenkins goes large with “Boiler,” a watercolor of a massive piece of machinery, mottled with brown rust on the blue-black iron surface. There’s an evocative copper necklace by Gloria Martinez Lopez, “Restless Spine,” and a fine little oil still life by Gwenn Knapp titled “Garlic and Yarn.”
Denise Carter’s “Bold Flavor,” a technically dazzling still life of a teacup, creamer and sugar
bowl – with a sinister extra ingredient – is another standout.
Among the sculptures, Stan Smokler’s “Evolution” is a confrontational sort of coiled metal vine that suddenly bursts out with red-tipped spikes. Lisa Fedon’s tall sculptures, “Child Separation” and “Asylum Seekers” are
powerful, poignant and resonant, whispering their dark secrets as you study them.
The Fifth Annual National Juried Exhibition continues at the Oxford Arts Alliance (39 S. Third St., Oxford) through Nov. 8. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit www.oxfordart. org.
To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@ chestercounty.com.
Last year, a prisoner reached up out of the front lawn.
A mad scientist’s lab was featured last year.
Tentacles wrap around the ghost ship in the front yard.
A haunted pirate ship extends from the front porch of the Cooke house in Avondale this year.
The Cooke family home has been decked out for Halloween for the past 14 years.
‘Garlic and Yarn’ by Gwenn Knapp.
‘Restless Spine,’ a necklace by Gloria Martinez Lopez.
‘The Night Visitors’ by Lauren Litwa.
‘Solitude’ by Joseph Bellofatto.
‘Studio 922’ by Kelly Micca.
