Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 155, No. 49
INSIDE
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Trails & Sidewalk and Land Conservation Advisory committees could be dismantled
Kennett board in disagreement over future of open space and trails management By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
In a follow-up discussion they had at their Nov. 17 meeting, the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 at Theater returns to KHS stage...1B their Dec. 1 meeting to further table a decision that if adopted would dramatically alter the way the township manages open space acquisition and trail management in the future. Those voting in favor of tabling the discussion were supervisors Whitney Hoffman and Scudder Stevens. Board chairman Richard Leff, who reintroduced the discussion, voted against the decision to table the discussion. Leff’s proposal attempts Take part in Wreaths to rework, redefine and Across America...5A restructure when it comes to preserving open space in the township, by eliminating the township’s Trails & Sidewalk Committee and its Land Conservation Advisory Committee (LCAC), an arrangement that Leff said would preserve more open space and provide greater accessibility for residents. “Now that I’ve had some learnings about easements, and although the Board of Supervisors approved these easements, they all were at Tinsel on the Town...1B
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the recommendation of the LCAC,” Leff said in his Dec. 1 comments. “In addition, LCAC has only worked with the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County these past eight years. Due to that closeness, the wider goals of Kennett Topwnship may not have always been as protected as what is best for [the township], in part due to the structure and narrow focus of our committee structure. “Therefore, we need to change to get not only open space, but access – trails and access for parking – and also flexibility for unknown future goals. Thus, by combining [LCAC and the Trails & Sidewalk Committee], we can preserve more open space but can do so with an eye to greater responsibility for all, and for generations to come.” To those in favor of consolidating resources, Leff’s argument to take a new look at the way the township manages its acquisitions and maintenance of open space and trails is a worthy discussion, given the generous overlap of entities who facilitate land acquisition, design and maintenance in the township and throughout southern Chester County, which also includes not only
the Land Conservancy for On the other side of the serve on any new commitSouthern Chester County argument, consolidating tees that could be formed, (TLC) but the Kennett resources would involve which may lead to the potenContinued on page 2A Greenway project. determining who would
Kennett School Board reorganizes and welcomes two new members
Photo by Chris Barber
Ethan Cramer, left, and Mark Bowden, right, were sworn in as the two new members of the Kennett School Board on Monday night.
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Two new members took their seats on the board of the Kennett Consolidated School District at the
reorganization meeting on Monday night at Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center. In the November election, Mark Bowden earned a seat representing Kennett Township and Ethan
Cramer, running unopposed, earned a seat representing Kennett Square Borough. Additionally, two incumbents who were Continued on page 3A
Penn Township’s Historical Commission recognized for work on Red Rose Inn By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer The Penn Township Board of Supervisors started their Dec. 1 meeting with a proclamation and presentation honoring the township’s Historical Commission as the township’s Volunteers of the Year for their work to protect and preserve the history of Penn Township. In particular, they were rec-
ognized for their substantial contributions toward the preservation and restoration of the historic Red Rose Inn. “We recognize, honor and thank them for their significant and valuable contribution to Penn Township and its historic resources,” the proclamation read in part. The restoration of the Red Rose Inn has been a
major undertaking that is particularly important to the community. In addition to the painstaking work on the building the Commission has also revived the annual tradition of Red Rose Rent Day, recalling the payment of a red rose to William Penn as rent for the property in colonial days. As a part of that event in September, as well as two subsequent open house
Oxford community celebrates Country Christmas By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer The sights and sounds of the season were everywhere in downtown Oxford on Dec. 3 as the community came together to celebrate a most festive Country Christmas—a joyous evening that featured lots of live holiday music, food, hayrides, and a visit from Santa himself. The shops and restaurants in the downtown were all festively decorated, and a large crowd came out to enjoy the small town charm and to share some good cheer. It was a triumphant return for one of Oxford’s best and most popular events. “This was one of our most missed events last year,” said Brian Dix, the executive director of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. “It’s great that we can all come togethPhoto by Steven Hoffman er again to celebrate what it Santa Claus and his dependable helper stopped by Continued on page 4A
Coe Insurance Services to greet children.
events, more than 450 tours were given. “Everybody who comes through that building has some memory of that building,” Historical Commission chairperson Kathy Wandersee said. “That building is one of the most loved historic buildings I have ever worked with.” The Inn has been decorated for the holiday season with lights and a Christmas
tree on the porch. There will be one more open house this year at the Red Rose Inn on Dec. 12. The Board of Supervisors approved the 2022 general fund budget in the amount of $1,844,050 and the Capital Budget in the amount of $2,508,124. Included in capital expenditures are the development of a comprehensive plan, construction Continued on page 3A
Festival continues Dec. 11 & 12
Kennett Holiday Village Market makes triumphant return By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Since its debuted in 2016, the Kennett Holiday Village Market has become an annual holiday shopping excursion for the clever, the curious and the industrious, who believe that a gift handcrafted by a local artisan purchased at an open-air festival of delight and splendor is a nicer alternative than a visit to a mall or to the impersonality of an online click of a computer. Like nearly all festivals throughout southern Chester County, however, the annual market saw its doors at the Creamery of Kennett Square close in 2020 because of COVID19, but after a layoff of one year, the festival triumphantly returned this
past weekend to its normal hustle and bustle and pageantry. In seemingly every nook and cranny of the Creamery on Birch Street, the marketplace gleamed with vendors, ice sculptures, live music and shoppers pausing from their holiday purchases to sip on a seasonal drinks provided by the Creamery. Sponsored by Kennett Collaborative (previously Historic Kennett Square), the festival will continue this weekend on Dec. 11 & 12 with the appearance of more than 30 vendors, the arrival of Santa Claus on Sunday and a bounty of activities for kids. For those looking to have a bit of nourishment with their shopping, food will be provided by Natalies Fine Foods, On Continued on page 2A