Chester County Press 11-23-2022 Edition/Black Friday Small Business Saturday Shoppers' Guide
Ratepayers hold Aqua, New Garden accountable for skyrocketing wastewater bills
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
For more than four hours at the New Garden Elementary School auditorium on Nov. 21, three factions sorted through the smoldering mass of information that lay at the creation of an agreement of sale that has been on the front burner of controversy in the township for the past several years.
In one corner of the room, the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors sat at a table facing another table occupied by three
executives from Aqua Pennsylvania (Aqua), including its president Marc Lucca. The most dominant presence at the meeting, however, were the more than 200 township residents who sat and stood in protest of the reason that drew them there: the massive increases they are seeing in their wastewater bills from Aqua – as much as a 140 percent increase over the past year – that are arriving in their mailboxes as part of the residue from the township’s sale of its wastewater system to the Big Water giant for $29.5
million in 2020.
Moderated by Ryan Jennings of the West Chester firm of Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees, the purpose of the meeting was to provide information regarding the sale of the system, a historical backdrop dating back to 2013, dispel rumors and misinformation, and field questions from the ratepayers. The forum was inspired by the Keep Water Affordable (KWA) group, made up mainly of residents from the Northgate communities in Landenberg, who
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Friends of Kennett Library & Resource Center receive preview tour
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
In the same fashion a new Broadway show holds an initial reading, and in the mold of a future Cy Young award-winner developing a new pitch before a watchful coach in an empty ballpark, so too do major structures deserve a sneak peek before their grand unveiling.
On Nov. 16, more than one dozen stakeholders of the new Kennett Library & Resource Center received a preview tour of what will become a 31,485-squarefoot gateway to education, technology and community when it opens next May.
Conducted by Kennett Library director Christopher Manna and construction project manager Mike Buck, the tour covered the entire breadth of the twostory building, much of which will be bathed in natural sunlight from twostory glass windows that will face north. The first floor, whose walls will be accented by Avondale
brownstone, will feature a circulation desk; an audio and video recording area that can be converted into a podcast studio; a room for quiet study that will feature a fireplace, classic furniture and provide visitors with an historical overview of Kennett Square; rows of shelving for books; a group study room and classroom; a rotating art gallery that will feature the work of local artists and students; and a 110-seat, five-row
Over the last few weeks, members of
in Unionville have been dropping off their filled Thanksgiving
at the church, as well as raising money for the Food
at
Area Community Service (KACS). In all, over 200 bags were collected and $6,200 was raised, and distribution was made to KACS on Nov. 13. The project was made possible by the work of the church’s Social Ministry, especially Annette Bowers. KACS board president Lynn Majarian – who is also a member of the church – expressed her deep gratitude for the church’s contribution.
auditorium that will be used for performances, lectures and other public presentations.
Community remembers fallen officers with a ceremony on 50th anniversary
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
Kennett Square police officers William Davis and Richard Posey were returning from their rounds during the early morning hours of Nov. 15, 1972 when they were shot down in the parking lot of the police station.
Last Tuesday, exactly one-half century since the tragedy, community members gathered to remember those two victims and dedicate a plaque in their honor. The memorial service, which had been scheduled weeks ahead to take place outside at the site of the killings on East Linden at Broad Street, was moved inside the American Legion building due to cold, wet
weather. Ironically, the chilly temperatures and damp atmosphere mirrored what it was like that morning all those years ago when people woke up to the news that two of their own cops had been murdered.
The seating at the American Legion Hall was filled – more than 150 people were in attendance. A color guard group, a bagpiper and team of police officers were stationed around the room. Many who came while braving the darkness and cold were elderly, having been young adults at the time of the shooting. They were visibly aged, but to an individual were saying, “I remember like it was yesterday.”
Photo by Rick Huneke
St. Michael Lutheran Church
bags
Cupboard
Kennett
Photo by Chris Barber Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick, left, and Police Chief William Holdsworth display the plaque honoring police officers Posey and Davis. The plaque will be
in the borough parking garage.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
An audience of more than 200 New Garden Township residents attended a Nov. 21 forum to voice their outrage at their escalating sewer bills that stem from the sale of the township’s wastewater system to Aqua Pennsylvania.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw Kennett Library Director Christopher Manna conducted the tour.
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Nearly from the start, the patience of those in the audience to sit through the complicated alphabet soup of agencies and legal and legislative delays was paper thin, particularly during an hour-long presentation by former township official and director of planning and projects Spence Andress, who painstakingly sifted through a two-inch high stack of documents that described the minutia of what led to the eventual sale of the township’s system.
He said that a major factor leading to the decision by the Board of Supervisors and the township’s Sewer Authority to sell off the system was influenced by the cost of mitigating the infrastructure problems of the township’s vastly outdated wastewater system, which would cost the township an estimated $1.5 million a year, as well as an additional $1.5 million for debt service.
‘Allow us to speak!’
Halfway through Andress’ presentation, Peter Mrosinski and Margo Woodacre, two of the most prominent voices of opposition, shared their argument that the nature of the meeting was designed to shut down the residents. Their argument reflected
the contents of a flyer that was circulated by KWA before the meeting that said that a former agreement with board chairman Steve Allaband would allow the group to lead the discussion, but that the idea was rejected earlier that afternoon by the supervisors.
“Unfortunately, our supervisors once again appear to be covering their tracks and doing the bidding of Aqua to silence any meaningful discussion,” the flyer read.
“I was told by Steve Allaband that I could speak at this point,” Mrosinski told Jennings, and then turned to the audience.
“Does anyone want to listen to this or listen to the ratepayers?”
“Do you all see how this is being done?” Woodacre said to applause from the audience. “You can throw me out, I don’t care. We’re here for the ratepayers. Allow us to speak!”
Soon after order resumed, former township solicitor Vince Pompo further spelled out the many layers of approval and litigation that involved the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the PUC’s Office of Consumer Advocate.
“[The sale] was done for very good reasons,” he said. “The township and the Authority were spending millions of dollars on that system without the ability to collect that money, [which if enacted by the township in the form of increased taxes] would have raised rates as high as you’re seeing them today, if not higher. We were spending one million dol-
lars a year on the south end system alone, in addressing deficits in spray fields there.
“We sold the system. It’s gone. I know you guys are still paying the rates, but in my opinion, it was a great decision,” Pompo said.
Of the eight key questions posed to the township by the township’s Aqua ratepayers, the first on the list was how the township has allocated the proceeds from the sale of the wastewater system. After using $4.5 million for the cost of the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department’s new facility, the township has spent an additional $2.5 million of the proceeds on the development of a township park, made contributions to the Avondale Fire Company, the Kennett Library & Resource Center and the Saint Anthony’s in the Hills Reserve Fund, and set aside funding for a stormwater program, among other projects.
Neil Morris and Max McCauley, attorneys with the firm of Offit Kurman, were hired as third party council by Aqua to oversee the company’s purchase of New Garden’s wastewater system; specifically, to investigate whether Aqua had the authority to establish rate increases.
McCauley told the audience that the purchase agreement had certain rate protections in it, including a two-year rate freeze, and that future rate increases would not exceed four percent. However, the third amendment to the purchase agreement eliminated those
rate protections, thus giving Aqua the right to raise rates in its first phase of billing after its December 2020 closing. Those rate increases were reflected in the invoices Aqua customer in the township began receiving in May.
System expenditures already exceed $12 million
Using photographs of the township’s sewer treatment centers, spray fields and lagoons as context, Aqua Vice President of Production Todd Duerr said that the company has already spent more than $12 million to make repairs to the outdated system.
“When we first walked in on December 21 of 2020, the lagoons were full and when I say full, that day we called DEP and said, ‘We have an emergency on our hands and we have to act today,’” Duerr said. “If we didn’t do anything, the lagoons would have overflowed, and sewage would have filtered into the township’s streams.”
For the next eight months, Duerr said that the Aqua team began pumping and hauling thousands of gallons of solids and sewage from the South End treatment plant to other locations.
Over the last two years, Aqua has stopped potential sewage run-off to township streams and restored lost treatment capacity at the East End treatment plant. It is part of a ten-year investment plan to restore lost capacity in the spray fields and provide infrastructure upgrades that will include pipe replacements.
“Our goal is to get the system up to standard and keep it there through regular investments,” Duerr said.
“The American Society of Civil Engineers said that the wastewater infrastructure in Pennsylvania is at a D-minus, so we know that the infrastructure that we’re dealing with is really poor,” Lucca said. “[Tonight’s] presentation really bore that out, because it is talking about the condition of what was happening when we first walked in.”
Prior to a brief recess, Lucca directed those ratepayers struggling to pay their Aqua bill to two websites that provide information about financial assistance. In addition, he said the company is committed to establishing a rate advisory committee that would begin early next year and consist of two-to-three representatives from Aqua and two-to-three represen-
tatives from the township.
The residents respond
When the meeting reconvened, more than three dozen residents took aim not only at Lucca but the supervisors. A few residents threatened to bring civil action lawsuits against Aqua and the township, while another said that the continued presence of Aqua will lead to increased school taxes, and eventually, a mass exodus of residents from the township who will no longer be able to afford to live in the area.
During the questionand-answer session, many speakers continued to express their frustration at the efforts of Aqua and the township to protect ratepayers against a rising tide that will continue to see wastewater rates go up and not down. When Paul Skopowski received his first Aqua bill this spring, he said it was twice as high as his last bill.
“It is on track to be more than our electric bill needed to light our house, and more than our gas bill to heat our house,” he said. “My thought was that there had to be something in these laws that is designed to help diffuse our costs, but what I am hearing here tonight is that everything seems conspired against us.
“It doesn’t seem like the proper way to go, because we have nobody to defend us. It’s just us, and we have big business and laws enforced at the state level, and in the process, it is small communities like this who are just absorbing enormous rate hikes.”
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca was joined by two other company executives in answering questions posed by township officials and their New Garden ratepayers.
provide live streaming of library events.
The tour then moved to the second floor, where Manna and Buck introduced a wide expanse of space that will be dedicated largely to children, and creative and educational opportunities. It will include reading areas and books for children; group study, reading and creative spaces for young adults; an adult maker space; several multi-purpose and conference rooms; and the Melton Terrace, an outdoor seating area overlooking State Street that is named in memory of Dennis Melton, the library’s architect of record.
The second floor will also feature tutor rooms that will serve the library’s expanding Adult Literacy and English as a Second Language programs, which through video and Zoom capability will provide students with the option of attending classes in person or from home.
“I am very excited, because we will have the space for our students, not just for tutoring but for classes,” said Filomena M. Elliott, the Library’s director of its Adult Literacy Program. “With this availability for small gatherings, for our GED and math classes and for our students who are studying for American citizenship, it’s invaluable space for me.
“We are teaching 11 classes a week, and otherwise, I would be paying thousands of dollars to places in the community in order to rent spaces for classrooms.”
While the Kennett
Library & Resource Center continues to be built, it is doing so in concert with the Library’s capital campaign efforts. Currently, the campaign has raised more than $17 million toward a $21.7 million goal.
Kennett Square resident and Library supporter
Sandy Lee said she has seen the evolution of the new library from conception to reality.
“It was really important to several members of the community to keep the Library in town,” she said. “It was a struggle for a long time and nothing happened, and then (Chairman
Emeritus) Thomas Swett came along and galvanized the board, and with the energy of (Trustee and Campaign Chairman) Collis Townsend, (Board President) Jeff Yetter and (Campaign Associate) Mary Hutchins, great things have begun to happen.
“I am most excited to see the opportunities that will be presented to the entire community.”
For updates about the new Kennett Library &
Resource Center, visit www. campaign4kennettlibrary. org.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
The two-story building will provide the community with technology, resources and programs for children and young adults, adults and adult literacy students.
Stroud Water Research Center honors a leading climate scientist and author
Stroud Water Research Center bestowed the 2022 Stroud Award for Freshwater Excellence to Michael E. Mann, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading voices on climate change, on Nov. 3. The award was
Michael E. Mann is the recipient of the 2022 Stroud Award for Freshwater Excellence presented at the 20th annual The Water’s Edge gala at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science. The Water’s Edge annually recognizes an individual or organization that makes a lasting impact on freshwater systems.
Approximately 200 guests enjoyed learning about Mann’s groundbreaking research on climate variability and extremes, including 1,000 years of temperature data that produced the hock-
ey stick graph, so named because of its pronounced upward curve. The data, which combined decades of work by paleoclimate scientists, and its stunning visual presentation served as a smoking gun in the case
proving human-induced climate change.
To share his knowledge and warn the public about climate change, Mann has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed and edited publications, numerous op-
eds and commentaries, and five books. Mann, who is the presidential distinguished professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University
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Photos by Richard L. Gaw
On Nov. 16, key stakeholders for the new Kennett Library & Resource Center received a preview tour of the new building, which is slated for opening in May 2023.
The library will feature two-story windows that will provide natural light throughout most of the building.
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Another large contingent of the audience was middle aged and younger people who had been told about the incident by their parents or the old-guard of the borough. They joined in the reverence and appeared eager to be part of the event and were ready to hear the stories. Fulfilling visitors’ hopes and expectations, members of the Posey and Davis family were present as well.
Richard Posey’s son Rick, one of the late officer’s four children, stood before the crowd and spoke emotionally about the shock of the event and how it changed their lives. He said he and his three siblings get in touch with each other every Nov. 15 and ask, “Are you OK?”
Recalling when he was told of the shootings –which he said he’s counted as 18,252 days ago -- he said, “My first memory was my sister Debbie waking
Stroud...
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of Pennsylvania and director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media, said, “It means a lot to me to receive this award from Stroud, not just because they’ve been such an important voice in the water and sustainability space, but because they are a key partner in the environmental education community here in eastern Pennsylvania.
“I look forward to working closely with Stroud in the years ahead as we col-
me and Brian up and telling us our dad was not coming home.
“I remember how chaotic the day was and how supportive the community was,” he continued.
Speaking of the two officers, Rick Posey said his father and Davis are his heroes. He went on to praise his mother, Mavis Posey.
“What was she left with?
Four kids, three of them minors. She has endured 50 years without her partner. I don’t want to live one day without my wife. It is a testament of your strength, Mom, and we love you.”
No Davis family member spoke, but present was Beth Davis, who was married to Bill Davis’s brother Gene. She said she and her husband were overwhelmed with the community support at the time, and she continues to be in awe of that support as time goes by.
Several speakers joined to offer their support, among them Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “We pay our deepest
lectively seek to inform the sustainability conversation in the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Stroud Water Research
Executive Director David Arscott, Ph.D., said, “Water is the primary medium through which we feel the impacts of climate change, and Michael Mann is a leading voice on climate change. His groundbreaking research and masterful science communication have given weight and shape to the conversations needed to initiate climate action.
“The Stroud Center is
respects to these two men,” she said. “They paid the ultimate sacrifice. We are here to assure that this tragedy nor their bravery will ever be forgotten.”
Kennett Square Borough Council President Doug Doerfler said, “As I look out at this audience, I am in awe of the brotherhood and sisterhood in our law enforcement, and I am honored to represent the
pleased to present him with the 2022 Stroud Award for Freshwater Excellence, and we look forward to working with him to increase awareness of how climate action can support healthy streams and rivers and the clean fresh water they provide.”
After the award presentation, guests enjoyed a dinner featuring local fare by John Serock Catering.
Since its inception in 2003, The Water’s Edge has featured an impressive list of individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the world of science,
borough here. I am amazed to hear people reflect on their memories of Posey and Davis and where they were when they heard the news.”
Doerfler praised the organizers, Mayor Matt Fetick and Police Chief William Holdsworth.
Holdsworth said, “It is hard to believe 50 years have gone by. I can’t imagine being a family member
fresh water, and conservation. Previous speakers and Stroud Award for Freshwater Excellence recipients have included luminaries such as Jane Goodall; Olivia NewtonJohn and John Easterling; American Rivers and its president, Bob Irvin; His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco; The Redford Center; Alexandra Cousteau; Melissa D. Ho of World Wildlife Fund; and others.
and to have lived through this. I thank the families for enduring this.”
Fetick opened the ceremony by announcing, “It is a somber event, but it is a celebration. They were community servants, and we don’t want to miss an opportunity to celebrate their lives.”
Later, in conclusion, Fetick stood with Holdsworth and displayed the plaque in their
honor that will be posted in the parking garage – which now stands where the murders took place.
“No one will ever walk past and not know what happened there,” he said.
Former East Marlborough resident Ancell Hamm was charged with and convicted of the murders of the two police officers. He remains in prison and maintains that he was wrongly convicted.
Police officers present the colors at the ceremony.
Photos by Chris Barber
Richard Posey’s son Rick spoke to the audience about his father and the reaction of the family to the tragedy.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hadley David B. Arscott, Stroud Water Research Center
executive director and research scientist (right), presents the Stroud Award for Freshwater Excellence to Michael E. Mann at The Water’s Edge gala on Nov. 3.
The last full measure of his hypocrisy
Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey was born on November 17, 1961 as the son of a former U.S. Marine, during a period when every American child was only one decade-and-a-half removed from World War II, a few precious years from the Korean Conflict and with the threat of U.S. involvement in Cambodia and Vietnam looming in the near distance.
To be the son of a veteran is to live a life of quiet deference to honor, bravery and service, and there is little doubt that Toomey grew up in the dining room table presence of uncles and grandfathers who, just like his father, held their own stories of war tight to the vest and accepted a piece of responsibility for the raising of the boy in the company of shared
This summer, The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) received 57 votes, short of the 60 needed to advance. Fortytwo Republicans, including Toomey, voted against it.
Toomey urged his fellow Republicans to reject the bill, saying it contained a budget gimmick designed to open up $400 billion in spending unrelated to veterans care.
If passed, the bill would have enhanced health care
and disability benefits for millions of veterans who have been exposed to toxic burn pits.
His rejection of the PACT Act may have been Toomey’s most recent tale of disregard for veterans, but it serves as merely a touchstone to a decade-long track record that has seen him block bills to boost health, education and job training programs for U.S. veterans. In September 2012, Toomey voted to block the Veterans Jobs Corps Act that would require states to issue licenses for trade jobs such as plumbing or truck driving to veterans without requiring pre-training of apprenticeships, providing the veteran has at least ten years of military service.
In 2014, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced the Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act that would
extend and expand health care and education benefits and job-assistance programs for veterans and their families, strengthen the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and expand advance appropriations for more of the VA’s budget, provide dental care coverage for veterans, benefits for surviving spouses, provide care for related to military sexual trauma and institute new rules for VA’s claims processing reports.
Along with his Republican colleagues, Toomey voted against the bill, which was eventually rejected by a vote of 56-41.
Add to this record the bitter irony expressed in the sugar-coated blather of commitment Toomey continues to express for U.S. veterans on his way out the Senate door. On his website, it reads:
Senator Toomey is proud
Letter to the Editor
of our men and women in uniform who are currently serving to protect the United States. The son of a former U.S. Marine and representing a state with one of the largest veteran populations in the country, he is also acutely aware of the nation’s commitment to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed to preserve our freedom. He understands how important it is that we continue to provide quality medical care and other benefits to veterans, both to those who served a generation ago, and to those just returning from fighting in the war against terrorism.
Had enough of the saccharin? Here’s another morsel: In a Memorial Day post on his Facebook page, Toomey wrote: “God bless the veterans who gave what Abraham Lincoln called the ‘last full measure of devotion,’ the troops that protect us today, & their families.” No American elected official, be he or she a Democrat or Republican, Liberal or Conservative, a member of the U.S. House or Senate or a state representative, should reject any proposed legislation designed to provide assistance to our veteran community. To do otherwise is to commit a betrayal of one’s country. Pat Toomey has fashioned an entire political career out of such acts of treason. It is likely the wish of many veterans and their families to have Toomey spend the remainder of his life haunted by the veterans he knew as a child -- including his own father – whose staring eyes in the face of such unconscionable indecencies will not retreat from his mind.
Thanksgiving service was an opportunity to come together and be grateful
Letter to the Editor:
As news of war, persecution and hunger swirl around us, how comforting it is to live in a community that can come together to be grateful for all that we have.
By Lee H. Hamilton
If you followed this year’s elections, at some point the question probably occurred to you: Why do people do this? The endless campaign events, the constant scrutiny… and increasingly, the very real and alarming threat of political violence. What drives someone to put up with it all?
I suspect that if you asked a roomful of politicians, you’d get a roomful of answers. For many people, there’s no single motivation, and in all my years of talking to other politicians, I’ve never found one reason that predominates.
But I have found some common threads. For one thing, it’s hard to find a more challenging job. The range and complexity of the problems an elected official faces are astounding; I’ve
That is the experience that occurred on Sunday evening at the Oxford United Methodist Church during a Thanksgiving service presented by the Oxford Ministerium and led by Rev. Bernard Kefer, pastor. People of many faiths,
different political views, varied backgrounds, cultures and ways of life gathered to sing out gratitude. The bell choir and organist performed as if in New York City.
Luke Fenstermacher, provided a Pastoral Meditation. Of course it included Scripture quotes relevant to the topic. However, it also included a reference to ball games! Now that perked up the interest of all. Rev. Fenstermacher used the experiences. Therefore, as Toomey begins to prepare for the next chapter of his life away from politics, it is both important and ironic to reflect on the juxtaposition between the soft-spoken impact of the heroes of his childhood and his abysmal treatment of U.S. veterans over the course of his nearly 12 years in the U.S. Senate.
The new pastor of the First Baptist Church of Oxford, Rev.
analogy of an umpire calling balls and strikes with no arguments from the players. And, if one dares to argue she or he is tossed from the game. He suggested that we give up arguing about the strikes and balls in life. Let little things pass,
remember to be grateful and stay in the game. How wonderful it is to live in a country where we can freely come together for any purpose.
Peggy Ann Russell Oxford
Why do politicians run for office?
never met a politician with a short to-do list. Politics is as intellectually challenging as any occupation I can imagine, and when you succeed at somehow changing your community or state or country for the better, it’s also as satisfying. One thing I can certainly say: I’ve encountered plenty of accomplished people in other professions who’ve told me that, after a certain point in their careers, they got a bit bored. Not once have I heard a politician say that he or she was bored. Stretched for time, certainly. Frustrated, often. But bored? Never.
I suspect part of the reason is that few other professions put you in touch with as many people of different viewpoints, lifestyles, backgrounds, and convictions. If you’re really serious as a politician in the United States, you engage with con-
servatives, liberals, voters of every station in life, people of deep faith, people of no faith, and every possible ethnic identity. It’s one of the great attractions of the job: the chance to meet an unforgettable array of citizens.
In recent years, it’s sometimes seemed to me that more people each election are getting involved because they’re angry: They’re motivated by something the Supreme Court did, or they believe the people in power are taking their towns or states or the US in the wrong direction. But then I remember that negative feelings have always been a strong motivator—after all, we have a United States because people rose up against policies imposed on them by the king and British politicians. Over my time watching
politics, I’ve met plenty of people who were motivated to get involved because something happened at some level of government that angered them.
At the same time, though, I’ve also met plenty of people who were motivated by idealism. I was one of them: I first ran for office because I wanted to make a contribution to my country. It was nothing fancier than that. That is still true of many politicians.
Though as anyone who’s run for office knows, it is a bit more complicated than that. For one thing, it takes money. It’s not like you’re handed a check by the government to run for elective office. It’s been many decades since this happened, but I still remember that, when I decided to run
for Congress in the early 1960s, I went to visit a community leader in a part of southern Indiana. At the end, he wished me luck and gave me a check for $100. It was a splendid moment. I later told him how crucial that had been—giving someone who had nothing to spend on a campaign some funds. His act of generosity gave me hope that I might be able to pull it off.
Then, too, I think many people who run for office— and certainly those who get elected—are driven by a search for power. From afar, you can see what holding elected office allows: the chance to change things. But once you’re in office, you come to recognize that progress is measured in inches: You might be able to get a new bridge or library built,
but just as often, obstacles stand in the way that make it impossible. Yet somehow, people keep running. In the end, I think it’s because they understand a simple thing: There’s no United States without democracy, no democracy without politics, and no politics without people willing to become politicians.
Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.
Oxford Area Recreation Authority receives grant from Oxford Rotary Club
The Oxford Rotary Foundation announced that a grant of $5,000 was approved by the Rotary International District 7450. The grant proposal was prepared by Dr. Ray Fischer, Oxford Rotary President. These funds will be utilized to assist the Oxford Area Recreation Association (OARA) in the planning of a fitness area for physically challenged or disabled adults in the OARA Park on Locust Street in Oxford. The new fitness area will be able to help adults with
disabilities enjoy the benefits of exercise. With the freedom to come and go as they please, they will be able to exercise safely in the fresh air. The Oxford Rotary Club is honored to be of service in this endeavor for the Oxford Area Recreation Association. If you wish to support the gift of movement for fitness area for physically challenged or disabled adults, please donate to the Oxford Rotary Foundation at PO Box 27, Oxford, PA 19363.
Courtesy photo
At a recent Oxford Rotary Crabfest at the Wellwood in Charlestown, Md., Dr. Ray Fischer, the Oxford Rotary President (at right) presents a check for $5,000 to Oxford Area Recreation Authority to board members Steve Hoffman (left) and Chip Benke (middle).
Jamie Hicks named Farmer of the Year
The Chester County Commissioners and the Chester County Agricultural Development Council (Ag Council) recently presented two annual agriculture awards—the Farmer of the Year and the Duncan Allison Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. This year’s recipients have deep roots in southern Chester County.
“It is a joy to recognize the hard work of farmers in our community,” said Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz. “Agriculture is vitally important to Chester County, and this is an opportunity to highlight some of the leaders of that industry.”
The 2022 Chester County Farmer of the Year award was presented to Jamie Hicks, owner-operator of Hicks IV, a crop-farming business on over 5,000 leased acres in Chester County and the surrounding region. He also farms land for high-profile organizations, including Longwood Gardens and land trusts. Jamie’s customers include everyone from equestrians with a few horses to largescale dairies.
Hicks is widely regarded in the agriculture community for his entrepreneurial drive, sustainable farming practices, and innovative partnerships with research institutions such as Stroud Water Research.
“Jamie Hicks is a leader in Chester County’s agriculture industry in every sense,”
Baily family of West Chester receives distinguished service award
said Commissioner Josh Maxwell. “His business is a great example of how successful farming and environmental stewardship go hand-in-hand.”
Hicks sees promise in farmers driving agribusiness, the cross-section of agriculture and business – from production and processing to distribution. He believes the way forward is with new markets and product opportunities, such as Pennsylvania’s emerging hemp industry, and partnering with nontraditional customers interested in environmentally-friendly packaging materials, like online retailers.
“We need to find ways to connect the next generation of farmers to the land and focus on emerging industries,” Hicks says. “We need to connect agriculture to industry.”
According to Hicks, Chester County is a great place to farm because of the
easy access to ports and large consumer markets, including New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. This proximity means fluctuations in fuel prices aren’t as big of a concern as in other parts of the country where farmers have higher transportation costs. Hicks added, “We are also close to the mushroom industry that supplies fertilizer for my fields and important clients like the dairy industry.”
Hicks recommends that new farmers look at least ten years into the future and anticipate how agricultural products can best serve emerging business trends. Working with more experienced farmers first is also crucial, he said. Hicks was nominated for the Farmer of the Year Award by the Chester County Agricultural Development Council.
This year’s Duncan Allison Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture was
awarded to the Baily family of Baily’s Dairy of Pocopson Meadow Farm in West Chester. Three generations of the family operate Baily’s Dairy, including patriarch Bernard Baily; daughter Becky Baily and her husband Eric Cockroft; daughter Meredith Parsons and her son Tyler Parsons. The family is recognized for positively promoting local agriculture and serving as community ambassadors on the industry’s behalf. They have played an integral role in hosting the Chester Valley Dairy 4-H club and leasing cows to young club members who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate. Commissioner Michelle Kichline said, “The Baily family is an example of farmers who want to share the experience of living and working on a farm with others across Chester County. They are commended for their devotion to teaching youth about raising farm ani-
mals and letting children see a cow up-close, sometimes for the first time. Thank you to the three generations of Baily’s who continue the traditions of farming.”
Becky Baily, who oversees the milking and processing, said, “We grew up on the farm and were used to how things worked. Now, so many kids in Chester County are removed from the farm but want to get involved once they visit us.”
The family is also deeply involved in helping to host the livestock portions of several area county fairs and festivals, which are often the first time children meet farmers and see livestock up close.
Meredith Parsons, who oversees school field trips to the farm, said she especially loves working with the younger children because they may have read about farm animals but may never have seen them in person.
“They are amazed to see
how big a cow really is inperson,” she said.
The pandemic provided even more opportunities for the Baily family to make a difference, especially when their Chester Valley Dairy 4-H club members brought special bovine visitors to nearby Pocopson Home residents in the summer of 2020.
“It made the Pocopson residents so happy to see the cows,” Parsons said. “It was a really special moment for them and the 4-H kids.”
“The Baily family does a wonderful job teaching Chester County residents young and old about the importance of local agriculture,” said Ag Council Director Hillary Krummrich.
“We are fortunate to have farmers like them who make the extra effort to help people understand where our food comes from.”
Learn more about Chester County’s agriculture industry at www.chescofarming. org.
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Courtesy photos
Pictured left to right are Tyler and Meredith Parsons with Becky and Bernard Baily of Baily’s Dairy of Pocopson Meadow Farm – recipients of the 2022 Chester County Ag Council Duncan Allison Distinguished Service Award.
Pictured center holding his framed award is Jamie Hicks, Chester County Farmer of the Year, with his wife Kate and sons Graham, Alex, Jameson and Matthew. Also pictured left to right are: Cynthia Petrone-Hudock and Dr. Barbara Dallap-Schaer, members of the Chester County Ag Council; County Commissioner Josh Maxwell; Adam Mowery, Ag Council Member; Commissioner Michelle Kichline; Hillary Krummrich, Ag Council Director; Commissioner Marian Moskowitz; and Ag Council Member Vince Pompo.
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In the Spotlight
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022
Morse, Runge among athletes honored at county Sports Hall of Fame induction
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
The Chester County Sports Hall of Fame inducted nine new members on Nov. 12, two of them with roots in southern Chester County.
Robert Morse from Kennett High School and Ciara Runge from Octorara joined seven other outstanding athletes from throughout the county for accolades and speeches at the 14th annual ceremony. The event took place in Kennett Square Fire Company’s Red Clay Room.
Bob Morse, a 6’ 8” basketball star from Kennett High School and University of Pennsylvania, led the Penn Quakers to a 78-6 record over three years from 1970 to 1972.
He was drafted in the third round by NBA’s Buffalo Braves, but decided instead to play in Varese, Italy.
In his acceptance speech he told his audience of about 170 guests that he made the choice because there was a better chance of being a starting player abroad than with the Braves.
He said in that time he developed a fondness for Italy. “Its geography, its customs, and especially its food,” he said. He liked Italy so much, in fact, that he went on to earn a master’s degree in Italian culture from University of Virginia and went on to teach it at St. Mary’s College in Indiana until 2016.
Ciara Runge began swimming at the Jennersville YMCA when she
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
was a child and went on to earn a Gold Medal in the 4x200 freestyle in the 2016 Olympics. He medal was on display guarded by a police officer at the dinner.
In her acceptance speech, she thanked her parents for driving her to various pools and aquatic clubs throughout her youth. She also said the first time she ever saw Olympic swimming on television when she was 5 years old, she told her mother, “I want the Olympics.”
She said her mother replied, “You don’t even know how to swim.”
During her collegiate career she set numerous records and won championships. She is currently a member of the USA Swimming National Team, Fitter and Fast Clinicians and Pitchfork Aquatics.
The other athletes who joined them with honors are Eve Atkinson (administration), Michael Boykin (Wrestling), Eric Horsey (track and field), Jimmy Joe (football coach), Susan Lubking (women’s sports and administration), Jad Prachniak (baseball) and Kim Prendergast Venzie (lacrosse).
The Chester County Sports Hall of Fame began in 2008 to honor outstanding local athletes who have achieved greatness. Many of those selected have achieved national and international recognition including Jim Furyk, Dallas Green, Dick Vermeil, Curt Schilling, Vonnie Gros, Gertie Dunn, Barbaro, the 1970 Avon Grove High School Basketball team and Nancy Hannum.
Calvert Grange Craft Fair
The Calvert Grange’s Holiday Craft Fair is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Calvert Grange, 2357 Telegraph Rd., Rising Sun, Md. This year’s fair has a number of different vendors from years past. Crafters include the following:
• The Art Den LL Ceramic items including drinkware, dinnerware, home decor, and jewelry, art prints, stickers, and other art merchandise, original paintings, and unique items created by studio members.
Barbara Jones Soaps, candles, handcrafted bath and body items.
• Bunny Love Yarn, roving, knitted items primarily of angora, natu-
ral wellness and beauty items, including homemade soaps and creams.
• Susan Deitrich Halloween and Christmas decor, fall wreaths, table decor, small wood signs, and Christmas earrings.
• Fairy Natural Products Hand-painted Christmas ornaments, wreaths, wellness products, dog and cat items, hand-crafted bows and headbands, and illuminated decoupage jars. Grammy Sew Sew Aprons, bears, pot holders, bibs, custom orders, and more. Place orders for your custom gifts.
• Spunky Soul Designs Custom-made t-shirts, sweatshirts, bleached t-shirts, Mommy and Me combos, and cups.
• TnTs Creations Artwork, wind chimes, jewelry, and holiday wreaths.
The list of inductees through the years totals more than 150.
Every spring the group recognizes two Richard B. Yoder high school scholar athletes from Chester County as well. Those awarded the honor is 2022 are Morgan Weaver from Owen J. Roberts and Dylan Grim from West Chester Henderson.
The Chester County Sports Hall of Fame also features a Historic Member recognition for athletes from the more distant past, many of them deceased. Residents of southern Chester County will recognize the names of the Kennett Gray Sox baseball team, Burton’s Barber Shop, Eddie Collins and John Romig from Kennett Square, among others.
year, the grange is raffling off a queen-size quilt, gift cards and a junk food basket. It’s a great place to buy unique Christmas gifts. There is a waiting list for vendors. If you’re interested in becoming a vendor, or for more information, call 410-398-7023.
Vintage Sugar Pop Creations
Handmade crochet and knit items, including stuffed toys, keychains, fashion scarves, ear warmers, and more.
Chester County Press
Photo by Chris Barber
Octorara graduate Ciara Runge and Kennett graduate Robert Morse were inducted with seven others into the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Red Clay Room in Kennett Square.
KYLE E. PARSONS, SR.
Kyle E. Parsons, Sr., of Oxford, passed away at Union Hospital in Elkton, Md. on Nov. 15, 2022. He was 81.
Born in Washington County, Va. on Dec. 20, 1940, he was the son of the late Smith and Callie May Childress Parsons.
Kyle retired from Frezzo Brothers in Avondale as a truck driver.
He loved western movies and especially his grandchildren. He is survived by two sons, James D. Parsons (Grace), and Kyle E. Parsons, Jr. all of Oxford; one daughter, Glenda Rosemary “Rosie” Rodriguez (Julio) of Nottingham; twelve grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one brother, Charles E. Parsons of Va.; and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service was held on Nov. 22 at Oxford Cemetery in Oxford.
Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
WINIFRED FRAZEE GULICK
Winifred Frazee Gulick passed away peacefully with family members present on Nov. 12, 2022. She was born to Elwood and Mildred Frazee on April 3, 1930 in Orange, N.J. and she was raised in Wyckoff, N.J.
Win was a graduate of Keuka College class of 1951. She met her future husband, W. Lawrence “Lawry” Gulick, on a blind date when he was a student at Hamilton College. Married on Oct. 18, 1952, they had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary before her passing.
After her children reached school age, she worked at the Dartmouth College Athletic Department and in the Development Office at Hamilton College. She was an avid crafter, known for her quilts and knitting. After retirement, she started her own business making custom American Girl doll clothes.
After living on or near four college campuses and serving as a key member of those campus communities, Win and Lawry settled at Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community in 2003. At Jenner’s Pond, she served as the chairperson of the knit/crochet club, co-chair of the craft show for many years, was an active member of the quilt club, garden club, and was a Wii bowling champion. When she ran the knit/crochet club, she was responsible for ensuring that hundreds of hats were sent every year to area NICU units, to the cancer
center in Kennett Square, to the Lakota Indian reservation in South Dakota and to the St. Joseph’s Indian School.
Win was known as someone who showed she cared for people by her good deeds. Whether giving jam to neighbors, helping area non-profits, or sharing her talent for sewing with others, she was always there to lend a helping hand. Because she cared for the students in the north country at St. Lawrence University, she and other members of the family and friends endowed a scholarship for north country students engaged in community service.
She was a wonderful grandmother who showed patience, creativity, and willingness to listen. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.
She is survived by her husband, Lawry, three children Hans, Tod, and Kristina, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services and burial will be held privately.
Gifts in memory of Win can be made to Keuka College, Office of Alumni Relations and Development, 141 Central Avenue, Keuka Park, N.Y. 14478 https://www.keuka.edu/ giving, or to the Winifred Gulick Community Service Scholarship Endowment at St. Lawrence University, University Advancement, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, N.Y. 13617, https://alumni.stlawu.edu/make-an-online-gift
To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk Funeral Home in West Grove.
For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10
www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Chester County Economic Development Council outlines county’s top economic milestones of the past year
The Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) outlined its top milestones for fiscal year 2021-2022, after a year of incredible growth despite economic uncertainty, inflation and the remnants of a global pandemic.
CCEDC showcased the end-of-year milestones at its 12th Annual Stakeholders’ Breakfast held at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern on Nov. 18. More than 150 local business and community leaders attended the event, including partners, investors and volunteers spanning every major county industry.
“Some hear the term economic development and picture construction sites and loan closings. It’s really about serving people by preserving and enhancing the quality of life in our communities,” said CCEDC President and CEO Gary W. Smith. “We train people with the skills they need to support their families, advise small businesses so they can add to the fabric of Chester County, revitalize abandoned lots for better use by neighborhoods, and enable young people to explore quality career options.”
CCEDC’s 20221-2022 milestones were achieved in the areas of workforce development, business financing, location services and innovation.
Opportunities for all
CCEDC approved its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan, which paved the way for a new Business Resource Center in Coatesville
with free access to business coaching. CCEDC also launched a first-ofits-kind grant program to support minority- and women-owned businesses that served 51 businesses.
Cultivating careers
CCEDC relaunched AgConnect, an in-demand agriculture industry partnership, which partnered with Chester County to launch its first agriculture economic development strategic plan and also began training to support worker and youth career development experiences in agriculture and manufacturing. In 20212022, CCEDC’s workforce development initiatives impacted 1,632 youth, 1,556 participating organizations and 986 volunteers.
Financing Chester County’s future
The Chester County Industrial Development Authority (CCIDA) and CCEDC were thrilled to finance Longwood Gardens’ most ambitious expansion of its Conservatory and surrounding landscape in a century. Seventeen acres of Longwood’s Conservatory and grounds will be transformed by 2024 using a tax-exempt loan through CCIDA. Longwood is one of thousands of projects the CCIDA and CCEDC have financed over their nearly 50 years of partnership.
Loan growth in CCEDC’s Fiscal Year 2021-2022 was record breaking, with loan volume more than five times higher than just four years
ago and more than 33 percent higher compared to the previous fiscal year. Loans included SBA 504 and 7(a), Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA), and CCEDC’s internal revolving loan fund.
Location, location, location
In the heart of Downingtown Borough, construction is underway on the Hankin Group’s new Brandywine Station LP (River Station). This mixeduse project includes 400 luxury apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail space, a new pedestrian bridge to Johnsontown Park, and will include the future site of the new Downingtown AMTRAK/SEPTA train station. With assistance from CCEDC, the project received an ISRP award of $1,280,505 through the Central and Western Industrial Development Authority to help with the environmental site remediation and Act 2 clean-up of the site.
With help from CCEDC’s site selection team, Habitat for Humanity of Chester County found a new location for its corporate headquarters in Phoenixville, as well as a new location for Restore, a home improvement store and donation center.
Innovation and entrepreneurship
CCEDC’s startup support program Ideas x Innovation Network celebrated its 10th anniversary. In that decade,
Lisa Marie Knox, of Kennett Square, passed away on Nov. 12, 2022. She was 66.
She was the beloved wife of Franklin R. (Bob) Knox, Jr., with whom she shared 44 years of marriage.
Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth C. Jameson and Bette Batton Money.
She was a 1974 graduate of West Chester High School. Lisa spent most of her high school years as a competitive swimmer.
She was a member of the Suburban Swim Club in Newtown Square and during the summer months she was a member of the Schlegel Swim Club. In 1971, Lisa was chosen to be an exchange swimmer and competed in Germany for six weeks.
Next to swimming, Lisa’s heart was with the horses and the equestrian world.
Her love for horses started at a young age. Shortly after high school Lisa attended the Fulmer School of Equitation in Yorks, England. That’s where she attained her certification as a British Horse Society Assistant Instructor.
Lisa dedicated 48 years of her life to Chester County 4-H as the leader of Trailmasters Horse and Pony Club. She was also a member and huge supporter of the United States Pony Club locally and nationally for over 40 years particularly with Rose Tree Pony Club. She was also the head coach for West Chester University’s equestrian team as well as Harcum Jr College’s equestrian team for several years. Lisa was also a long standing member of the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association as their Junior young riders team chairman. She was an organizer of the pub at Dressage at Devon. Lisa was also a proud member of the local 4 in Hand Driving Club where she was a well-respected whip.
All the while, she dedicated her time to her students. Lisa also allowed time for herself. She was competitive in several different disciplines such as side saddle, eventing, dressage and driving. Lisa shortly became what was said by many as the “pied piper of children.” She made it possible for so many families to be a part of the equestrian world.
Lisa is survived by her husband, Franklin R. (Bob) Knox, Jr.; two daughters, Jennifer C. Knox (Joe Clark) and Jessica L. Knox (John Garges); a brother, Kevan C. Jameson (and wife Julie) and one granddaughter, Hayley Jo Clark and a niece Christine Jameson.
A celebration of life was held on Nov. 18 at La Verona in Kennett Square.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Chester County 4-H extension office, Horse Program, 601 Westtown Road, Suite 370, West Chester, Pa. 19382 or Eastern Pennsylvania United States Pony Club, 150 Hipkins Road, West Grove, Pa. 19390.
To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.
than 150
i2n has provided $17 million in direct tax credits and grants to local startups. More than 2,000 jobs were created by i2n companies with $307 million invested back into the local economy. 203 patents have been filed,
with hundreds of clients served.
More details on these projects can be found online in CCEDC’s 2021-2022 Annual Report available at http://annual.ccedcpa.com/. The Chester County
Economic Development Council is a private, non-profit economic development organization promoting smart growth in Chester County and the surrounding region for more than 60 years.
SANDY MICHAEL FETTY
Sandy Michael Fetty, 71, of Lincoln University, Pa., passed away on Nov. 17, 2022 at Newport Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Christiana, Pa.
He was the loving husband of Barbara Maine Fetty, with whom he shared 49 years of marriage.
Born in Clarksburg, W. Va., he was the son of the late Edward and Helen Brown Fetty.
Sandy was employed as the manager at Flowserve Corporation in Philadelphia for 30 years before he retired.
He enjoyed his family and also photography, music, traveling and new technology.
He is survived by his wife; five children, Misty Newell (David) of Justin, Tex., Amanda Jackson (Phil) of Nottingham, Kara Fetty of Oxford, Kayce Brown (Chris) of Oxford and Jason Fetty (Lauryn) of Asheville, N.C.; 22 grandchildren; one sister, Linda Straight; and one brother, Mark Fetty.
Sandy was preceded in death by one brother, Terry Fetty; and one sister, Karen Bland.
Funeral services were held on Nov. 22 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.
Interment will be in Nottingham Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
LISA MARIE KNOX
Obituaries
Photos courtesy Greg Zeller
Chester County Economic Development Council COO Mike Grigalonis and President and CEO Gary Smith welcomed more than 150 local business and community leaders to the 12th annual CCEDC Stakeholders’ Breakfast on Nov. 18.
More
of the region’s top business and community leaders spanning every major industry in Chester County were in attendance.
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF ALEENE K. CIORROCCO, DECEASED.
Late of Oxford Borough, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY 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 pay-
ment without delay to PETER J. CIORROCCO, EXECUTOR, c/o Kristen R. Matthews, Esq., 257 W. Uwchlan Ave., Ste. 1, Downingtown, PA 19335, Or to his Attorney: KRISTEN R. MATTHEWS, KRISTEN MATTHEWS LAW, 257 W. Uwchlan Ave., Ste. 1, Downingtown, PA 19335
11p-16-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Kara Gwen McCarthy, late of East Nottingham Township, Chester County, Deceased. Letters of Administration on the estate of the above-named Kara Gwen McCarthy having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Candace L. Prewitt, Administrator, C/O Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, 208 E. Locust St., P.O. Box 381, Oxford, PA 19363, Phone: 610-932-3838
11p-16-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
KATHREINE G. McINNTIRE, a/k/a KATHERINE GRACE McINTIRE, a/k/a KATHERINE DECHANT, Late of West Bradford Township, Chester County, PA, deceased, all payments for obligations to the estate or demands for payment of obligations from the estate should be immediately made to: Laura J. Skaggs, Administratix c/o MPL LAW FIRM, LLP, 96 South George Street, Suite 520, York, PA 17401, John D. Miller, Jr., Attorney. 11p-16-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Peter Justice Collins, Late of Honey Brook Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY 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 Stephen Collins, 13 Glen Oak Drive, Landenberg, PA, Executor. 11p-16-3t
REQS: Bachelor’s dgree, or frgn equiv, in Comp Sci, Info Sys, or rltd field + 5 yrs exp of applctn & prodct dvlpmnt using Java & Micro-svcs. Alternatively, cmpny will accpt Master’s dgree, or frgn equiv, in Comp Sci, Info Sys, or rltd field + 2 yrs exp of applctn & prodct dvlpmnt using Java & Micro-svcs. Telecmmtng allwd. Apply at www.envestnet.com/careers Refer to Req #5346
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Supervisors of Penn Township, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA, will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 6:00 pm to consider adoption and possibly adopt immediately thereafter during their regular meeting, an Amendment of the Penn Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 2000 as amended, specifically Section 416.101 through 416.907, including the Appendices, titled Penn Township Stormwater Management Ordinance Amendment, is removed.
All communications relative to this hearing to receive public comment on proposed amendments are to be addressed to Penn Township Municipal Office at the above address. Contact Penn Township at (610) 869-9620 if special services or facilities for the handicapped are required. A copy of the Ordinance in full is available for review at the Township Building located at the above address. Copies of the proposed amendment may be examined without charge or obtained for charge not greater than the cost thereof. A copy is also on file with this newspaper and at the Chester County Law Library. Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, Lamb McErlane, PC, Solicitor for Penn Township 11p-16-2t
NOTICE OF SERVICE
OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, ASHE COUNTY In the General Court of Justice, District Court Division [In The Matter Of S.R.M.D.] To: Brandy Nicole Martin, Edwin James Devore and Unknown Biological Father. Take Notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the aboveentitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Termination of Parental Rights. Further, please be advised that if you fail to respond to this
notice by publication in the time frame indicated hereinbelow, that you may lose your parental rights regarding the minor child S.R.M.D. Finally, take note, in proceedings regarding termination of parental rights, that you are afforded to right to legal representation provided by the State. You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than January 7, 2023 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This the 16th day of November 2022. Tamara C. DiVenere, Attorney for Petitioners 202 East Main Street; West Jefferson, NC 28694 11p-23-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF ARLENE C. DONEY, DECEASED. Late of Oxford Borough, Chester County, PA. LETTERS TESTAMENTARY 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 MICHAEL F. GILLIN, EXECUTOR, 318 Heather Hills Dr., Landenberg, PA 19350, Or to his Attorney: STEPHEN V. BOTTIGLIERI, TOSCANI, STATHES & ZOELLER, LLC, 899 Cassatt Rd., Ste. 320, Berwyn, PA 19312 11p-23-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Ori E. Steinberg, Deceased. Late of Uwchlan Twp., PA. Letters of Administration on the above estate have been granted to the undersigned. All persons having claims against or indebted to the estate should make claims known or forward payment to Veronique LaBeille, Administratrix, c/o Marjorie Scharpf, Esq., The Tannenbaum Law Group, 600 West Germantown Pike, Suite 400, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. 11p-23-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Joseph F. Mulligan, Deceased. Late of East Bradford Twp., PA. Letters Testamentary on the above estate have been granted to the undersigned. All persons having claims against or indebted to the estate should make claims known or forward payment to Terrence Mulligan, Executor, c/o Hope Bosniak, Esq., Dessen Moses & Rossitto, 600 Easton Rd., Willow Grove, PA 19090. 11p-23-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Rose M. Saverioni aka Rose Marie Saverioni, Late of the Borough of Kennett Square, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY 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 Richard Arnold Saverioni, Janet Marie Saverioni O’Neill and Deborah Ann Saverioni Walls, Executors, Or Attorney: David B. Myers, 148 W. State Street, Kennett
YMCA of Greater Brandywine welcomes a new executive director of the Jennersville YMCA
Andy Hockenbrock has joined the YMCA of Greater Brandywine as the new Executive Director of the Jennersville YMCA. With over 23 years of YMCA experience, he brings expertise, passion and a strong sense of community to Chester County.
Hockenbrock said that he is drawn to the YMCA's mission to create programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. His commitment to the Y’s mission has taken him across the United States, serving communities in Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Delaware – and here in Pennsylvania.
“Accepting the executive director position at the Jennersville YMCA gives me the chance to
Legals
Estate of Victoria C. Peirson,
of Penn Township, PA,
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 Christopher J. Schult, Executor, Or Attorney: David B. Myers, 148 W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.
11p-23-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Martin, Mary Ann dec’d. Late of Late of Londonderry Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY 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 Suzanne E. Martin, Executrix, c/o Good & Harris, LLP, 132 West Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557
11p-23-3t NOTICE OF ORDINANCE ADOPTION
PENN TOWNSHIP CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The Board of Supervisors of Penn Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania will consider the following ordinance for adoption and, if approved, will adopt at the regular meeting held on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Township Building located at 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, Pennsylvania. A copy of the ordinance is available at the Township Buidling for review by the public at no cost and copies may be secured at a cost no greater than that of the Township’s cost and is also on-file with this newspaper. The ordinance is also available for review by the public on the Township website. Following is the title of the Ordinance:
PENN TOWNSHIP STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE OF 2022
A summary of the Ordinance follows:
The ordinance will apply to new development, re-development, and earth disturbance activities that are not otherwise declared to be exempt under the ordinance. Article I sets forth General Provisions Regarding the Purpose, Authority, Applicability, Exceptions, Financial Security and Waivers; Article II establishes Interpretations and Definitions; Article III sets forth Stormwater Management Standards; Article IV sets forth Stormwater Management (SWM) Site Plan Requirements; Article V sets forth provisions for Performance and Inspection of Regulated Activities and Final as Built Plans; Article VI sets for the provisions for Fees and
come home to southeastern Pennsylvania,” he said. “Chester County is a great place to live because there is a wonderful sense of community. I hope to widen the reach of the Jennersville YMCA with programs that impact our community and enhance the lives of the people around us.”
Hockenbrock has served a wide range of people and communities in his career with the YMCA. Most recently, he served as the Triangle Y Ranch Camp executive director. In years prior, he led programming for youth, families, older adults, and those impacted by substance abuse.
“At the YMCA, we have an impact every day,” he said. “We might not see that impact immediately,
but it is there – and it is important. Every toddler that we teach to swim today prevents accidental drownings years down the road.”
The mission of the YMCA runs deep in Hockenbrock’s family. His father was a swim instructor at the Norristown YMCA in the 1950s, and Hockenbrock met his wife while working at a YMCA in Missouri. He and his wife live in Quarryville with their five sons. The YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW), an association of eight YMCAs serving Chester County, is a leading non-profit organization committed to building community. To learn more, visit www.ymcagbw.org.
Marlin-Glenfield mod. 60 .22 semi-auto; Armsport 10GA double barrel; Sears Roebuck 20GA single shot; Hercules Montgomery Ward 410 single shot; Montgomery Ward Western Field New Model 12GA double Barrel; Riverside Arms 16GA single shot; Smith & Wesson mod. 916T pump shotgun; Long Tom 16GA single shot; Flussstahl Krupp Essan 16GA over 7.8MM; Glenfield mod. 75C .22 cal w/ scope; K-mart Corp 410 double barrel; Excelsior 12GA single shot; Danzig 1910 bolt action & German made break action rifle both unknown cal; (2) Unknown make 16GA double barrel; Unknown make 20GA & 410 double barrel.
Open House Dates: Thursdays Oct 27 & Nov 10 from 4-6 PM And Saturdays Oct 29 & Nov 12 from 1-4:00 PM Terms: Down payment of $ 40,000.00 required day of auction. Settlement on or before Jan. 31, 2023, Transfer taxes to be paid by buyer. Real Estate taxes shall be prorated. Annual taxes +/- $ 4609.00
Attention Realtors: 1% Broker Participation being offered to Realtors who preregister with their buyers and who become the successful bidder on day of auction. Must register 48 hours prior to date of auction. pre-registration forms are available at ww.beiler-campbellauctions.com
Auctioneers Notes: An 8.1-acre Little Britain Twp. country property in Solanco School District that’s
Article VII sets forth Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Responsibilities and Easements; Article VIII sets forth Prohibitions; Article IX sets forth Enforcements and Penalty Provisions. Appendices A through E include provisions for Simplified Approach to Stormwater Managements for Small Projects, Site Design Process, Runoff Coefficients and Curve Numbers, West Nile Design Guidance and Sample Agreements. Any person with a disability who wishes to attend the public
Courtesy photo
Andy Hockenbrock is the new executive director of the Jennersville YMCA.
40th annual Chester County College Fair brings good options for students’ futures
Over 100 colleges from across the nation joined the Chester County College Fair on Oct. 17 at the United Sports in Downingtown, where high school students and their parents were eager to learn about their post-secondary options.
Approximately 1,000 students and their families were in attendance and explored colleges and universities from coast to coast.
“The Chester County College Fair was beyond our expectations,” said Mrs. Gober, the mother of a Collegium Charter School junior. “My son’s future goal is an equine science career
College fair attendees browsed informational booklets provided by admission representatives.
and he only had one college on his list before attending this amazing event. After talking to the different colleges and universities that
were represented at the college fair, my son has compiled a list of seven schools that he is researching along the east coast.”
On the menu: Chester County 4-H outdoor cooking event
There is nothing like the great outdoors, especially when you are cooking over an open fire. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, as the Chesco 4-H Outdoors Club will be stirring up the coals at the Romano 4-H Center, 1841 Horseshoe Pike in Honey Brook, and making a meal over an open fire. The Chester County
4-H Program invites families interested in outdoor activities to explore outdoor cooking firsthand. This outdoor adventure is just one of several planned activities of the new Chesco 4-H Outdoors Club. Participants will make a campfire, build a Buddy Burner, and practice camp knife and campfire safety while making a campfire meal. Families should come prepared for the weather.
Activities will be indoors as well as outdoors, regardless of the weather. To enroll in 4-H and to register for this Chester County 4-H event, please visit 4h.zsuite.org. For more information about the Chester County 4-H program, please contact the Penn State Extension Chester County Office at ChesterExt@psu.edu or 610-696-3500.
One student used a Strive Scan QR code to connect with
admissions.
Gober added, “The college fair ran so smoothly and was easy to navigate. The pre-registration only took a few minutes and the alphabetical order of participating schools helped with overcrowding and provided the opportunity for real discussion with the colleges and universities my son was interested in speaking with. The Strive Scan QR code provided a way for the schools to collect all his information in one spot and for us to receive information from those particular schools.”
According to Jay Della Ragione, the Chester County Intermediate Unit’s special events coordinator, attendance at this year's fair was excellent.
“I am extremely happy that the first in-person fair since 2019 had such an amazing turnout,” said Della Ragione. “Seeing a room full of organizations, students and parents connecting with one another to learn more about postsecondary education is truly inspiring. I would like to give a special shout out to the West Bradford Fire Company, United Sports, Signal 88 and CCIU’s maintenance team for all of their assistance.”
The Chester County College Fair was designed to provide students the opportunity to meet with representatives from a wide variety of colleges and universities. The fair also featured several nursing schools, technical and
trade schools and military branches. During the event, the representatives and participants discussed admission requirements, financial aid, campus life and academic programs. Among the participating colleges and universities were Bloomsburg University, Drexel University, Immaculata University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and West Chester University. Out-ofstate institutions included Clemson University, High Point University, University of Alabama, University of Delaware, University of Mary Washington, University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
Courtesy photos
University of Alabama
Comitta: Oxford awarded $25,000 to enhance pedestrian transportation
Planning assistance is coming to Oxford Borough to build a more accessible, walkable, and bikeable community, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced.
The borough was awarded $25,000 in funding through WalkWorks, a program managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, to equip more communities with safe and accessible walkways and develop community-level transportation plans.
“As Oxford borough continues to grow as a popular
destination for families and businesses, it is important that we have an inter-connected and accessible system of transportation,” Comitta said. “This assistance will go a long way to improving access to essential services, support active recreation, and enhance the overall health and well-being of Oxford residents.”
With this funding, Oxford Borough will develop a comprehensive Action Transportation Plan. Community leaders will work over the next year with professional transportation and community planners to collect data, assess current conditions and aspirations, and incorporate public input
to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and transit networks.
“It is important to us that the municipality be responsive to concerns about pedestrian safety, and that the borough provide infrastructure to support non-vehicular modes of transportation,” Oxford Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen said. “An Active Transportation Plan will provide the framework for how we prioritize, fund and execute projects and policies that enable and promote walkability, bikeability and ADA accessibility in Oxford.”
Oxford Borough was one of eight Pennsylvania municipalities to receive the
award.
The grant recipients were selected from a competitive pool of high-quality applicants by a multidisciplinary review team that included representatives from DOH, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and their Local Technical Assistance Program, DCNR and the Department of Community and Economic Development.
“Pennsylvanians deserve safe transportation access no matter how they travel,” PennDOT Acting Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation Andy Batson said. “This initiative rec-
Victory Brewing Company reopens in Kennett Square
The Victory Brewing Company officially reopened in Kennett Square on Nov. 1.
The Victory Brewing team worked hard to safely rebuild the space with updated interiors and fresh murals after a large fire damaged the building in January of 2021.
The community has eagerly awaited the restoration of this popular meeting place.
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce helped celebrate the grand re-opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
At Victory Brewing Company-Kennett Square,
customers can expect the same award-winning Victory beers they have come to know and love, plus craft cocktails from Southern Tier Distilling Company. Guests can also enjoy a full, fromscratch food menu featuring local ingredients.
“We are proud to welcome Victory Brewing Company back to Southern Chester County,” said Cheryl Kuhn, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “The Brewery was truly missed and now that they’re back, we look forward to working together for their success.”
The Kennett Square Brewery features a seven-barrel brewhouse and produces unique beers that are available only in the onsite taproom. Victory has increased the size of the restaurant to 300 seats. The brewery has also expanded its beer-producing capabilities. As loyal craft beer drinkers continue to show their dedication to flavorful, quality beer, Victory plans to continue its own growth.
Victory Brewing was the first brewery to open in Kennett Square since prohibition. This small brewery
Courtesy photo The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce partnered with Victory Brewing Company, Kennett Square for their ribbon cutting
was designed, built, and installed by Victory’s own brewers. Currently Kennett Square is the only location to feature an open fermenter. Glass walls separate the brewhouse from the taproom, allowing visitors to see the vessels and the brewers at work. and grand re-opening. Many
and celebrate a brewery that was
Courtesy photo
State Senator Carolyn Comitta (left) admires the architecture of downtown Oxford during a recent visit there with Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen (right).
Kohler Crushed Stone Showers By Home Smart
Home Smart Industries is the areas only Authorized Dealer of Kohler’s LuxStone shower wall system made of 70% real crushed marble and professionally installed at prices comparable to acrylic showers. When you have our Kohler LuxStone Design Consultants to your home for a Design Consultation, you will be given an exact, to the penny price including all labor, materials, removal, haul away, installation and permits. No surprise costs AND we honor that price for 1 year GUARANTEED.
All of the design and product selection is done in your home, saving you time and ensuring the choices work perfectly with your space. We offer senior & military discounts as well as other discounts plus financing so a shower remodel is affordable on any budget.Don’t cover your problem up with a tub or shower liner. Design your bathtub or shower replacement with our trained and certified Specialists at a price you can afford.
“Great experience with Home Smart. I collected a couple quotes for a bathtub/surround replacement. Home Smart offered the most aesthetically pleasing option at a competitive price. They also beat the installation lead time estimate by ~4 weeks. Ken and Tony came and efficiently completed the install. My house is old and there were challenges to work with, but they worked through them and in the end, product looks really great. Thanks!”
Stars, 374 reviews
Go Green, Shop Local
AS CLIMATE CHANGE WREAKS HAVOC ON THE PLANET, THE MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO TAKE ACTION, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO HAVE AN EFFECT.
Shopping local doesn’t only get you great service and support your community, it also helps the planet.
Local shopping reduces your carbon footprint — a phrase that Conservation International defines as a way to express the effect a person, corporation or activity has on the environment, especially as regards to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are released into the atmosphere by a given activity.
SHOP BRICK-AND-
MORTAR STORES
While it may seem like online shopping would be good for the environment, you actually have a smaller carbon footprint when you drive to a local store and make your purchases.
According to research findings published in Environmental Science & Technology, the total greenhouse gas footprints per item purchased was higher from strictly online sellers than it was from purchases made at local brick and mortar stores. Why? When shopping online, people tend to make smaller purchases at a time, resulting in multiple deliveries and
more packaging. Also, sometimes items in a single order will come from different warehouses, causing more greenhouse gas emissions per item.
If you are going to do your shopping online, purchase from local businesses that deliver directly from their store.
BUY LOCAL PRODUCTS
Don’t just shop at local stores, whenever possible, buy products that are locally made or harvested. This way less fuel is spent delivering the products to you. It also wastes fewer natural resources.
BUY FOOD IN SEASON
When you buy food out of season, it has to be shipped from far away. Keep track of what foods are in season and eat them only when you can get them locally grown. If there is one in your area, join a collective to purchase locally grown foods.
RECYCLE AND REUSE When you’re shopping, give preference to items that use recycled packag-
Small Business AND
Boost Local Businesses
SHOPPING LOCAL IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY. I T’S ABOUT LIVING IN YOUR COMMUNITY, MAKING YOUR COMMUNITY BETTER AND HEALTHIER, SUPPORTING YOUR NEIGHBORS.
It’s something that is much bigger than just deciding where you are going to buy your toothpaste. It’s about being a part of your community, your town and your region. It’s why being a local shopper also means being a local storyteller.
When you tell the stories of your experiences shopping locally, you don’t just help the small businesses you bought from. You also help others around you become more savvy local shoppers and spread the movement beyond yourself.
SHARE YOUR STORIES
McKinsey & Co. studied the inclusive consumer in 2021-22. Inclusive consumers are those who are more likely to shop local and who are more likely to shop businesses owned by underrepresented communities. One of the things they said
offerings for you? Share that story. Tell it to your friends. Post about it on
social media. Write a letter to your local newspaper. Call into a local radio show. Email the business itself to give them an opportunity to use your words as a testimonial.
LEAVE REVIEWS Real consumer reviews that go beyond a thumbs up or thumbs down can do a lot for a local business. When you’ve had a good experience (or even when you’ve had a bad experience), leave a detailed, honest and fair review.
Keep in mind that you’re not just helping local businesses, you are also helping others become local shoppers. It’s why it is important that your reviews are authentic.
PICTURES PAINT
1,000 WORDS
You don’t even have to use a lot of words in order to spread the word. Few people are ever without a camera because of the popularity of smartphones. Did you score an awesome find at a local store? Take a picture. Take a selfie with a local artisan. Make a TikTok video of you and your date enjoying a local meal.
Post those pictures and videos on your social media and tag the pages of the businesses where you took the pictures. Local shoppers like you get a lot of their information from Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Help to provide the answers they need.
Shop at Local Holiday Events
HOLIDAY SHOPPING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A CHORE. IN FACT, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO, IT CAN BE AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE THAT CREATES MEMORIES OR BECOMES PART OF YOUR FAMILY’S TRADITIONS.
Check out local shopping events ranging from fairs to festivals to traditional Christmas markets featuring the work of local artisans.
ARTS AND CRAFT
FAIRS Creative crafters and fine artists in your community have likely spent the year creating items that they offer at art shows and craft fairs in the months leading up to the holiday season.
It’s a great way to purchase unique gifts while sup-
porting individuals in your community.
Check out sites like FairsandFestivals.net, where you can search for art fairs and craft shows within a certain mile radius of your home or browse by state.
Before you go, check out the fair’s website and see what vendors will be there. Many will have Instagram pages and you can plan your shopping and pick out gifts. If you want to go when it is a little slower and you can talk to vendors and perhaps discuss custom work, the
afternoons are usually less crammed.
Take both cash and credit cards. While most vendors will take credit cards, sometimes a venue has limited WiFi access that can make processing those cards slow. Also, this isn’t the place to haggle. Think of them as more of a pop-up retail store than a garage sale.
HOLIDAY FESTIVALS
Holiday festivals — either indoor or outdoor — often combine many elements of the season. They may incorporate parades, lights, family activities, music and, of course, shopping. It’s the sort of shopping that can be a fun activity for the whole family as you can include such things as a visit to
Santa or a chance to ice skate.
Yes, you might have to get sneaky about some of your purchases and hide them from the intended recipient, but it can also be fun to see exactly what they are most interested in.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Christmas markets started out as a German tradition during the Middle Ages, according to National Geographic.
Downtown squares get turned into holiday extravaganzas with lights, bunting and vendors selling holiday decor such as ornaments or Nativity scene figurines. Holiday treats and drinks are sold in the streets and carolers or piped-in music
keeps things festive.
In non-pandemic years, Germany alone has 2,500 to 3,000 Christmas markets, says National Geographic.
Thankfully for the rest of us, the tradition has spread not only throughout Europe
Locally Printed Holiday Cards
Print shops may not be the first place you think of when you think shop local, and yet, these are businesses that hire creative designers and can provide personalized service. Many of them will even deliver your cards once they are done.
Likewise, local art galleries are also a source for unique cards or art that you can combine with your holiday letters.
DESIGN YOUR OWN
Creative souls may want to design their own holiday cards. With online templates, it can be easy to do. You can pull from a variety of public clip art, your
own art or purchase designs from local artists and create a card that is unique to you and your family.
However, printing off 50 of those colorful cards from your home printer can cost a fortune in ink cartridges. It also leaves you with a lot of folding and collating. It’s why you can turn to local print shops. An advantage to being able to personally deliver a card and talk to someone about what you want is that they might be able to make suggestions to help you achieve the exact look that you want.
Addy Fulmer of TPI Solutions, a print shop in Massachusetts, encour-
ages people to shop local and print local, and they network with other local, small businesses who can also provide specialty cards or stationery.
“If you have an idea for your holiday card, we can make it happen,” she wrote. “We can design it, print it and even mail it if you so desire.”
It’s an offer you’re likely to find from any of your local print shops.
PHOTOS
Perhaps you want to send out a photo postcard. Consider hiring a local photographer to capture your family in several different fun holiday poses wearing
matching outfits or silly hats.
Once you have the photos, you can design your own card or take
Small Business AND BLACK FRIDAY
Black-Owned Businesses
THE WAY WE SHOP COMMUNICATES THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE. WHILE ANY OF US ALONE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH OUR DOLLARS, TOGETHER WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGE.
During the pandemic, small businesses were hard hit and the ones that were hit the hardest were those owned by under-represented communities. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Black-owned businesses closed at twice the rate of white-owned ones. Things that were already unequal became more unequal. McKinsey & Co. conducted research into the inclusive shopper in 2021. As part of their background research, they reported that while 14% of the U.S. population identifies as Black, Black-owned businesses received less than 1.5% of all retail spending in 2020.
This holiday season, you can help mitigate historic financial discrimination against Black-owned businesses and communities by directing some of your spending dollars in that direction.
WHY SHOP BLACKOWNED BUSINESSES?
There are many reasons to direct your spending dollars to under-represented communities. Green America lists the following:
• Helping to close the racial wealth gap caused by Jim Crow-era practices that prevented wealth building.
• Strengthening local economies, especially those businesses that are still half
as likely to receive bank loans as white businesses.
• Fostering job creation among a community that was harder hit by unemployment during the pandemic than any other community.
• Promoting accessibility by supporting businesses that are more likely to provide overlooked services such as representative toys or skin and hair care for people of color.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT BLACKOWNED BUSINESSES?
Beyond the obvious of spending your money at Black-owned shops, Small Business Trends suggests several ways to help them succeed. Set aside money in your budget that is specifically earmarked to be spent at Black-owned businesses.
Commit to having a certain percentage of your holiday
shopping dollars go to these businesses.
After shopping, help to promote the businesses. Tell your friends and families about the shops and your experience there. Post about them in your social media, such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok make up important marketing channels for small businesses.
Post positive, authentic and detailed reviews on places
like Google or Yelp.
Mel Rhoden, a life purpose coach, recommends building a relationship with the Black-owned businesses that you shop at. Don’t just have it be a checkmark on a good deeds list, but be a true partner and ally. Ask what is needed and take some time to get to know the owners and managers. “I don’t want your support just because I’m Black,” he wrote. “I want it because you believe in me and my business’s mission, vision and values.”
HOW TO FIND BLACKOWNED BUSINESSES
Like many things these days, the easiest way to find Black-owned businesses might be to search online and see if there is a local organization that lists and promotes businesses owned by underrepresented populations.
If you cannot find one, there are some national and federal organizations that are promoting and supporting Black-owned businesses. Some of them include:
• Black Founders.
• Minority Business Certifications.
• Black-Owned Everything.
• Coalition to Back Black Businesses.
Small Business AND BLACK FRIDAY SATURDAY
Support local businesses on Small Business Saturday
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS COMING UP ON NOV. 26.
We encourage everyone to support small businesses in the community.
We’re fortunate here in southern Chester County to have so many fantastic and distinctive small businesses—including those that help to keep the downtowns of Oxford and Kennett Square so vibrant. We’ve had the privilege of reporting about and establishing relationships with many, many small businesses in the community through the years. We’re a small business. We love the other small businesses
in the community, and we love the chambers of commerce that work to help them, too.
So, of course, we applaud the Small Business Saturday effort to help promote independent businesses and restaurants.
Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and has been officially cosponsored by the Small Business Administration since 2011.
The day has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season. The promotion
of Small Business Saturday has worked. A 2021 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey commissioned by American Express estimated that U.S. consumers spent $23.3 billion at independent retailers and restaurants in 2021. Nearly 32 million independent businesses will be participating in the upcoming Small Business Saturday. These independent businesses are truly the lifeblood of communities throughout the United States. Small businesses play an important role in
Small Business AND BLACK FRIDAY
SATURDAY
helping to keep the local economy strong.
Millions of us find jobs at small businesses.
Small business owners support many activities in the local community, sponsoring community events and sports boosters clubs and donating to countless fundraisers for nonprofit organizations.
mated that 67 cents stays in the local community.
Small businesses keep money in the community. For every dollar you spend at a small business, it is esti-
So please remember to support small businesses and independent restaurants on Nov. 26—and throughout the entire holiday season.
Small Business AND BLACK FRIDAY SATURDAY
Finding Local Businesses
YOUR TELEVISION, SOCIAL MEDIA FEED AND JUNK MAIL IS LIKELY FILLED WITH ADVERTISEMENTS FOR BIG BOX STORES AND NATIONAL CHAINS. INFORMATION ABOUT THEM IS EASY TO ACCESS AND RESEARCH IS EASY.
Learning about local businesses, what they offer and the quality of their services can be a bit more challenging, but it’s an important part of being a local shopper who contributes to the financial health of your community.
GO EXPLORE
One boon to local shopping is the healthy benefits of getting out and walking rather than just shopping from your computer. Money Crashers suggests that people who want to learn more about small businesses in their community should set aside a day to go exploring in their own town. They recommend doing it on foot or riding a bike.
The website DiscoveryMap.com creates illustrated maps of many
towns. You can call up a colorful map on your phone and tablet and use it to find places to stay, eat, shop and entertain yourself.
Another place to get local maps is your local chamber of commerce. They may have maps or even shopping guides. Make them the first stop on your expedition. Take note of stores you find. Visit them and talk to the people who work there. Ask how long they’ve been in the community and what they do best.
HELPFUL
PHONE APPS
Your phone can be a helpful tool when it comes to trying to learn about local businesses. There are many apps offering a variety of services. Most will provide
you with basic information such as operating hours, addresses, phone numbers and website addresses.
Consider using some of these:
• Google Maps. While it won’t sort local from national shops, it will make lists of businesses in your community and help you find what stores are where. You can use it to search for exactly what you are looking for and then read reviews of the stores you are considering shopping at.
• Facebook. Search for “local small businesses” and see what groups pop up. If you can find one with business owners, it can be a great way to interact directly with them, asking the questions you have or seeing what other local
that includes game tickets, some team swag or even signed memorabilia from local stars.
MUSEUMS AND LANDMARKS
What is your town known for? Was it the site of a historical Civil War battle?
Does it have a museum of something unusual? Is there unique architecture or home tours? Often people living near tourist attractions or the home to special events and festivals never get the chance to visit them.
Consider gifting people on your list passes to a museum, a state park or a historical museum. If there is a major festival — whether a music festival or an ode to turkey gizzards — buy them tickets or create a coupon promising to go with them.
CURATED EXPERIENCES
Perhaps you want to give something a little different, something unusual or adventurous. Travel agencies and organizations put together curated local experiences. They can make great gifts for those who want to be a tourist in their own town.
The website “Let’s Roam” offers scavenger hunts, ghost hunts and bar crawls in a variety of communities. City Hunt will create custom scavenger hunts in your town that can be themed to holidays or many other events. Have them create a hunt that you can give to everyone local on your list.
Or, if you know your community well, curate unique experiences yourself as gifts. Organize a
personal cooking class with a local chef, schedule a photo-shoot at iconic
local settings with a local photographer, arrange for a local stylist to provide
a beauty consultation or makeover, or hire a journalist from your local
newspaper to interview your gift recipient and create a memory book.
