Chester County Press 01-28-2026 Edition

‘When the digging starts and the dust comes up, there will be an uproar’

NVF clean-up meeting provides updates from developers, EPA and Pa. DEP

By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer

Environmental

Protection (Pa. DEP) and owner of the property, Rockhopper LLC gave updates about the continued clean-up of the site.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting hosted nearly 60 local attendees at borough hall and gave the representatives an opportunity to present updates on the remediation efforts to remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other hazardous materials from

the site, and answer questions from the community. NVF, which operated from the late 1800s until it declared bankruptcy in 2007, produced vulcanized fiber, a plastic-like material used in a variety of products at the time. The production of the vulcanized fiber left behind hazardous materials that permeated the soil and ground water and were first discovered in 1982 in

A large audience attended a public meeting on Jan. 20 that invited officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and owner of the property, Rockhopper LLC to give updates about the remediation of the former National Vulcanized Fiber site in Kennett Square.

How big of a problem is parking in Oxford?

By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer

Depending on who you talk to in Oxford, parking is or is not a problem. A recent discussion by Oxford Borough Council to change the hours of parking in Oxford has brought up some concerns.

Oxford Borough Council voted to change the hours and enforcement in the parking garage. Effective Feb 1, 2026 parking will be enforced 24/7/ for 365 days a year. There is no more free parking after 8 p.m. and on Sundays. The garage will be gated and users will be required to pay when they leave.

As of now, there are 263 parking spaces in the parking garage in Oxford. They do expect to lose a few spaces to accommodate

A

drive on a winter’s night

the new proposed parking gates. There are three other borough-owned parking lots: two off of Broad Street (by Lola’s and behind NAPA) and the lot behind the garage off Second Street. There are 60 spaces in these lots combined. As of this writing there are 323 total parking spaces in the borough. The rate is the same in all of the spots at $1 an hour. People can also purchase permits for the lots as well. There are also 103 onstreet parking spaces in the borough. On-street meters are $1 and hour and are enforced Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Those hours will not change when the garage hours change. Permit parking is not allowed in the on-street parking. Most onstreet parking is limited to two hours and until recently the borough did not have the capability to enforce this. The borough feels it is important to enforce the two-hour limit in order to support downtown businesses, to provide convenient parking for people to pop into town for a quick lunch, to grab coffee or for

shorter shopping trips. It deters from this effort if people park on the street in front of the shops and restaurants all day.

Another parking area is also in front of the Memorial Park, which is not metered.

The cost of parking is $1 per hour and permits are offered at $60 per month for the garage and lots.

By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer

The Oxford Arts Alliance announced that it has been approved for a Let Freedom Ring America250 Grant totaling $10,250. The grant will be administered by the Chester County Community Foundation and will support a series of free summer camps for students in grades 1–12 in the Oxford area as part of the community’s America250 commemoration. The grantfunded programming will provide accessible, artsbased learning opportunities that engage students in exploring Chester County’s history, values, and shared cultural identity through hands-on, collaborative projects. By offering these summer camps at no cost, the

is

Furthermore, the permit fee is on a sliding scale so that it is slightly less expensive if a quarterly or annual permit is purchased. Property owners and business owners

removing financial barriers and ensuring broad participation for families across the Oxford community.

“These summer camps will give young people the opportunity to learn, create, and connect with our local history in meaningful ways,” said Vanessa Ross, president of the Oxford Arts Alliance.

Each camp will be divided by age and the degree of difficulty of the project. “We are deeply grateful to the Chester County Community Foundation for awarding $10,250 in support of free programming that allows students of all ages to take part in the America250 celebration.” The Let Freedom Ring America250 Grant program supports projects that encourage civic engagement and inclusive storytelling Continued on Page 2A

on Page 2A

NVF clean-up...

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Red Clay Creek prompting an initial clean up with the EPA in the 1980s and 1990s.

Rockhopper acquired the property in 2009 and entered the property into the Pa. DEP’s voluntary clean-up program under the Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act, otherwise known as Act 2. Due to the presence of PCBs, the EPA once again became involved in overseeing remediation at the site focusing only on PCB remediation while PADEP handles the remediation of all other materials.

Rockhopper partnered with Lennar home construction company in 2021 and has plans to build 246 townhomes and 48 affordable apartments at the property should remediation efforts and borough approval ultimately succeed.

‘Push the pretty shiny pictures’

Like other public meetings that have been held about the NVF site, community members at the meeting continued to focus on a distrust in the remediation process and overall safety concerns.

“I think where I and maybe others are feeling the distrust is when somebody has financial gain on the site, and they’re the ones providing information,” said one attendee. “I think the collective concern might be that [developers are] going to continue to push the pretty shiny pic-

Oxford parking...

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who purchase multiple permits also receive a quantity discount.

One arrangement offered to LCH in the garage is the reserved spots, but it is only for their hours of operation. Since the garage was not originally gated, that was the only way the borough could ensure parking for LCH employees and patients that LCH could pay for.

With the gating of the garage, it will be much easier for businesses, or anyone really, to pay in advance or pay for clients, patients or guests. The borough’s new Zoning Ordinance, which was adopted in December, also includes provisions for property developers and business owners to meet their parking obligations under the ordinance through a fee-in-lieu of and use of the parking garage.

Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen said, “This is what the garage was intended to do— provide more parking to support new businesses and downtown revitalization. The borough has amended the local laws governing land-use and development in the borough

tures until we all get tired of fighting it.”

While officials from the EPA and Pa. DEP oversee and approve the removal of PCBs and all other hazardous materials, respectively, the agencies do not have boots on the ground performing the remediation; that task is delegated to Rockhopper.

Dave Brown, one of the representatives from Pa. DEP, explained that while the responsibility of remediations falls on Rockhopper, the company works with independent and licensed professionals to perform both the removal and sampling of soil and groundwater at the site. According to Brown, the samples from the site are then sent to independent labs accredited by the state for testing, adding an additional layer of outside oversight. The EPA and Pa. DEP officials also stated that the agencies perform periodic check-ins and final approvals, although this level of oversight was criticized by some of those in the audience.

“So what we’re saying is that you’re getting reports that these people are moving full steam ahead, and what we’re seeing doesn’t match what you’re saying,” on resident said.

The passionate questions issued by local residents at the meeting were largely inspired by safety and health concerns, mainly the theory among local residents that the NVF site and surrounding areas are a potential “cancer cluster.”

EPA representative Amanda Michel noted in her presentation that PCBs

to make that easier.”

Some visitors and residents have expressed concerns about the cost of building the garage. The garage cost $7,121,905 to construct. The overall project was paid for, in part, by $3,618,077 in county and state grants and an additional $1,000,000 from a private donation. The borough financed the balance. It is important to note, however, that as a result of this one project, the borough achieved three other things.

The borough addressed a decades-long parking shortage, created a layover stop for the SCCOOT bus, and built a new Borough Hall. The project broke ground in February of 2019 and took just under a year to construct. Borough staff moved into the new Borough Hall shortly before the March 2020 COVID shut down.
To maintain the parking garage, it costs about $150,000 annually to provide parking across the downtown. This includes the parking garage, onstreet parking spaces and the parking lots. In addition, the borough pays about $185,000 annually in debt and interest for the construction loan. Incoming

are probable carcinogens, linked to liver, breast, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and melanoma cancers as well as other adverse health effects such as birth defects, developmental delays and immune system dysfunction.

While attendees at the meeting who live near the NVF site on West Mulberry Street shared stories of cancer impacting their lives, the correlation residents see between the NVF site and local cancer diagnoses has not been officially linked.

“I was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 along with several other people in our neighborhood,” said Corey Barber, a former Kennett Square resident. “I love Kennett Square, I do, and I’m sorry that we had to move, but when the digging starts and the dust comes up, there will be an uproar. There will. People are going to believe that they’re going to get cancer. I did, from the dust kicking up.”

To mitigate this concern, Michel shared that both Pa. DEP and EPA have dust control guidelines that will be used in the final plan Rockhopper submits for development.

While the meeting allowed the parties involved to share information and answer questions, the conversation surrounding the NVF site, its remediation and its future development is still far from over. For the ownership of the site, a PCB Final Cleanup Plan is due to EPA by Feb.11. For the borough, Mayor Matt Fetick shared the possibility of scheduling another similar meeting to contin-

revenue from parking pays for both the operations and the debt-service annually.

The borough taxpayers are not subsiding parking operations or paying the debt. However, the borough is losing revenue and inconveniencing people who come downtown with how parking has been managed since the garage opened.

“That is why we are making strategic changes, including gating the garage, starting to enforce the twohour on-street parking time limitation, and other changes intended to improve both revenue and the user

Oxford Arts Alliance...

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in advance of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Through this initiative, Oxford Arts Alliance will use the arts to help students reflect on themes such as freedom, community, and civic responsibility while contributing to creative work that will be shared with the broader public. Additional details about camp dates, themes, and registration will be announced in the coming months.

The Oxford Arts Alliance is dedicated to building a creative, inclusive commu-

ue answering community concerns. He also shared that in the coming months borough council will also vote on changing the zoning ordinance of the site. “Council could vote to amend the zoning ordinance to permit the use of residential dwellings on

experience,” Garcia-Allen explained.

Garcia added that this is important because there will be long-term investments needed to maintain the garage and all the borough’s other parking infrastructure. She said that the borough wants to ensure they have those capital funds set aside for that purpose.

Borough officials also said they want to ensure that they make parking as user-friendly as possible.

“Parking cannot be free,” Garcia-Allen said. “But we have an obligation to make how the customer pays

nity and believes the arts play a vital role in connecting people, transcending barriers, and inspiring positive change. The organization is committed to making the transformative power of the arts accessible to all. For more information about the Oxford Arts Alliance and upcoming programs, you can call 610-467-0301. The Arts Alliance is also currently updating the website, and you can visit it at oxfordart. org.

The Oxford Arts Alliance has moved from the previous location on S. Third Street to the Oxford United Methodist Church, which is located at the intersection of Market and Addison streets.

“We are just super-excited about our relaunch and our fresh start,” Ross said. “Last year was tough, but we are not letting that dictate where we are headed.”

Ross said one plus is, “We have so much more parking and it’s free. We also have a nice place where families can wait to pick up their students.”

Ross is also excited about

that site,” Fetick said. “That is far from the approval of building homes. It’s a change in the zoning that just says it could be done. It doesn’t say that it can, will, should.”

Fetick encouraged those concerned or interested in the NVF remediation and development to continue asking questions and stay up to date on the process through the designated page on the borough website.

clear and easy to navigate.”

It should be remembered that the parking garage was made possible because the Borough of Oxford worked for 14 years to secure the lot from the National Penn Bank for $1. At that time, the lot had approximately 90 spaces, and nearly half of that was used by the bank. So parking for approximately 45 vehicles turned into parking for 263 vehicles and prevented the borough from losing that parking lot altogether. The bank could have sold that parking lot to an outside buyer at that time, which

plans to work with Wyncote Restaurant and the Octoraro Hotel and Tavern, where you can have a drink and do a craft at the same time.

“We have a good relationship with both of them,” Ross said. “On February 1, we will have a Glow and Glass workshop at the Octoraro on the second floor at 2 South Third Street. Participants will paint a decorative design directly onto a glass wine bottle, then finish the piece with soft, twinkling lights to create a beautiful illuminated accent for your home or as a thoughtful handmade gift. No prior painting experience is needed. This class is all about creativity, enjoyment, and creating something uniquely yours.

All materials are included, including the bottle, paints, brushes, and lights. You’ll leave with a finished, lightup bottle ready to display and enjoy.”

Tickets are $35 per person for this event.

To contact Contributing Writer Gabbie Burton, email gburton@chestercounty.com.

might have prevented it from ever becoming a parking garage. It would appear that the fact that parking in the borough is once again a concern indicates that the borough’s business area has continued to grow. When the construction of the fire-damaged buildings in the downtown area begins, more businesses are expected to come to the borough, so the parking situation may not be as much of a problem as it is an opportunity to help revitalize the commercial district in downtown Oxford.

There will also be a drink and craft at Wyncote on Feb. 22 and more information will follow about that event.

Ross is staying busy pulling everything together.

“I’m interviewing for teachers now for art and music. We are still looking for a percussion instructor,” she said.

The move to the Oxford United Methodist Church has been a real plus and Ross invites everyone to call or stop by.

“The area where we are now was constructed as an educational building so it’s perfect for us,” she said.

“The community knows it is where the Chocolate Festival is held and also where everyone can enjoy a great breakfast. The church has welcomed us here with open arms.”

Ross believes strongly that art and music bring people together.

“We are here to provide a place for people to experience something new,” she said. “They can take an art or music class or come and see the creations of others. Either way, you are welcome. We hope to see you soon in our new surroundings.”

Comitta announces state investments in community and municipal services throughout Chester County

Fifteen municipalities and three organizations in Chester County were awarded state grant funding for projects to address flooding, strengthen infrastructure, support emergency services, upgrade public works, improve parks, prevent homelessness, promote local history, and enhance health and human services.

The funds, which come through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account Program, were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

State Senator Carolyn Comitta said, “From repairing roads and bridges to upgrading public works and public safety equipment to expanding parks and recreational opportunities, these investments can make a big difference to ensuring a strong quality of life in communities across Chester County. As a former mayor and borough council member, I know just how important these investments are to ensuring health, safety, and opportunity for all residents and families.”

In addition to Comitta, the 18 projects that were awarded funding are represented by State Representatives Christina Sappey, Chris Pielli, Dan Williams, Danielle Friel Otten, Melissa Shusterman, and Kristine Howard.

In total, the funding amounts to a $5.8 million state investment in Chester County municipalities and local communities.

The grants include the following:

• $375,000 for Downingtown Borough to support engineering costs for the Downingtown Area Flood Planning project. It calls for developing a flood mitigation strategy as part of an inter-municipal effort to address flooding

in the Brandywine Creek sub-basin;

• $475,000 for East Fallowfield Township to reconstruct the Mortonville Road Bridge. The funds will support construction, engineering, and administrative costs to replace the deteriorating bridge, which serves emergency first responders and a growing number of residents;

• $250,000 for the West Goshen Sewer Authority to replace 16 wastewater treatment process pumps and related equipment that maintain reliable treatment operations and prevent potential sewer overflows;

• $150,000 for West Whiteland Township to rehabilitate the Grubbs Mills Pump Station. The project calls for completely rehabilitating the 40-yearold pump station to comply with current codes, address reliability issues, and prevent ongoing costly repairs;

• $150,000 for Willistown Township to replace the Pump Station 3 interceptor along Eisenhower Drive. Constructed in the 1970s with asbestos-cement pipe, the current interceptor has deteriorated and collapsed, requiring emergency repairs. The funds will be used to replace the next section with corrosionresistant polyvinyl chloride pipe.

There are also a number of projects related to public safety that received funding, including the following:

• $600,000 for the City of Coatesville to purchase a new pumper fire engine and tractor-drawn aerial apparatus ladder truck. The Coatesville Fire Department’s current engine and ladder truck are more than two decades old and frequently out of service. The new equipment will help ensure a reliable, timely response to the more than 700 emergencies the department responds to each year.

• $175,000 for Valley Township to replace and repave the main driveway of Westwood Fire Company #1. The existing driveway are severely deteriorated due to age and wear and tear, presenting a growing safety risk. The project calls for regrading and repaving the parking area, main driveway, and access points to and from the station.

• $818,576 for West Chester Borough to purchase a new fire apparatus for the West Chester Fire Department. It will replace a 21-year-old fire apparatus that is frequently out of service due to increasing repairs, as well as a lack of available parts, which is both time-consuming and costly.

Public works projects that received funding include the following:

• $150,000 for Londonderry Township to construct a new, four-bay salt storage shed for its road department. It will replace the existing two-bay salt storage shed, which is structurally failing and unable to fit delivery trucks. The new shed will be high enough to accommodate deliveries, improving cleanup and preventing salt residue from entering the stormwater system;

• $191,490 for Newlin Township to purchase a new tractor and boom mower for use in addressing encroaching vegetation on roadways. It will replace antiquated equipment, improve reliability, and enhance employee safety;

• $75,000 for East Bradford Township to purchase a new disc chipper to dispose of tree trimmings and other wood debris during routine work on roads, parks, and township property It will replace an outdated machine that lacks safety features and cannot process larger debris, requiring additional chainsaw work.

Other projects that received funding include the following:

• $350,000 for Safe Harbor of Greater West Chester (through the Chester County Economic Development Council) to expand its current facility by adding a second building. The new building will add 20 shelter units, expand trauma-informed day programming, and provide spaces for job readiness training, counseling, and life skills workshops;

• $100,000 for Main Line Health (through the Chester County Economic Development Council) to purchase and install 23 patient lift chairs at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital. Ceiling-mounted patient lifts help to ensure a comfortable and dignified experience for everyone involved in moving a patient, reducing the risk of injury for both patients and caregivers;

• $388,440 for East Caln Township to construct multiple park improvements to Bell Taven Park, the township’s only primary active public park. The project calls for resurfacing and upgrading the existing basketball courts, turning the obsolete roller hockey rink into pickleball courts, resurfacing the parking lot, and adding entrance gates, exercise/fitness stations, shade canopies, benches and trash cans, security cameras, signage and landscaping;

• $350,000 for Tredyffrin Township to make improvements to Friendship Park, including ADA parking spaces, an ADA accessible pathway, inclusive playground equipment, a dog play area, a new pavilion, benches and trash receptacles, stormwater management measures, and the restoration of a 3.6-acre greenspace with a fully accessible nature trail;

• $700,000 for West Nottingham Township

Square Roots Community Initiative awards

grants

SRCI Board of Directors.

for the headquarters and visitor center for the new Oxford Area Historical Association. The association plans to acquire the historic former school building on 5th Street in Oxford Borough to serve as a gateway for regional tourism, welcoming visitors to the area and directing them to nearby historic sites;

• $325,000 for Malvern Borough for the Paoli Memorial Association to build the Heritage Center at Paoli Memorial Park.

The funds will be used to construct a single-story timber-framed structure that will serve as the new Heritage Center on the site, along with connections to utilities, a driveway, parking, exhibit space, and interpretative signage;

• $200,000 for the RoyerGreaves School for the Blind (through Tredyffrin Township) for upgrades to

the school’s energy infrastructure. The project calls for removing existing oil tanks and replacing them with natural gas-powered heating systems and adding solar panels and related roof modifications These improvements will be made across the school’s buildings.

The Local Share Account program is designed to distribute funds derived from gaming revenue to support community and economic development projects. Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, and councils of government. Eligible projects must improve the quality of life of community citizens and be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization.

The non-profit Square Roots Community Initiative (SRCI) recently announced the award of $208,000 in grants to support a variety of local community organizations in southern Chester County.

The grants will benefit, among others, Family Promise of Southern Chester County, Friends of Anson B. Nixon Park, Voices Underground, and PowerCorpsPHL, an acclaimed AmeriCorps workforce training program that trains young adults for careers in communityfocused fields.

The 2025 grants mark the fourth consecutive year in which SRCI has awarded community grants in southern Chester County. The four-year grants total more than $750,000, all of which comes from the profits

generated by Square Roots Collective’s (SRC) financial investments and for-profit businesses, and all of which are then reinvested for community improvement in Kennett Square.

SRCI is the philanthropic engine of SRC, which is dedicated to improving quality of life through a range of initiatives in Kennett and Southern Chester County. SRCI is the non-profit owner of SRC businesses like The Creamery, Artelo and other ventures, and it recycles 100 percent of all profits back into the community.

“Our model has been to reinvest the profits from our businesses like The Creamery and Artelo to support the great work of community organizations like these,” said Stephanie Almanza, president of the

“Our bottom line is that SRCI exists to benefit our community and region.”

The 2025 grantees and awards include:

• Kennett Trails Alliance:

A $31,000 grant as part of the ongoing funding commitments from multiple entities for the Kennett Greenway, a 14-mile bike and pedestrian trail that will dramatically expand access to the outdoors for thousands of residents and neighbors. More than 50 percent of The Greenway is either completed or under construction.

• Friends of Anson B. Nixon Park: A $15,000 restricted gift to fund maintenance at Cypress Beach as part of a maintenance collective comprised of local municipalities, conservation organizations, and parks.

• PowerCorpPHL:

$71,000 to support a workforce training program in Kennett Square for adults looking to enter the hospitality industry and

• Family Promise: A $20,000 grant to support the organization’s mission to secure housing and stability for families experiencing homelessness in Southern Chester County. Other grants for 2025 were awarded to the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance ($15,000); Voices Underground ($10,000); Lincoln University Foundation ($10,000); Kennett Collaborative ($8,000); Good Samaritan Services ($10,000); Reach Riverside ($15,000); Casa Guanajuato ($1,500); and the Oxford Soccer Club ($1,000).

Key 23-acre property in Chester County now protected under conservation easement

Natural Lands announced the permanent preservation of a 23.4-acre property in East Bradford Township, Chester County. The land, now protected under a conservation easement held by Natural Lands, is connected to hundreds of acres of open space, offering important contiguous habitat to wildlife.

“We are grateful to the landowners, who wish to remain anonymous, for their generous donation of a conservation easement on their property and to East Bradford Township for their enthusiastic support of this project,” said Sarah Turner, land protection project manager for Natural Lands.

“Conservation of this beautiful property increases the acreage of protected open space in East Bradford Township, helping to ensure the area’s natural and scenic values are protected in perpetuity.”

An easement is a legally binding agreement that keeps land in private ownership while ensuring it is conserved from development. It applies to present and future owners of the land. Natural Lands currently holds more than 500 easements on more than 26,000 acres and monitors these properties regularly to ensure the terms of the easements are being upheld.

Natural Lands’ 571-acre

Stroud Preserve is located less than a half of a mile from the now-conserved land. The organization’s most recent strategic plan, entitled Thriving Nature, Thriving Communities, Thriving Organization, includes goals to protect special places that provide conservation benefit and cultural significance to the community. Natural Lands’ nature preserves are just such places, and the plan calls for preservation of land adjacent to and nearby existing nature preserves, a goal that this conservation easement meets. Natural Lands’ strategic plan will guide the nonprofit’s priorities through 2030 and can be viewed at natlands.org/ strategicplan.

The property was identified by East Bradford Township as a conservation priority in their 2016 comprehensive plan, and they are an enthusiastic partner in seeing this property conserved.

“East Bradford Township is proud to partner with Natural Lands to permanently protect more than 23 acres in the western portion of the township,” said Mandie Cantlin, township manager. “This conservation easement reflects our shared commitment to preserving open space, protecting natural resources, and ensuring that this land remains protected for the benefit of future generations.”

The landowners donated to value of the conservation easement and East Bradford Township covered Natural Lands’ expenses as well as a $20,000 contribution to the easement stewardship fund, which underwrites Natural Lands’ costs to monitor and manage the easement in perpetuity.

Natural Lands is dedicated to preserving and nurturing nature’s wonders while creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone.

As the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization, Natural Lands—which is member supported— has preserved more than 136,600 acres, including

40-plus nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,600 acres. About five million people live within five miles of land under the organization’s protection. Land for life, nature for all. natlands. org.

A bill for the people, a law for an industry

On Nov. 17, 2025, at a meeting of the Pa. House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Pennsylvania H.B. 2034 – an act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and intended to hold the mushroom industry to higher standards for quality and safety – passed by a vote of 23-3.

Every Democrat on the committee voted in favor of the bill, as did nine of the 12 Republican committee members – including Rep. John Lawrence of the 13th District.

Introduced by Rep. Christina Sappey (158th District), H.B. 2034 is intended to strengthen the PDA’s oversight and enforcement authority over mushroom growing and composting operations, most specifically in southern Chester County, where local mushroom farming operations have come under severe criticism by area residents for taking what many critics have deemed a cavalier approach to the practice of eradicating phorid flies emanating from mushroom houses and maintaining a healthy air quality free from pollutants like Hydrogen Sulfide.

If the bill is passed, it will require mushroom growing and composting operations to submit their plans for phorid fly and Hydrogen Sulfide mitigation to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA); require the PDA to conduct random inspections of mushroom operations in order to assure that they are complying with safety standards; and authorize the PDA to administer fines to mushroom operations that are not in compliance with their plans or are found not be in compliance after inspection.

To the residents of southern Chester County whose lives are being choked from the stench of mushroom composting and whose houses are populated with phorid flies, the bill has all of the hallmarks a slam-dunk piece of legislation. Ask any elected official from West Chester to Oxford and they will tell you about the phone calls and the e-mails they have received from residents for the past several years, and the tone of the communication is always the same: fear, anger and frustration exacerbated by the belief that they live in the vicinity of a multibillion-dollar business that gives off the impression to many to prioritize profits over people.

Their rage has been heard loud and clear and consistently at township meetings and town hall discussions and in borough halls and on social media pages and in the pages of this newspaper. It has reached so far beyond the boiling point that it now defies anyone within earshot to turn away. The people – the residents of southern Chester County – have placed their health and safety, long jeopardized by an industry whose regulatory standards have not been held in check, front and center.

There can be no more turning the other cheek to this stark reality, and science is supporting that. On Sept. 4, 2024, Dr. Lorenzo Cena, an environmental professor at West Chester University, shared the findings of his study that measured the air quality in New Garden Township in the vicinity of mushroom operations, and before Sappey and other state health regulatory officials, Cena revealed that Hydrogen Sulfide levels were 33 times higher than the recommended levels established by the DEP during particular periods of the year.

Emerging from the fog of compost clouds and the phorid fly infestations, there is a growing number of mushroom industry leaders and agencies who are fully acknowledging and addressing the problem through best management practices and working with elected officials and the PDA on possible solutions. That said, however, there remains a cadre of players in the local mushroom industry who are steadfastly against any speck of regulatory enforcement that could possibly affect their bottom line, and who feel that the rules of accountability do not apply to them.

Hard against the speculation by some in the industry that the passage of H.B. 2034 will damage the mushroom industry, the truth is that the bill - which will soon go to the State House floor for continued discussion and rewrites and a final vote - is constructed in a way to strengthen the industry. It is not a marker in the sand but a vital initiative, meant to create a healthier environment for both mushroom farms and those who live and raise their families in their vicinity, for generations to come. This initiative must become law.

Chester County Press

Betsy Brewer Brantner...........Contributing Writer

Marcella Peyre-Ferry..............Contributing Writer

Gene Pisasale...........................Contributing Writer

Monica Thompson Fragale....Contributing Writer

Brenda Butt......Legals, Obituaries & Subscriptions

Tricia Hoadley........................................Art Director

Sherry Hutchinson......................Graphic Designer

Alan E. Turns...........................Advertising Director

Teri Turns...............................Advertising Executive

Helen E. Warren....................Advertising Executive

Gabbie Burton.........................Contributing Writer, ....................Digital Marketing and Media Specialist

These Nobel Prize-winning economists have a timely lesson for Congress

By Judge Paul Michel

We live in arguably the most innovative and prosperous era in human history. My lifetime alone has seen numerous technological leaps that past generations could never have dreamed of, including the moon landing, the birth of the internet, and now the rise of artificial intelligence.

But this pace of transformation is historically the exception, not the rule – and it may not continue much longer if the infringer lobby gets its way.

That’s the lesson to be drawn from last year’s Nobel Prize in Economics, which was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for explaining how innovation drives growth. Aghion and Howitt’s research shows that the process of “creative destruction”—new, better technologies continually replacing old ones – rests on incentives such as patent rights, which push the best technologies to the top of the market by enabling innovative upstarts to compete with larger incumbents. Their findings are a timely reminder – because today,

powerful corporate interests are pushing sweeping proposals that would erode America’s patent system. Since Congress wants innovation to flourish and future generations to prosper, it must not let these efforts succeed.

Patent rights have underpinned America’s innovation-driven prosperity since our country’s founders enshrined them in the Constitution. By granting inventors a temporary, exclusive right to their inventions, patents give investors opportunities to earn returns on risky research and allow small companies to outcompete established firms on the merits of their products.

As Aghion and Howitt demonstrated, this cycle of research, risk-taking, and reinvestment has fostered dramatic economic growth. Advances in recent times have produced dramatic improvements in medicine, communication, and other technologies, as well as historically high standards of living.

Small-business innovation, in particular, has been fundamental to America’s economic success. Small businesses file

more patents per employee than larger ones. They also provide over 60 million jobs nationwide and almost 45 percent of GDP.

Today, however, Big Tech and other corporate interests are trying to weaken America’s patent system to stifle smaller competitors.

For years, some corporations have used “efficient infringement” to sidestep patent rights. Rather than license a competitor’s patented technology, they simply copy it, then drag out expensive lawsuits hoping the smaller firm runs out of money.

To level the playing field, small inventors increasingly rely on outside help. Thirdparty litigation funding agreements – which enable outside investors to finance a lawsuit in exchange for a portion of any damages awarded – allow inventors to have a chance against deeppocketed infringers.

Unsurprisingly, mammoth corporations are now seeking to suppress third-party funding through multiple bills.

One is the so-called Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act, which would impose a massive tax on proceeds from litigation funding—essen-

Social Security Matters

tially reducing incentives for investors to support even the strongest lawsuits.

Another proposal, the Litigation Transparency Act, would require complete disclosure of all litigation-funding agreements, exposing the extent of small inventors’ resources and often their legal strategies and handing big companies a litigation advantage.

By undermining a crucial lifeline for small companies, these bills would effectively allow large infringers to ignore patents with impunity. Congress would be wise to reject them.

This year’s Nobel Prize in Economics underscores a simple truth: America’s economy has flourished because our legal system has historically rewarded innovation. Attempts to subvert enforcement of patent rights would undermine vital incentives, putting our future prosperity at risk.

Judge Paul R. Michel (ret.) served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 1988 to 2010. He is a board member of the Inventors Defense Alliance.

Why won’t social security give me my benefits?

Dear Rusty: I called the Social Security office, as well as went with my husband when he went to collect his Social Security. Because I work full-time (at about $800 per week), they said I could not file for my Social Security. Yet I seem to read articles all the time about people doing so.

My husband just filed for his benefits and is now collecting them. Out of the two of us, his Social Security will be larger. Please advise me. Signed: Wanting my benefits

Dear wanting my benefits: If you have not yet reached your Social Security full retirement age (FRA) and you are working full time, you are likely being affected by Social Security’s Annual Earnings Test, which limits how much you can earn while collecting Social Security prior to your FRA. Your FRA is somewhere between 66 and 67, depending on when you were born.

The annual earnings limit for those collecting Social Security benefits prior to FRA in 2025 is $23,400 (changes yearly) and, if that is exceeded, Social Security will take away benefits equal to $1 for every $2 you are over the limit. If you applied for your benefits and are still working, and were denied, it’s likely because Social Security determined that your current annual earnings considerably exceed the earnings limit and, thus, you cannot collect benefits. That’s because the penalty for exceeding the limit would be more than your benefit amount. FYI, the earnings limit will go away when you reach your full retirement age so, after FRA, you can claim your benefits even if you are still working. Or if you stop working before your FRA you can collect your Social Security benefits at that time.

None of this means you are losing money, because your monthly Social Security payment will continue to

grow until you later claim (e.g., after you stop working, or only work part-time), or until you reach 70 years of age. When you later claim, your monthly benefit will be higher and, depending on your longevity, you may recover what you didn’t get now because you are working. And that includes both your own Social Security retirement benefit and any spousal boost you may be entitled to from your husband.

So, my suggestion is this: as long as you are working full-time and exceeding Social Security’s annual earnings limit, continue to wait to claim your Social Security. Then, when you reach your full retirement age (again, between 66 and 67, depending on the year you were born), or if you stop working before that, go ahead and apply for Social Security again. At that time, your application will be approved, and you will be awarded your own earned Social Security retirement

amount plus any additional amount you may be due as your husband’s spouse. To be entitled to a spousal boost from your husband, your own FRA entitlement must be less than 50% of your husband’s FRA entitlement. But the amount you get will be reduced if you claim before your full retirement age.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Aoociation (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/ social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

State Rep. Dan Williams announced that agencies in his Pennsylvania House legislative district received over $2.85 million in new grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Agency. In the 74th District, Williams supported state funding for the following projects: • $1,300,000 to Caln

Township for the reconstruction of Caln Meetinghouse Road bridge in Caln Township; • $469,004 to the Borough of Parkesburg to repave a section of 5th Avenue in Parkesburg Borough; • $386,356 to the City of Coatesville for citywide stormwater inlets replacements; • $350,000 to Honey

Brook Borough Authority for Well #8 treatment plant upgrades; • $245,750 to Honey Brook Borough for James Street stormwater infrastructure rehabilitation; • $105,000 to Caln Township Municipal Authority for phase two of the Scott Drive Sewer Extension project. “I’m pleased to see over

$2.8 million in state funding be invested into the 74th to address important infrastructure needs,” said Williams. “These investments will improve local roads, upgrade water and sewer systems, and strengthen stormwater infrastructure, ensuring our infrastructure keeps pace with the needs of today while laying the groundwork for tomorrow.”

Handi-Crafters receives largest individual gift in a decade

The

contribution will help the organization advance services for adults with disabilities

Handi-Crafters Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering adults with disabilities, recently announced the receipt of the largest individual gift it has received in the past decade.

A generous $100,000 contribution provided by Andrew Bentley will directly support HandiCrafters’ mission to provide vocational job training, competitive integrated employment opportunities, community socialization, and essential support services for more than 250 individuals annually throughout Chester County.

“This extraordinary gift represents far more than a financial contribution—it is a powerful affirmation of the dignity, value, and potential of the individuals we serve,” said April EnnisPierson, the executive director of Handi-Crafters.

“Andrew’s generosity will have an immediate and lasting impact, strengthening pathways to

meaningful employment and ensuring the people we support continue to thrive through purpose, independence, and community connection.”

The contribution is not only the largest individual gift made to Handi-Crafters in the last 10 years, it is also the third-largest individual gift in the organization’s 65-year history. The donation will help ensure the continuation and growth of the organization’s robust, person-centered programs that empower each individual to reach his or her greatest potential.

Bentley, 41, represents a new generation of philanthropists committed to investing in organizations that reflect their personal values and lived experiences. With longstanding relationships at HandiCrafters—including friendships with individuals who work and participate in programs at the organization—his support is rooted in a firsthand appreciation for the role

tor

meaningful work, accountability, and opportunity play in building confidence and independence.

“Work is important to me,” said Bentley. “Having a job, showing up every day, and doing

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your best gives you confidence and pride. I have friends who work at HandiCrafters, and I see how much it means to them. This is a place that believes in people and expects great things from them, and I’m

proud to support that.”

This transformational gift comes at a pivotal moment as Handi-Crafters prepares to celebrate its 65th anniversary in 2026, marking decades of community partnership, innovation, and

impact while positioning the organization for continued success in the years ahead.

To learn more about Handi-Crafters’ mission or how to get involved, visit www.hcocenter.org.

Craigo named Kennett Trails Alliance’s new executive director

The Kennett Trails Alliance (KTA) has announced the appointment of Gina Craigo, a non-profit executive with more than 20 years of experience, as its new executive director.

In this role, Craigo will lead the agency through its next stage of development, and oversee and execute all key organization functions, including trail development, coalition building, operations and maintenance of trail networks, and community programming/outreach.

Craigo, who has led public and private initiatives over the past two decades, most recently served as the community engagement manager with Delaware River City Corp (Riverfront North Partnership) in Philadelphia, where she was primarily responsible for driving community support for increases in public parks and trails along the Delaware River. She also previously served in similar capacities with the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (Wissahickon Trails) and Friends of High School Park in Elkins Park, among others.

Craigo received her Bachelor’s in Sociology/ Political Science/Latin American Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Villanova University.

Craigo is replacing Christina Norland, who served as KTA’s founding executive director for six years, and is now the Chair of Kennett Trail Alliance’s

Courtesy photo Gina Craigo

Board of Directors. She will continue her work in the Kennett community as the Social Initiatives Lead for Square Roots Collective.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gina to our team at this critical moment in the development of the Kennett Greenway,” said Norland said. “KTA’s signature initiative reached its halfway point of completion last year, and this year will bring several exciting segments/connections online as we continue to expand access to trails across Kennett Square Borough and beyond. Gina brings with her the tactical knowledge and community-focused spirit required to make our next chapter better and brighter than our existing achievements.” The Kennett Trails Alliance is a nonprofit organization working to create a more connected, active, and accessible Kennett Square community through safe, sustainable trails and transportation solutions. In collaboration with residents, partners, and local leaders, the Kennett Trails Alliance is building a system of trails and shared spaces that support movement, equity, and community connection. Its signature project, the Kennett Greenway, will be a 14-mile trail loop across five municipalities in two states. More than 50 percent of the Greenway exists as of the close of 2025 with additional projects expected to be completed in

PATRICK WILSON

Patrick Wilson, a resident of Nottingham, passed away after a sudden illness on Jan. 20, 2026. He was 62. Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Stacy Wilson and Carolyn Johnson. Patrick worked as a project manager in the banking industry. As a strong leader, he was dedicated to supporting his team members.

He enjoyed being active, cooking meals for his family, car shows, and spending days outdoors by the pool. A social butterfly, he loved reminiscing on good times with friends.

As a loving husband, father and grandfather, he lived to serve his family, and his endless selflessness and generosity will never be forgotten.

He is survived by his three daughters, Tara (Mark) Wozniak of Newark, Del., Ashley (Nate) Miles of Willow Street, Pa., and Kristen (Doug) Miles of Stevens, Pa., his grandchildren, Morgan, Riley, Milo, and Kai, and his siblings, Pam Sharp and Mike Wilson.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Jean Miles-Wilson and his parents, Stacy and Carolyn.

Funeral Services will be held at Edward L. Collins Funeral Home at 86 Pine St. in Oxford on Saturday, Jan. 31. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a prayer service starting at 11:30 a.m. A private interment will follow.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com) in Oxford.

JEREMIAH MCCARTHY

Jeremiah “Jere” McCarthy, of Avondale, passed away on Jan. 18 at the Wilmington VA Medical Center in Wilmington, Del. He was 76.

Jere was a charismatic man who was known to say that he “never had a bad day in his life.”

Jere was very talented in so many ways and never turned down an opportunity. This was evidenced by his many careers— not limited to a police officer, a volunteer fireman, a salesman, a business owner, and SVP of Helmsley Spear, Inc. to name a few. He even ran for mayor of Kennett Square upon his return from Vietnam. However, his favorite role was being a father and a grandfather, and he will be profoundly missed.

Jere is survived by his children Dr. Katie McCarthy (Michael Lee) and Fred McCarthy (Jackie); his grandchildren, Ella, Catherine “CC,” Madison, Anne, Joshua, Kennedy, Catherine “Kitty,” Francie, and Freddie Jr.; and by seven of his twelve siblings, Jeanne, Freddie, Pat, Albert, Kevin, Mary, and Jim.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sons, Baby Jeremiah McCarthy and Jeremiah McCarthy, Jr. and by his siblings, K.C., Justin, Michael, and Joe.

You are invited to visit with Jeremiah’s family and friends from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 13 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 212 Meredith Street in Kennett Square. His funeral mass will follow at 11 a.m.

Arrangements are being handled by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc.

To view his full obituary, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Avondale Presbyterian Church 420 Pennsylvania Avenue

610.268.2919 www.avondalepc.org

St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother 8910 Gap Newport Pike 610.268.0296

www.stgabrielavondalepa.org

KENNETT SQUARE

Bethel AME Church 300 E. Linden Street

610.444.2974

www.bethelameckennsq.org

Bible Evangelical Church of Kennett Square

500 E. Cypress Street 610.467.1081

www.bibleevangelicalchurch.org

Episcopal Church of the Advent 401 N. Union Street 610.444.4624 www.adventks.org

First Baptist Church of Kennett Square 415 W. State Street 610.444.5320

www.firstbaptistkennettsquare.com

Greater Works Ministries 553 Rosedale Road 610.444.5581 www.gwministries.net

Kennett Square Missionary Church 408 Bayard Road

610.444.0867

www.kennettsquarebaptist.com

Kennett Square Presbyterian Church

211 S. Broad Street

610.444.5255

www.pcks.org

New Garden Memorial U.A.M.E

Second

Unionville Presbyterian Church 815 Wollaston Road 610.347.2327

www.unionvillepresbyterianchurch.org

Willowdale Chapel 675 Unionville Road 610.444.2670 www.willowdalechapel.org

WEST GROVE and SURROUNDING AREAS

Assumption BVM Church 300 State Road 610.869.2722

www.assumptionbvmwestgrove.org

Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene 240 State Road 610.869.9500 www.avongrove.church

West Grove Presbyterian Church 139 W. Evergreen Street 610.869.9458 www.westgrovepres.org

West Grove United Methodist Church 300 N. Guernsey Road 610.869.9334 www.westgroveumc.org

Willowdale Chapel – Jennersville 111 Vineyard Way, Jennrsville 610.444.2670 www.willowdalechapel.org

Landenberg United Methodist Church

205 Penn Green Road, Landenberg 610.274.8384 www.landenbergchurch.com

Christian Life Center 125 Saginaw Road, New London 610.869.2140 www.CLCFamily.church New

TheChesterCountyPressfeaturesadedicatedchurch/religious pagethatcanhelpyouadvertiseyourhouseofworshipand/or business.Thepageisupdatedweeklywithnewscripture.Only$10 Weeklyforthisspace. Weareofferingaspecialdiscountof25%offeachandeveryhelp wanted/classifiedadvertisementtoanybusinessthatadvertiseson thePRESSchurchpage. For

Pa. Supreme Court rules in favor of Chester Water Authority

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on Jan. 23 in favor of the Chester Water Authority (CWA), delivering a major victory for ratepayers and publicwater advocates by blocking the City of Chester’s receiver from unilaterally forcing a transfer of CWA assets.

In a decision that reversed the Commonwealth Court, the Supreme Court justices held that the City of Chester does not have the sole power under Section 5622(a) of the Municipal Authorities Act to sell CWA. Instead, the court ruled that any such action would require joint agreement by all three governing municipalities—Chester City, Chester County, and Delaware County—effectively ending the prospect of a one-sided takeover.

For the roughly 200,000 people who rely on CWA for drinking water, the ruling confirms what advocates have long argued: the authority is a public asset that belongs to its ratepayers, not a financial tool to be seized or monetized.

Noël Brandon, the CWA board chair, said, “The decision draws a clear line between public ownership and privatization. The court sided with everyday residents who drink CWA water and affirmed that the authority belongs to its customers—not to a receiver, politicians, or private interests. This ruling should

set an important precedent for similar cases across Pennsylvania.”

Supreme Court clarifies the law

In its opinion, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said that some wording used in earlier cases was not part of the actual law and does not control this decision. The court explained that the law only allows municipalities to take over projects they already have the power to run themselves. Because of that, the takeover power is limited and cannot be used freely. Applied to CWA, that interpretation means the City of Chester cannot act alone. The Commonwealth Court’s order allowing a unilateral acquisition was therefore reversed.

Chief Justice Debra Todd and Justices David Wecht and Daniel D. McCaffery joined the majority opinion written by Justice Christine Donohue. Justice Kevin Dougherty concurred in the result, while Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy filed a concurring and dissenting opinion. Justice Kevin Brobson did not participate.

Years of advocacy culminate in relief

For longtime advocates like Margo Woodacre, CWA ratepayer and co-founder of

Keep Water Affordable, the ruling was the culmination of years of organizing. She said, “I have been involved in the effort to save CWA for nearly six years. I am jumping for joy. After years of meetings, calls, and court battles, the ruling validated the persistence of the ratepayers and grassroots advocates. It affirms our belief that public water is worth fighting for and our water belongs to us.”

Brandon credited key allies for helping secure the win. He explained, “We are sincerely thankful that Representative John Lawrence and former House Speaker Representative Bryan Cutler filed an amicus brief that was cited in the court’s decision. We also deeply appreciate the Chester County Commissioners, Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz and Eric Roe, who stood shoulder to shoulder with CWA throughout the case and argued in its support before the Supreme Court. Chester County’s role was critical in countering efforts to force a sale or transfer of the authority solely to the City.”

Brandon also thanked CWA service area municipalities that passed resolutions in support of CWA.

At the same time, the Supreme Court’s ruling

implicitly rejected arguments raised by Delaware County Council, which the court noted were outside the scope of the appeal it agreed to hear and therefore were not considered.

Unanswered questions ahead

Despite the victory, uncertainty remains. The state-appointed receiver overseeing Chester’s finances has previously acknowledged that selling or monetizing CWA was his only strategy for addressing the city’s long-standing fiscal problems. With that option now taken solely out of his hands, advocates are asking what comes next— and urging restraint and transparency in any future legal or financial moves.

Chester’s broader financial distress also looms large. Gov. Josh Shapiro inherited decades of economic decline and underinvestment in the city. State leaders now must pursue durable solutions— potentially including action in the 2026 state budget— rather than targeting public assets.

Vigilance still required

CWA supporters must remain cautious that the fight to protect their public water is not over. The CWA board members who have fought hard to save CWA have terms that expire in 2027. This means that upcoming appointments by Chester City Council, Delaware County Council, and the Chester

County Commissioners will shape the authority’s future. CWA’s ratepayers must make it known to these appointing bodies that they want board members who will fight to keep their water public and independent.

For now, public-water supporters are celebrating a decisive legal win— one that reinforces the idea that essential services like drinking water should remain public and independent.

As Brandon noted, “The Supreme Court’s message was unmistakable: public water belongs to the public.”

Learn more about the fight to SAVE CWA and public water at https:// savecwa.org.

GAGE, LLC F/K/A, QUICKEN LOANS, LLC VS DEFENDANT: JASON WEAVER A/K/A JASON H. WEAVER

to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.

CONTAINING 11,516.80 square feet of land be the same more or less.

HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS, CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER ELEANOR V. ATLEY A/K/A ELEANOR ATLEY

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF Russell Alan Lambert, Deceased. Late of Easttown Township, Chester County Notice is hereby given that, in the estate of the decedent set forth above, the Register of Wills has granted letters Testamentary to the persons named below. All persons having claims against said estate are requested to make known the same to them or to their attorneys and all persons indebted to said decedent are requested to make payment without delay to the Executor, Mark M. Vakil, Esq., Larkin & Vakil Attorneys and Counselors at Law. 22 W. Second Street, Media, PA 19063 610-615-1550 1p-14-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Letters Testamentary have been granted in the Estate of ANNE E. REEDER, late of Downingtown Borough. All persons having claims or demands on the Estate are requested to make them known, and all persons indebted to the said decedent are requested to make payment without delay.

JOSEPH G. BORST, c/o The Law Firm of Barry S. Rabin, 797 E. Lancaster Avenue Suite 13, Downingtown PA 19335, Personal Representative. Barry S. Rabin, 797 E. Lancaster Avenue Suite 13, Downingtown PA 19335, Attorney. 1p-14-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF ANGELINE ROSE OWENS a/k/a ANGELINE OWENS, DECEASED. Late of London Grove 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 CHARLES J. OWENS, EXECUTOR, c/o Duke K. Schneider, Esq., 17 W. Miner St., P.O. Box 660, West Chester, PA 19381-0660, Or to his Attorney: DUKE K. SCHNEIDER, MacELREE HARVEY, LT., 17 W. Miner St., P.O. Box 660 West Chester, PA 19381-0660 1p-21-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Wallace William Dean , Deceased Late of Chester County, PA, Letters of Testamentary on the above Estate having been granted to the Executor, Dorothy Joyce Rudzewick, all persons indebted to the Estate are re-quested to make payment, and those having claims to present same without delay,

to Brian F. Levine, Esquire.Brian F. Levine, Esquire Levine Law, LLC Attorney for the Executor, 22 E Grant St., New Castle, PA 16101-2279

1p-21-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Joseph Herman Schauble, Deceased late of Tredyffrin Twp., Chester County, 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 Patrick J. Schauble, Executor, 254 Lantern Lane, Gulph Mills, PA 19428 or to their attorney John P. McGuire, Esq., 552 Ridge Road, Telford, PA 18969. 1p-21-3t

NON-PROFIT INCORPORATION

NOTICE Revenge Anonymous, Inc. has been incorporated under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988, as amended. Buckley, Brion, McGuire & Morris LLP, 118 West Market St., Ste. 300, West Chester, PA 19382 1p-28-1t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 23RD , 2026. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 26-2-37 Writ of Execution No. 2025-06424

DEBT $229,059.44

Property situate in the BOROUGH OF WEST GROVE, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania, being BLR # 05-07-0125

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: ROCKET MORT-

SALE ADDRESS: 13 Winterset Court, West Grove, PA 19390

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC 844856-6646

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets.

KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 1p-28-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 23RD , 2026. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 26-2-38

Writ of Execution No. 2025-05214

DEBT $58,946.91

ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground located in the Borough of Kennett Square, Chester County, Pennsylvania, according to a plan made by G.E. Register, Jr. & Sons, surveyors, August 5, 1966 more particularly described as follows:

BEGINNING at an iron pin set at the intersection of the Northly line of Richards Road, 45 feet wide, with the Easterly line of North Walnut Street, 33 feet wide, said iron pin marking the Southwesterly corner of the about to be described tract; thence leaving said point of beginning and by the Easterly line of said North Walnut Street, 33 feet wide, North 14° 57’ 26” West, 147.82 feet to an iron pin, marking the Northwesterly corner of this and the Southwesterly corner of Lot No. 18; thence said Easterly line of said North Walnut Street and by Lot No. 18 of the Kennett Heights Development, North 71° 18’ East, 73.23 feet to an iron pin set for the Northeasterly corner of this and a Northwesterly corner of Lot No. 20; thence by said Lot No. 20, South 18 ° 42’ East, 147.50 feet to an iron pin set on the Northerly line of said first mentioned Richards Road, 45 feet wide; thence by said Northerly line of said Richards Road, South 71° 18’ West, 82.88 feet

BEING THE SAME PREMISES which Joseph Ralph Gomez, by Deed dated 4/4/2025 and recorded 4/4/2025 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Chester County in Deed Book 11359, Page 2254, granted and conveyed unto Carmen Perez Gomez.

Tax Parcel # 3-3-96.2

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential property

PLAINTIFF: CITIZENS BANK, N.A. S/B/M TOA CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA VS DEFENDANT: Carmen Perez Gomez a/k/a Carmen Gomez

SALE ADDRESS: 501 Richards Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: LAW OFFICE OF GREGORY JAVARDIAN, LLC 215-942-9690

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets.

KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 1p-28-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 23RD , 2026. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 26-2-39

Writ of Execution No. 2024-06096

DEBT $291,611.09

ALL THOSE CERTAIN LOTS OR PIECES OF GROUND SITUATE IN THE BOROUGH OF AVONDALE, COUNTY OF CHESTER AND COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: Tax Parcel # 04-01-0182

PLAINTIFF: LONGBRIDGE FINANCIAL, LLC VS DEFENDANT: EARL ATLEY, IN HIS CAPACITY AS HEIR OF ELEANOR V. ATLEY A/K/A ELEANOR ATKLEY; UNKNOWN

SALE ADDRESS: 203 New Street, Avondale, PA 19311

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC 855-225-6906

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets.

KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 1p-28-3t

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West Caln man enters guilty plea for murder of his 12-year-old daughter

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office recently announced that Rendell Hoagland, 54, of West Caln Township, pled guilty to murder in the first degree, conspiracy, kidnapping, and other charges related to the 2024 murder of his 12-year-old daughter, Malinda.

As part of a negotiated plea agreement

January is HumanTrafficking Awareness Month and this infographic highlights key Pennsylvania court data related to human trafficking. Over the past five A

accepted by the Honorable Ann Marie Wheatcraft, Hoagland was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 30 to 60 years.

During the two-hour proceeding, Hoagland admitted to repeatedly and systematically abusing his daughter for years. This plea agreement was reached in consultation with the victim’s family, who spoke in

court about how they have been impacted by Malinda’s death. First responders also spoke about their experience responding to the 911 call and how Malinda’s death has affected them.

District Attorney Christopher de BarrenaSarobe said, “We still have more work to do, but today we took a big step toward getting justice for Malinda.”

The trial for co-defendant

Cindy Warren, Malinda Hoagland’s stepmother, is currently scheduled to begin on June 8.

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office offered a reminder that, if you have concerns about the safety of a child, you should say something. Call 911. Call Childline at 1-800-932-0313.

Childline reports can be anonymous.

Grivensky joins Unruh Turner Burke & Frees

years, 1,432 human-trafficking offenses were filed on 431 cases. Human trafficking is a type of human rights abuse where people profit from the exploitation of others –

mainly using force, fraud or coercion to manipulate victims into engaging in sex acts or labor/services in exchange for something of value.

The infographic includes the total number of human-

trafficking cases and offenses over the last five years, defendant demographics and the top 10 counties with the highest number human-trafficking offenses.

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees announced that attorney Jeremy E. Grivensky has joined the firm. Based in the firm’s West Chester office, Jeremy focuses his practice on commercial litigation, appeals, construction disputes, creditor’s rights, and labor and employment law.

Jeremy represents businesses and individuals in complex civil cases in state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Known for his meticulous preparation, Jeremy’s appellate experience enables him to guide cases from inception through trial and appeal with calculated precision.

Before joining Unruh Turner Burke & Frees, Jeremy practiced at a prominent Chester County law firm concentrating on civil and commercial litigation. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Commercial Litigation and Appellate Practice, named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Business Litigation, and honored among the region’s Top Lawyers by Main Line Today and the Daily Local News

Jeremy earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he was a Beasley Scholar and served on the Editorial Board of the

Temple Law Review. His academic honors included Federal Judicial Clerkship Honors, the Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society, and Distinguished Class Performance Awards in Legal Research and Writing and Criminal Procedure. While in law school, he also participated in Temple’s Integrated Trial Advocacy and Advanced Civil Trial Advocacy Programs and was active in the Temple American Inn of Court. Prior to his legal career, Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and History from Temple University and taught multiple subjects in the Philadelphia School District. He later worked as a substitute science teacher in Northeast Pennsylvania, gaining experience in both urban and rural settings. Outside of his professional work, Jeremy has served as a youth soccer coach and referee for the Fairmount Soccer Association and is a proud Eagle Scout.

Jeremy is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. He is an active member of the Chester County Bar Association, where he was recently elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Young Lawyers’ Division.

Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms’ Klotzbach honored as Chester County Farmer of the Year

State Rep. John Lawrence receives Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award

AgConnect, the publicprivate partnership that supports farmers and agricultural businesses and that promotes the value of farming in Chester County, has named fifth-generation mushroom grower Meghan Klotzbach as Farmer of the Year, and Pennsylvania State Rep. John Lawrence as recipient of the Duncan Allison Distinguished Service to Agriculture award.

At a special presentation at Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz and Eric

Roe joined the AgConnect Executive Advisory Committee, staff and guests, in recognizing two exceptional leaders shaping the region’s agricultural future.

“Chester County agriculture thrives because of leaders like Meghan Klotzbach and Representative John Lawrence,” said County Commissioners Maxwell, Moskowitz and Roe in a joint statement. “Their dedication, innovation and service ensure that our farming community remains strong for genera-

tions to come.”

Klotzbach, vice president of sales, marketing and operations at Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, was honored for her leadership in continuing a fifth-generation mushroom-growing legacy and advancing organic production in southern Chester County.

At C.P. Yeatman & Sons, Inc. and Mother Earth, LLC, her family’s century-old farm, Klotzbach has played a central role in modernizing operations, strengthening food safety and traceability, and expanding product offer-

ings. The farm became the nation’s first commercial mushroom producer to earn organic certification, and today all mushrooms grown are 100 percent organic.

Klotzbach also leads extensive community outreach, hosts school groups, and advocates for the mushroom industry at the state and national levels. She said receiving the Farmer of the Year award is “humbling and meaningful,” especially as she works to preserve the family farm for future generations.

Lawrence was recognized for more than two decades

of legislative leadership supporting Pennsylvania agriculture and championing the needs of Chester County’s farmers.

Lawrence, who represents the 13th Legislative District, has been a leading voice on the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and has advanced policies to strengthen dairy transparency, protect the equine industry, support small processors, and preserve

Longwood Gardens welcomes new chief operating officer

farmland. His commitment to agriculture stems from childhood experiences on his grandfather’s dairy farm, which shaped his understanding of the challenges facing family farms.

Lawrence said the recognition is an honor and emphasized that protecting farmers is as important as preserving farmland.

“The land feeds us — but it’s the people behind it who keep it alive,” he said.

Longwood Gardens recently announced the appointment of Nicolo (Nico) Dagnino as chief operating officer. In this new leadership role, Dagnino will be responsible for setting the strategy for and leading guest services and operations at Longwood Gardens as well as evaluating and managing the hospitality and guest

experiences at Longwood at Granogue.

Dagnino is an accomplished hospitality executive with more than two decades of experience driving growth, operational excellence, and innovation across diverse hospitality formats. He joins Longwood Gardens after serving as vice president of food & beverage at Alterra Mountain Company

where he oversaw food and beverage operations for 19 year-round iconic mountain resorts, including Deer Valley, Mammoth, Palisades Tahoe, Steamboat, and Winter Park, among others.

Prior to Alterra, Dagnino played a pivotal role in Eataly’s North American expansion, spearheading the brand’s entry into Canada and managing operations

across multiple regions and eCommerce platforms. His career also includes senior roles at Avolta and consulting positions at Deloitte and IBM, providing strategic insights to Fortune 500 companies.

“Nico brings exceptional leadership skills that focus on enhancing guest experiences, leveraging technology, and develop-

ing talent, while delivering measurable revenue and profitability growth,” said Paul B. Redman, president and chief executive officer of Longwood Gardens. “His broad expertise in creating seamless operations and elevated guest experiences across multiple sites will be integral to Longwood as we continue to advance our mission across our properties.”

“I am excited to join Longwood Gardens in this newly created role,” said Dagnino. “I look forward to working with Longwood’s talented staff and further elevating the extraordinary guest experience Longwood is known for.” Dagnino will lead more than 200 staff in Longwood’s guest services and operations team.