Overflow audience demands answers in Kennett Township investigation
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Several say supervisors showed complete lack of oversight and irresponsibility, and called on them to resign their posts of those in attendance displayed reserve and respect for the proceedings, the meeting was repeatedly interrupted by a group of about two dozen who loudly called for the resignation of board chairman Scudder Stevens, and supervisors Dr. Richard Leff and Whitney Hoffman, and accused them of displaying an egregious lack of oversight and poor accountability in allowing Moore’s activities to go unchecked for so long.
During a three-hour and 45-minute public meeting with a tenor that fluctuated from factual and informative to hostile and confrontational, an estimated audience of more than 500 residents, officials and stakeholders who crowded the Red Clay Room in Kennett Square on Dec. 17 to hear the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors navigate through the journey of how former township manager Lisa Moore allegedly stole $3.2 million in township funds since 2013. While the vast majority
Against this verbal barrage, Stevens, Leff and Hoffman painted a picture of Moore as both a trusted employee and a lone culprit who was complicit in a mountain of deception
that violated township safeguards and deceived her colleagues, township officials, outside service vendors, state and township auditors and the township’s oversight committee – from the time she assumed the title of township manager in 2010 to the time of her dismissal in May of this year.
“As the township supervisors on whose watch this happened, we realize that the buck stops here,” Stevens said. “It is our job to do everything possible to fix this mess, and this meeting tonight is just one part of the rebuilding process that began eight months
more than $3.2 million from the township.
Oxford Police Department teams up to brighten the holidays for local families
Police officers in Oxford have a tradition of handing out bikes or toys to local children. This year, they received a boost from local businesses and the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce children in the area were boosted by the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce and many local businesses.
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
The Oxford Borough Police Department once again collected and distributed toys to families in Oxford. This year, the police officers’ efforts to brighten the holidays for
Oxford Borough police officer Shakira Greer explained that police officers in Oxford have been reaching out to help children at the holidays for a
number of years. For a few years, bikes were collected and distributed to youngsters. This holiday season, the police department set up a collection box where new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls up to the age of 16 could be dropped off.
London Grove presents balanced budget with no new taxes
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
London Grove Township is moving into 2020 with two new supervisors, no new taxes and a plentiful supply of road salt. The board passed a 2020 budget of $3,481,928 at its November meeting. There are no new taxes included in the spending plan.
Jacqui Guenther, the director of finance and human resources, said that
in the more than five years she has been on the job in London Grove, the township has held the line on taxes. “And I believe it goes back years before that,” she said.
The big income items for next year (rounded off to tens of thousands) are earned income tax at $1.87 million, real estate taxes at $639.5 thousand and fees from SECCRA the landfill for $544.5 thousand. The major expenses are
Departed veterans honored at Wreaths Across America ceremony
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
Several hundred friends, neighbors and out-of-towners joined to honor departed war veterans at Oxford’s Wreaths Across America ceremony on Dec. 14.
The event took place at the Oxford Cemetery late on Saturday morning under cloudy skies and amidst a chilly, wet haze. There in the cemetery are the graves of veterans from as far back at the American Revolutionary War.
It is the 11th year Wreaths Across America has been celebrated in Oxford Borough, and in one of those years – 2016 - the local residents actually organized and produced the greenery themselves, lacking the funds to buy the wreaths.
Along with spectators and participants, the Chester County Sheriff’s deputies were there to keep it organized, and a band of bikers – the Leatherneck Nation – showed up to show their respect. Additionally, local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts helped out.
The history of the Wreaths Across America event goes back to 1992 when Morrill Worcester, the owner of a wreath company in Maine, recalled how awed he had been by a visit to Arlington National Cemetery years before when he was 12 years old. Having determined in his adulthood that he had a surplus of wreaths that year, he arranged to have them sent to a section of the Arlington Cemetery that does not get very much attention.
‘Please continue to honor your brother’
A community rallies in support of well artist
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Years ago, Harald
road maintenance at $463.0 thousand, support for the Avondale and West Grove fire companies at $297.8 thousand, and ambulance/Medic 94 at $180.8 thousand.
There are substantial individual expenses for salaries, administration and some road equipment. The real estate tax remains at .125 mills. A mill is a tax of $1 of every $1,000 of assessed property. Continued on Page 4A Continued on Page 4A
Herglotz of Newark loved to spend his weekends far from the pressure of his job as a successful packaging designer for Westvaco in Newark. He would load his two young sons and his dog in his Volkswagen Bug, drive north to his parents’ home in Wilmington, where his younger sisters Helen and Heidi would pack themselves into his tiny car for long drives in the Chester County countryside. The crowded VW Bug would grip the winding roads for hours, whistling by farms and vistas, and on several occasions, the traveling
troupe would stop at the Laurel Spring well on Penn Green Road in Landenberg. Once upon a time, during a period that is now confined to history, the well served as a natural water fountain, quenching the collective thirsts of generations of New Garden residents, many of whom would fill up entire jugs for the sweet taste of the clear water. For Heidi, cupping her hands and welcoming the cool water was not only a weekend ritual, but one that would become one of her favorite childhood memories.
In 2012, long after she and her husband had moved to Franklin Township to raise their children, Heidi
on Page 5A
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
An overflow audience of more than 500 attended a public meeting hosted by the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors on Dec. 17 that attempted to inform the public about the recently completed investigation involving former township manager Lisa Moore’s alleged embezzlement of
Photo by Chris Barber
Lucy Meadowcroft is helped by her mother, Shelley Meadowcroft, as she lays a wreath in the cemetery.
Continued from Page 1A
ago.
“The news that has unfolded over the last eight months has had a huge impact on all of us throughout the township, and not in ways that any of us would have ever wished for.”
The panel also included presentations by forensic accountant Ricardo Zayas of Marcum, LLP; Joseph G. Poluka, an attorney with BlankRome’s investigations department; and township manager Eden Ratliff, who estimated that the township has already paid $350,000 to help in the fraud investigation.
Moore, who was placed under arrest on Dec. 10 by the Chester County District Attorney's office, was charged by the DA with 115 felony crimes and 26 misdemeanor crimes after
Wreaths Across America...
Continued from Page 1A
In the years that followed, he continued the tradition, and it began to get national attention. By 2008, groups were holding individual wreath-laying ceremonies at over 300 locations.
Clarissa Sherrow, the local ceremony chairperson, said that at this point the tradition has gone nationwide and continues each year on the second or third Saturday in December.
A spokesperson for the Worcester Wreath Company said this week that all the wreaths for the ceremonies come from that company. She added that production work for Wreaths Across America at the company begins annually on Oct. 1.
Sherrow said Oxford’s effort this year yielded 1,300 wreaths, most of them going on the graves in the Oxford Cemetery, but a few, she added, will go to nearby gravesites where veterans are laid to rest.
Every year, the local organizers must raise the money to cover the expenses of the wreaths. She said local merchants contributed a large part of the money, but it was also supplemented by special fundraising events.
The most lucrative, she explained, was a “jail and bail” event during which local dignitaries agreed to sit in the local lockup and seek dollars from the public for their release.
The wreaths are sent out to distribution points from Maine earlier in the month.
In this case, West Chester was the regional distribu-
an eight-month-long investigation revealed that she masterminded a financial shell game with township money since 2013, and used it to fashion a life of extensive travel, luxurious gifts and retirement benefits.
She posted an unsecured bail in the amount of $500,000, surrendered her passport, and is now in Puerto Rico awaiting her preliminary trial, which is likely to begin next spring.
The meeting was divided into three key components –
What Happened?,” “What’s Being Done to Fix the Damage?” and a two-hour Q & A session that tested the emotions of both those who asked the questions and those who answered them. Throughout introductory remarks by Stevens, Leff and Hoffman, they jockeyed between the findings of the District Attorney’s Office and the Chester County
Detectives – contained in a 43-page police criminal complaint issued on Dec. 10 – and how the township supervisors scrambled to regain the management of the township.
Leff gave detail that included digging into records and computers related to the investigation, changing bank account numbers, upgrading computer software, putting other financial safeguards into place, working with township staff, making payroll, sending letters of correspondence to township residents, conducting the overall business of the township, and stopping suspicious transactions – presumably by Moore – that were already in the works.
“This took weeks of work and stopped the bleeding, but there was much more bad news yet to come,” Leff said. “Unfortunately,
we quickly found case after case where work we had asked Lisa to do, which she had told us was done, was never done. We found a pattern of lies and deceptions that shocked us each day. The more we investigated internally, the more problems we uncovered.
“It became clear that Lisa Moore had created and maintained an intentionally confusing and complicated financial process which enabled her, allegedly, to commit fraud and embezzle funds over many years.”
‘…A colleague and friend to many had betrayed us all’
Leff said that the board discovered that Moore did not permit any other township employee to open any form of township mail –such as bank and credit card statements, bills and
tion point. There they are picked up and delivered to local municipalities.
In Oxford, the wreaths arrived at the public works plant and came over via parade on Friday night in an A. Duie Pyle truck. Traditionally, the A. Duie Pyle company provides the delivery in its trucks free of charge.
On Saturday, the event began with the posting of the colors by a color guard from Oxford’s Roy W. Gibson Post 535 American Legion.
Martin Thompson, the commander of the Mason Dixon American Legion at Rising Sun, Md., was the
master of ceremonies. He presented David Bradform, chaplain of the Mason Dixon legion, who gave the invocation.
Bradford reminded those present to honor not only the veterans buried in Oxford, but those who never returned from combat overseas and those who had suffered injuries that affected them for the rest of their lives.
Two state legislators, State Sen. Andy Dinniman, (D-19) of West Whiteland, and State Rep. John Lawrence, (R-13) of West Grove, were on hand.
Of the veterans and those who serve, Dinniman said,
“No nation is safe unless it is protected.”
Lawrence said he had recently heard a news item that someone had been killed in Afghanistan. He said he immediately hoped it was not his friend who was serving there. Then he reflected that this person who had been killed was the member of a family, and that they, at this time, were suffering the sadness of the loss. He quoted biblical advice from Christ who said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends.”
The meeting was covered by television news reporters from Philadelphia.
IRS letters – but when the supervisors began to open the township’s mail after firing Moore on May 17, they discovered a flagrant misuse of the township’s credit card and unpaid withholding taxes with overdue fines.
“We were heartbroken and outraged at the same time,” Leff said. “Our trusted employee, a colleague and friend to many, had betrayed us all.”
Hoffman then walked the audience through a detailed presentation that listed several methods Moore used to allegedly embezzle the large amount of money – undetected by other township officials or staff – since she first took $15,243 in unauthorized payroll back in 2013.
Allegedly, Moore created a rubber stamp of Stevens’s signature and used it on checks to herself.
The ceremony proceeded with the ceremonial laying of eight wreaths by members of the six branches of military, plus families of the departed veterans or of those who were still missing.
Those who participated were William Jones (Army), John Orcutt (Navy), William H. Tomlinson Jr. (Marines), Aaron Shelton (Air Force), Paula Fuller (Coast Guard), Max King Jr (Merchant Marines), and Terri Hines (Gold Star families) and Sandra Day (POW/MIA).
Rachel Peak, a senior high school student from Oxford High School Band, played “Taps,” and Breena Schroder sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”
It was at the completion of the formal wreath presentations that friends and relatives were invited to go around the cemetery looking for flags identifying graves of veterans and place the wreaths on those graves.
Sherrow told the guests, “We want these remembrance wreaths to symbolize our honor to those who have served and are serv-
ing in the armed forces of our great nation and to their families who endure the sacrifices every day on our behalf.”
Members of the color guard lead spectators into the cemetery for the ceremony.
Photos by Chris Barber
A member of the color guard departs the cemetery at the end of the ceremony.
Aaron Shelton lays a wreath in honor of the Air Force.
Aiden Byrd, left, and Christina Culley lay wreaths in the cemetery after the ceremony.
Members of the color guard salute during the playing of the ‘Star Spangled Banner.’
Allegedly, she made scores of unauthorized payroll distributions to herself.
Allegedly, she prepared a fake memo that gave her permission to pay herself for overtime, which as a salary-exempt employee she was not entitled to.
Allegedly, she submitted fake bills to vendors, and when those bills were paid and the checks came in, she would enter the computer software and change the vendor’s name to her name.
Allegedly, she used township credit cards to purchase items for herself, such as jewelry, trips and theater tickets.
Allegedly, she concealed credit card statements and other documents.
Allegedly, Moore gave herself access to township systems, but did not safeguard those systems, as advised by the supervisors.
Stevens said that because of the great respect that Moore earned over her time in the township, “there was no reason to suspect that she was not actually the person whom she appeared to be. Over her 26 years of employment by the township, she earned the trust of many in our community. Many of you here tonight considered her to be both friend and colleague. To me, she was a partner.
“In the end, she deceived us all. She not only allegedly stole large amounts of money, she betrayed the trust of everyone – everyone.
“She alone had access to the records, and she alone had deliberately failed to act when instructed by the supervisors to upgrade the township’s financial safeguards and payroll software, to make them secure. The work that Lisa was doing to secretly manipulate the finances was shocking and shameful. It was also cleverly done. The books actually looked fine from the outside and fooled even our auditors and our consultants.”
Just prior to a 15-minute break in the session, Stevens drew jeers from the audience when he said, “I believe she [Moore] deserves 100 percent of her crimes.”
‘Are all of you going to resign?’
After a short break, the meeting resumed with questions from the audience, and by moderator and former Kennett Square Borough mayor Leon Spencer, who encouraged the audience to ask their questions in a respectful manner.
“I know the alleged,” Spencer began. “I know the person who is accused of these crimes. We had an opportunity as a borough and a township to work together on things, and as has been stated, there was a lot of trust there. I know her family. Her mother was a classmate of mine.” Spencer then directed his attention from the audience
to the supervisors.
“I have no choice but to come after all of you hard,” he told them. “Are all of you going to resign? It seems that you should all resign, right now. Some of the things we have heard here tonight suggest incompetence, and that you do not deserve to be here. What is your response?”
“So where would that leave the township?” Leff answered. “Abandoning the township now isn’t what is needed. If we had resigned when this horrible incident was first learned about, there would be no meeting tonight – none of you would be here -- because there would be no investigation. There would be no idea of what happened or who allegedly did it. There would be no charges filed, and there would be no people around to fix it.
“There would be no prosecution and no recovery of funds, and there would be none of the methods and people put in place to prevent it from happening again.”
Spencer accused the board of not providing proper oversight to Moore. “How in the world could you let this happen?” he asked Stevens. “According to the information you shared with us tonight, this went on for over six years, to the tune of $3.2 million. Someone was not providing oversight, and that is a disgrace. So, I have to ask you, how could you let this happen?”
“This was a complicated and systemic scheme by a determined insider who was committed to steal and cover it up,” Stevens said. He was then interrupted by a shout of “You were the enabler!” from the audience.
“There is a reason why it was not discovered. It wasn’t discovered in the administration that existed before this one, just as it wasn’t discovered until now, in this one.”
Stevens said that the money that Moore allegedly stole was always in play – being shuffled from budget to budget – to create a three-card monte effect.
“We made every effort we could to put into place stronger and stronger controls, and the bottom line was that we were assured that those controls were in place, but it turns out they weren’t,” he said. “The bottom line is that I feel exactly the same way all of the people in this room feel, and I find it terrible that any of us have to go through this. The fact is, that we discovered it, and we’re the ones who are confronting it, to deal with that problem.”
For the next two hours, all three supervisors continued to dodge fireballs in the form of questions from the audience. Most were on point and specific; others were scorched-earth vitriol.
“Are you aware of the allegations made in 2008 against Ms. Moore, which included fraudulent use of the township’s credit card and the fraudulent use of a resume that falsified her educational experience?” asked township resident Joseph Lacy.
“When I was running [for the board of supervisors in 2012], I had heard rumors to that effect, and I asked people if I could find out about it,” Stevens said. “I could never find any documentation of it, so the answer is that I do not know.”
Zayas said that through the course of the investigation, he and his fellow investigators asked township staff to provide documentation providing proof that these purchases were in fact made, but “we ended up with an allegation without any support,” he said, which he said is because all township records prior to 2012 were destroyed.
(Note: On or about Sept. 10, 2007, the Chester County Press received documentation from an anonymous source that contained copies of two invoices from Sears Commercial One, dated Jan. 19, 2007 and sent to Kennett Township, that indicate that a 42-inch plasma television, priced at $1,299.88, and a DVD player, priced at $512.98, were sent to Moore at the township, and were both paid by the township on Feb. 13, 2007.)
Township resident Victor Manning asked Zayas if the $3.2 million Moore allegedly stole is secure, “or does it have a chance to grow?” he asked.
“It’s hard to say, but there are other transactions that we would consider in a civil context but not a criminal context,” Zayas said. “Are they millions? I’m going to have to say ‘No.’”
“Are you free to estimate what they might be?” Manning asked.
“I’m going to have to say ‘No,’ because I am going to have to look at it in greater detail and then make an assessment,” Zayas replied. “My suspicion is that we’re dealing in the thousands, but the other problem is that prior to 2013, we don’t have any supporting documents.”
Spencer asked the supervisors if there was ever a time when other members of the township staff had ever shared any inclination with them that they detected possible improprieties. They all answered that they had not.
‘A Cross Between Warren Buffett and Albert Einstein’
Landenberg resident Louise Johnson then approached the podium. She described herself as the former mayor of a town of 25,000 residents and a former Exxon executive.
did a seasoned lawyer such as yourself not question such a consolidation of power?”
“I did very specifically say to her, ‘Lisa, it does not look good that you are handling all of the financial matters of the township. You need someone else to do it,’” Stevens replied.
“When I questioned her about it, she said that she had other staff in the township who were sharing that responsibility. I told her to do it, and she told me that she did it.”
‘My conclusion is that I am naïve’
“I want to compliment you on the excellent job you’ve done to remediate –and from what I have been hearing – and how you plan to make things better, since the time the discovery was made,” she said. “However, let me add that Lisa Moore has been made out tonight to be something of a cross between Warren Buffett and Albert Einstein. She is not. Some of the things she pulled were right out of the segregation of duty handbook 101 and should have been discovered long ago.
“This would never, ever, have gone on this long in a corporation with a leadership team,” Johnson added. “I am sure that you are very excellent in your fields of medicine and law (Stevens and Hoffman are attorneys and Leff is a medical doctor), but I will submit that you are not qualified to do the job of running this township as a business.”
Some in the audience continued to interrupt and mock the supervisors’ answers, while the questions and comments from residents turned to red-meat backlash allegations such as lack of oversight and irresponsible handling of township funds. They continued to press Stevens to explain the check-writing process at the township, and how Moore’s alleged indiscretions got past him. At another moment, an audience member compared the supervisors’ allowing Moore to function unchecked to allowing “a fox to watch the hen house.”
“On your watch, clearly there was a huge breach in fiduciary responsibility,” he added. “We can’t fathom the brashness of you sitting up there believing that you had no part of it.”
“I have heard painstaking attempts tonight to indicate that Lisa Michelle Moore is responsible – allegedly – for the crimes that she committed,” one resident of Penns Manor said. “While I understand that personal responsibility, what I did not hear was any attempt to address the supervisors’ abject failure of leadership. What we have heard here is a sense of the non-apology and the non-acceptance of culpability that have allowed these things to happen.”
Directing his question to Stevens, he asked, “Why
The Penns Manor resident then accused the supervisors of demonstrating what he called “a clear lack of humility.” Later in the session, another resident implied that the supervisors were demonstrating a “cavalier” behavior toward the culture of the township under Moore.
“When I first began as a supervisor, the first thing I did was meet with Lisa, and she told me how we did things here,” Hoffman said.
“In some ways, I feel that I trusted someone who gave every indication throughout the community that she was trusted. It’s my fault, because I trusted her, and I take full responsibility for that.
“I can’t apologize to all of you enough,” she added, fighting back tears. “I just want to make it better and we’ve been trying to do that.”
“I guess that my conclusion is that I am naive, because my experience was that [Moore] was honest and that we were able to have open discussions about any of the things related to the township and the periphery of the township,” Stevens said.
“The bottom line is that we were working together, and it’s particularly painful, because she was a partner in many ways.”
Perhaps the only breath of fresh air in a large room stuffy with the fog of the investigation was Ratliff, who earlier in the evening gave a presentation that detailed the many steps the township is taking to scrub itself of Moore’s alleged fraudulence and streamline and secure its accounting systems.
“I want to make something very clear,” he told the audience. “I came to Kennett Township to be manager because I wanted to be here. You may think I am crazy, and that’s fine, but I left a great job with a great team, but not a day goes by when I regret that decision.
“I am not here just to serve the three people on the board, but the 9,000 residents of Kennett Township,” he added. “I am going to do the best I can for all of you, realizing that everyone has different interests and objectives for the township, and it’s my
job to help the board sort that out.”
Poluka assured the audience that BlankRome will endeavor to recapture all – or nearly all – the more than $3 million that Moore allegedly stole. Despite the fact that an eight-month investigation has delivered a conclusive report of its findings; that the township has begun to clean its own financial house with a series of new controls; and that the public meeting allowed them to air out “how it happened,” the township is still in the infancy of an investigation that is likely to linger over Chester County for quite some time.
Unfortunately for the township, they are just the latest victims in a spree of similar crimes that have been perpetrated to individuals, to business and to municipal governments. During his introductory remarks, Zayas addressed the question that served as the white elephant for the meeting: “So how did we get here and what are the circumstances that surround these types of events?” he asked. In finding the clues, Zayas began to read from the DA’s press release, plucking out various tidbits of familiar patterns.
“The defendant was a trusted and long-time employee...” he said, reading from the release. “As manager, the defendant had oversight and access to virtually all of the township’s financial operations...It was a multi-pronged scheme... Business records of the township were not always complete and contained inaccurate entries.
“These are characteristics that we encounter in virtually every investigation of this type,” he said.
“Some of us have seen this movie before,” Poluka said. “It happens. It happens with charities, with public entities and with public corporations. We’re going to deal with it, and we’re going to take every action possible to make sure that we can be able to recover as much money as possible. “We’re not done,” he said at the conclusion of the Q & A session. “We have stuff to do. And we’re going to work through it.”
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Township supervisor Dr. Richard Leff.
Joseph Poluka, an attorney with the law firm of Blank Rome’s investigations department, provided additional information regarding the investigation.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
With fellow supervisors Whitney Hoffman and Dr. Richard Leff looking on, Kennett Township board chairman Scudder Stevens delivers his introductory remarks.
Holidays...
Continued from Page 1A
Monetary donations were also accepted.
Meanwhile, the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce came up with a unique way to help the effort. Christine Grove, the chamber’s executive director, explained that in 2018, the organization started the “Cash the Elf” social media campaign where photos of Cash—an Elf on the Shelf-type character—were posted on the Chamber’s social media outlets. Cash became quite popular.
“For 2019,” Grove explained, “we thought how could this campaign, which garners a buzz for the businesses, also benefit others?”
Grove explained that over coffee one day with Officer Greer, an idea was born. Cash the Elf would visit local businesses or
organizations if they were willing to donate either money or a toy to the police department’s toy drive.
The social media campaign ran from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve.
According to Grove, Cash the Elf visited over 50 businesses as of last week.
Oxford police officers, with some assistance from Santa and some helpers, then delivered all the toys to children standing outside their homes.
Greer said that the effort to collect and distribute toys is a great opportunity for children and teenagers in Oxford Borough to have a positive interaction with police officers. This positive interaction helps to build trust and eliminate some of the fear that some youngsters may feel when they first encounter a police officer.
Additionally, the effort
Chester County Press
Local News
allows the local police officers to help out families—specifically children.
Greer noted that there are families in the area who are suffering in silence, and this is a way to help some of them.
Grove said that the Oxford Chamber of Commerce and local businesses welcomed the opportunity to team up with the Oxford Police
Parking garage in Oxford now open
Department and to help brighten the holidays for families.
“Cash generated quite a following last year during the holidays on our social media,” Grove explained.
“We are thrilled this year to partner with the Oxford Police Department in adding the giving component to Cash the Elf’s visits. We have such a wonderfully generous community, this is one way we can help spotlight those businesses
London Grove...
Continued from Page 1A
When Guenther and township secretary Dawn Maciejezyk were asked what their priorities were for projects to support, they agreed that the top choice is completing a sidewalk on State Road near the Avon Grove High School. They also pointed to London Grove’s “honor” of having 62 bridges, the most of any township in Chester County. They have allotted $493,000 in 2021 and $495,000 in
that give back. I walk into a business and hear ‘Cash is here!’ It’s just a fun way to connect our members while benefiting the chil-
2022 for repair and replacement of those bridges.
Some expense items are hard to predict. Guenther said one example is road salt which they use in response to bad winter weather. Inasmuch as London Grove’s leadership and residents in general have a reputation for their environmental consciousness and awareness of the stress salt puts on the roads and ground, in this township they use a use a beet juice combination for melting the ice on the roads. “It’s not red,” Guenther said of the mixture.
She added that, in an effort to keep costs down, they buy as much as they can at the end of the season to stock up and get prepared for the next winter.
At the Dec. 11 meeting, they said goodbye to supervisors Richard Scott Harper and Thomas Szakas. Those outgoing supervisors will be replaced at the Jan. 6 reorganization meeting by Kevin Runey and Christine Allison. Future meetings after January will be held on the second Wednesday of the month.
Courtesy photos Cash with Oxford Police Department officers Richards and Greer at Wholly Grounds.
Cash posing on a new septic tank at Brandywine Septic.
dren in Oxford.”
To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
Photo by Steven Hoffman The parking garage in Oxford, pictured here on the evening that the Oxford Country Christmas event took place, is now open.
Motorists can utilize the first two levels of the garage. The entrances are located off Octoraro Alley and Second Street. Parking in the garage is free through Jan. 1, 2020.
Scheing was walking her dog along the Laurel Woods Trail when she realized that she was in a very familiar place: deep beneath her feet stood the Laurel Spring well, a formation of rocks that bordered a sharp turn along Penn Green Road. Immediately, she called Harald on her cell phone, who at the time was living in Tuscaloosa, Ala. and was in the throes of a courageous battle with cancer.
She thought that by mentioning the well, it would brighten Harald’s spirits. As she stood admiring the forested green of the trail, Harald delivered the news.
There was very little hope that he would ever defeat his illness.
Leaving behind a wife and six children, Harald Herglotz died at his home in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in July 2012. He was 67.
“Over the next several years, I would drive by the well and it would bring back all kinds of memories, which were now bittersweet because of my brother’s passing,” Scheing said. “I would see that the well was always empty, so I began to get the idea of filling up the well somehow, in Harald’s honor.”
A few years after her brother’s death, Scheing drove to the well, and placed a red stocking with some greens tucked in it in its stone notch. In time, the well became the home of seasonal displays – ceramic pumpkins to celebrate Halloween, living ferns and lights to celebrate Christmas, colorful eggs
in a basket to celebrate Easter, and color-appropriate flowers and plants that announced the arrival of Spring and Fall.
Without her knowing it at the time, Scheing had created a new Landenberg tradition, one that soon became a drive-by ritual for passing drivers, who would be given a very brief looksee at an ever-changing gallery that celebrated the seasons.
“I would have all of my materials loaded up in my car and ready to go, and I would park on the side of the road and run in and place toys, trinkets, pots and lights in the well, and then run back to my car,” Scheing said. “It started as a memory to my brother and it became a kind of joyful cemetery beside a spring that once brought a beautiful and natural gift to so many people.”
When she first began to design the well, Scheing would include personal and family items.
“One of the reasons that I went to less expensive items for the designs is that I’ve had things stolen that were very dear to me,” she said. “I realized that I had to replace the more valuable trinkets with less expensive items because if anything did get stolen, I would feel less heartbroken.”
While the designs became conversation pieces, however, the identity of the person who made it happen remained unknown to everyone except a select few. Early in December, her identity was finally revealed.
On Dec. 8, Scheing posted on “Landenberg: You Can’t
Chester County Press
Get There From Here,” a Facebook page dedicated to sharing the news of the town. She wrote: “This afternoon I stopped at the Landenberg spring head with a Christmas tree and lights to change out the display. We had just returned from a trip out west. That’s when I found the note you see here.”
A photograph of the note followed, that read:
Please do not decorate the well with junk and leave it here long after the holiday. It becomes an eyesore. If you want to leave something keep it natural – no more plastic or faux – it just becomes litter.
“After the above note this Christmas tree will be the last item I insert,” Scheing wrote.
“My husband and I had just come back from Oregon, and I visited the well to lay out my Christmas design, and to find this note really hurt my feelings very badly,” she said. “I wanted to post it on the Landenberg Facebook page because I just thought it was mean, but I also knew that if I posted it, I would lose the anonymity of what I had been doing.”
Scheing anticipated that there would likely be a small dribbling of responses, but instead, they poured in with the velocity of the old well.
“Please don’t let one person ruin the joy in seeing your decorations for everyone else. Your displays are so loved,” wrote one submission. “Please do not stop doing this wonderful gesture!!” read another. Hour by hour, they arrived on the page and kept coming –
and are still coming, three weeks after Scheing’s first post:
“It’s such a special way to pay tribute to your brother. I always look forward to rounding the curve and seeing this little piece of magic tucked away in the rocks. My Daddy used to walk to that spring to fill water jugs as a boy. He’s been gone two years now, and when I’m missing him most, I get in my car and take a drive to that part of Landenberg. Your memorial always brings back memories of his stories of those walks from his childhood. And I thank you for that.”
“I have lived in Landenberg my entire life, and used to stop at the spring with my grandparents. I love that you decorate it. Knowing the meaning behind this now warms my heart even more. Please continue to honor your brother and bring more joy and cuteness to Landenberg.”
“I just couldn’t believe people’s reactions, and I immediately began to feel that if I really do decide not to do it anymore, that I would let so many people down who wrote that they look forward to what I design at the well,” Scheing said. “The great news has been that if do decide to back out, there have been people who wrote that they would pick up where I left off.”
As of right now, she hasn’t decided whether she will continue to design the well, but many have encouraged her to continue. She has received several postings.
“I especially liked one note a woman sent to me that said that her children
believe that fairies are responsible for what they see at the well,” she said.
“I keep going back and forth about this, but the people who have respond-
ed have been very positive.
“We’ll see.”
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
At Jennersville Hospital, our experienced surgeons combine advanced surgical procedures with excellent clinical outcomes. From general surgery to vascular surgery, Drs. DeMichele and Tayoun have performed thousands of surgeries, including minimally invasive procedures that minimize pain and shorten the recovery time. Our dedicated clinical team has one goal – helping you return to a healthy, active lifestyle.
To schedule an appointment, call 610-345-1580
To learn more about our comprehensive surgical program, visit Jennersville.TowerHealth.org
Harald Herglotz
Courtesy photos
Over the past few years, Heidi Scheing of Franklin Township has been decorating the Laurel Spring well on Penn Green Road in Landenberg, in memory of her brother, Harald Herglotz.
Help spread holiday cheer
According to a recent study by SmartAsset, Chester County ranked number one in the state of Pennsylvania when it comes to making charitable donations. This study measured how much people donate as a percentage of their net income and the proportion of people in a given county who make charitable donations.
Readers of this newspaper won’t be surprised by the results of the study—we report all the time about the many different ways that individuals and businesses in the community are supportive of those in need.
In this issue, for example, students from Unionville High School and Kennett High School teamed up to help out the Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), one of the many organizations in the area that are in the business of helping others. The Oxford Police Department once again collected toys for local families. Of course, the charitable giving doesn’t take place just during the holidays. There are a number of southern Chester County events, including the Mushroom Festival and the Kennett Run, that raise funds for nonprofit organizations.
Christmas is a time of giving. Helping others benefits more than just the recipient. It is very rewarding to be a giver, and there have been studies that have concluded that there are numerous benefits of giving. If you’re looking for a way to spread a little holiday cheer, a good way to do that is to help out your neighbors in need. Here’s a few ways to help out, if you can:
Make a contribution to KACS. Donations can be made to the Kennett Food Cupboard or the KACS Emergency Assistance Programs. These programs include case management, referral services and financial assistance for rent, utilities, and other needs. The KACS staff can also help people resolve their housing situation through homelessness prevention efforts and rapid re-housing services.
Donations can be made to: Kennett Area Community Service, 136 W. Cedar St., Kennett Square, PA 19348 and P.O. Box 1025, Kennett Square, PA 19348.
The Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center is a valuable resource for people to turn during a time of need. Contributions can be sent to the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center, 35 N. 3rd St., Oxford, Pa. 19363. The Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center provides many of the same kinds of assistance as KACS.
Family Promise of Southern Chester County is another local organization that helps families in need—specifically, families that are facing homelessness. More information about making a contribution to Family Promise of Southern Chester County is available at www.familypromisescc.org.
Another good way to provide help to those who need it most is to make a donation to the United Way of Southern Chester County at 106 West State St. Kennett Square, Pa. 19348 or make the donation online at www.unitedwayscc.org. That one donation will allow the United Way of Southern Chester County to support dozens of local nonprofit organizations that serve the community, particularly those who find themselves in a moment of need.
Chester County residents should be proud of their charitable giving—it’s one of the things that makes this community so special and vibrant. It’s an honor to have the privilege of covering this area.
We would like to wish the readers of the Chester County Press, our family of magazines, and our online news resources, a happy, healthy and safe holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
Chester County Press
Pennsylvania offers resources for older driver safety
With nearly a quarter of Pennsylvania’s licensed drivers 65 years of age or older, the Wolf Administration hosted an event at Messiah Lifeways in Mechanicsburg to highlight the unique challenges faced by older drivers during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week in early December.
“Mobility is essential to quality of life at any age,” said Kurt Myers, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services. “Many older drivers have a lifetime of valuable driving experience to draw from, and PennDOT continually seeks to balance the safety of our roadways with the need for independence and autonomy.”
Approximately 23 percent of Pennsylvania’s 8.9 million licensed drivers are 65 or older. In 2018, there were 21,746 crashes involving a driver 65 or older, resulting in 330 fatalities. This represents nearly 17 percent of the total crashes in Pennsylvania and nearly 28 percent of the fatalities.
“As Pennsylvania’s aging population continues to grow, the Wolf Administration is committed to ensuring that older adults have the resources they need to remain active in and connected to their communities,” said Secretary of Aging Robert Torres. “Driver safety awareness is a big part of that picture and if older adults need to make adjustments, accessible and available transportation alternatives become key to getting around. Pennsylvania is fortunate that our Lottery
Family, friends urged to get involved proceeds help to fund these alternative services.”
Pennsylvania has a network of shared-ride service providers dedicated to keeping older adults mobile, safe, and engaged in their community. This free transportation program allows citizens age 65 or older to ride for free on a local, fixed-route service whenever local public transportation is operating.
During 2017-18, 83,252 riders accessed the SharedRide Program, totaling more than 3.3 million rides.
“Winter weather conditions, including snow and ice, longer nights, and heavy holiday traffic, can create challenges for drivers of all ages,” said Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.
“We can all do our part to keep ourselves and our fellow travelers safe on the road by slowing down, buckling up, and never driving while impaired or distracted.”
Representatives from PennDOT, PDA, AARP and PSP manned information booths to share advice and methods for helping Messiah Village residents safely extend their years on the road. Advice ranged from knowledge of current and less emphasized laws to recognizing signs that it may be time to give up driving. For example, one program discussed was CarFit, an educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association. CarFit is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently “fit” their per-
Dinniman bill calls
sonal vehicle, to learn how they can improve their fit, and to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility.
While every person ages differently, aging typically brings certain—sometimes subtle— physical, visual, and cognitive changes that could impair an older person’s ability to drive safely.
Older drivers and their families should work together to identify potential issues that may affect driving, outline courses of action to assist the older driver, and plan for when it’s time to hang up the keys.
Signs that can indicate it may be time to limit or stop driving altogether include:
• Feeling uncomfortable, fearful, or nervous when driving;
• Unexplained dents/ scrapes on the car, fences, mailboxes, or garage doors;
• Frequently getting lost and frequent “close calls” (i.e. almost crashing);
• Slower response times, particularly to unexpected situations;
• Difficulty paying attention to signs or staying in the lane of traffic; and
• Trouble judging gaps at intersections or highway entrance/exit ramps.
The Wolf Administration encourages older drivers and their loved ones to review PennDOT’s Seniors Driving Safely publication series, which can be downloaded for free from the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website. These publications help older drivers assess their abilities and offer guidance on next steps if their medical condition is reported to PennDOT. The series also includes a publication designed to guide family
and friends of older drivers in what can sometimes be difficult conversations about deciding to stop driving, as well as information for healthcare providers on PennDOT’s medical reporting program. The following safe-driving habits, which should be routine at any age, are especially useful to older drivers:
• Plan ahead: lengthy car trips should be made during daylight hours. Morning may be best because most people aren’t as tired as they are in the afternoon.
• Don’t drive in rush-hour traffic if you can avoid it. Plan trips after 9 a.m. or before 5 p.m. Know what roads near home are most congested and avoid them.
• When driving long distances, especially in winter, call ahead for weather and road condition updates.
• Look ahead. Good drivers get a jump on trouble by looking far down the road and making adjustments before encountering problems that may involve other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists or animals.
• Maintain a safe speed. This depends on what the road is like, how well the driver can see, how much traffic there is and how fast traffic is moving.
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you. The Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual advises that you should always keep a four-second gap between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Additional information on older driver safety and mobility resources is available at both PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services and the Department of Aging websites.
for training school nurses in responding to youth seizures
State Sen. Andy Dinniman recently introduced a bill that aims to strengthen and improve how school nurses and health professionals react to and treat students suffering from seizures.
Senate Bill 979, named “DOMinate Epilepsy” after a young boy’s fight with epilepsy, aims to better educate school nurses in seizure recognition and first aid. Jessica Rosini and her mother Beth Scolis have advocated on behalf of their son and grandson, Dominic, since 2017, when he suffered his first seizure. Dominic is battling with Doose Syndrome, a rare form of childhood epilepsy.
“Jessica and Beth have been fighting for not only Dominic, but all children who face epilepsy, for years now,” Dinniman, who serves as Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, said. “It’s time we helped them out in this fight by giving school professionals the tools and training they need to understand the best ways to identify, respond to, and combat youth seizures.”
Senate Bill 979 aims to have all school nurses complete a Department of Health (DOH) approved
online or in-person course which includes and focuses on the best seizure action plans by the 2021-2022 school year. It also stipulates that professional employees must complete a DOH course focusing on seizure awareness and first aid.
The bill explains that the DOH-approved course would be provided by a national nonprofit foundation with a distinct understanding of epilepsy and seizure disorders.
The first years of Dominic’s seizure onset included eleven hospital-
izations, nine ambulance rides, a helicopter flight, and numerous tests. While Dominic’s syndrome is rare, epilepsy is not.
The family’s fight does not end with legislation, either: this past November, in honor of Epilepsy Awareness Month, students and staff of Fugett Middle School raised more than $3,600 through the “Fugett DOMinates Epilepsy” fundraiser. These donations went to fund research and help raise awareness through the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
“There is so much work to be done in the fight against epilepsy and passing Senate Bill 979 would be a major step in getting it done,” Dinniman said. “And with Beth and Jessica’s work, as well as Dominic’s brave fight, I am hopeful that we can get it done.”
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are 3.4 million people with epilepsy nationwide, 470,000 of which are children. The CDC explains what these numbers might look like in a large school: with this data, out of 1,000 students, 6 of them are likely to have epilepsy.
Courtesy photo
State Senator Andy Dinniman meets with Dom, his mother Jessica Rosini, and her mother Beth Scolis to discuss and advocate for DOMinate Epilepsy.
Unionville-Chadd Ford students help families in need this holiday season
Students and staff at Charles F. Patton Middle School collected new, unused, unwrapped gifts for people of all ages as part of their annual holiday Giving Tree program. The Giving Tree program has been a Patton school tradition for over 20 years. The nearly 1,000 gifts collected this year were delivered to the New Garden Township Building on Thursday, Dec.
12. There they were distributed to families in need of some extra holiday cheer this season.
While at the township building, Patton students also helped fill 600 food boxes in preparation for the Kennett Area Community Services’ Christmas charity event on Saturday, Dec. 14. Families in need of a little help this holiday season were invited to attend the event, choose gifts from the hundreds of donations, and take home a box of donated canned and fresh food.
The annual district-wide coat and bike drives, organized by the UHS PTO, collected hundreds of warm coats and bicycles for families to “shop” from on Saturday. Families were able to pick out a warm coat and take home a refurbished bike collected and
prepared for them by the U-CF community.
The Technology and Engineering Students Association at Unionville High School handcrafted wooden dinosaur toys that
were available at the event. Students worked on the toys during their technology and engineering classes as well as after school and during Lunch and Learn. It is a great example of
students applying what they have learned in class to give back to the local community. All donations go through the Kennett Area Community Services which provides
Longwood Gardens wins the Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights poll
America voted and Longwood Gardens has been named the winner of the Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights by USA TODAY’s 2019 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. With over 500,000 outdoor lights, and fountains that dance to holiday classics, Longwood won the contest sponsored by USA Today and 10 Best.com, topping a list of 20 botanical gardens from across the U.S.
The other holiday lights displays that rounded out the top five include Dominion Energy
A Longwood Christmas is on view through Jan. 5, 2020 GardenFest of Lights, Gardens Aglow, Nights of a Thousand Candles, and Million Bulb Walk/ Dominion Energy Garden of Lights.
Guests can experience the award-winning display at Longwood Gardens now through Jan. 5, 2020. Admission to the Christmas display is by timed admission ticket, with tickets purchased in advance for a specific date and time. Tickets and reservations are available now at longwoodgardens.org. This is not the first time Longwood Gardens has
won a USA Today contest. In 2014, 2016, and 2018, Longwood was named Best Botanical Garden in North America, and in 2018 won its first Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights award. For more about the contest and the complete list of Botanical Garden winners, visit 10best.com/awards/travel/ best-botanical-garden-holiday-lights-2019.
Daniel Traub photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens
More than 500,000 lights grace more than 150 trees throughout Longwood’s outdoor holiday display.
Courtesy photos
The Giving Tree program has been a Charles F. Patton Middle School tradition for over 20 years. The nearly 1,000 gifts collected this year were delivered to the New Garden Township Building so that they could be distributed to families in the area.
families in the Kennett, UnionvilleChadds Ford, and Avon Grove school districts who need food, clothing, lodging, heat or rent.
Courtesy photos
Students and staff at Charles F. Patton Middle School collected new, unused, unwrapped gifts for people of all ages as part of their annual holiday Giving Tree program.
Courtesy photos
The Technology and Engineering Students Association at Unionville High School handcrafted wooden dinosaur toys that were available at the event.
ROBERT L. HERB, SR.
Robert L. Herb, Sr., 84, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Nov. 8 at his home in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
He was born on Jan. 31, 1935 in Shamokin, Pa. to the late Leroy and Anna Herb. He was the oldest of three siblings. His sisters were Sandra Reburn and Linda Shiplet. On June 12, 1976, he married Carol A. Stapleton in West Grove, Pa.
He retired from the Oxford Area School District as a maintenance superintendent. After retirement, he and Carol moved to Lake Havasu City, where he worked at the London Bridge Golf Resort.
He was a member of the Saint Michaels United Methodist Church in Lake Havasu City, the Lake Havasu City Elks Post 2399, and the 5th Ward Rod and Gun Club of Carroll, Pa. He enjoyed fishing, the gun club, military memorabilia, and deer hunting in Pennsylvania. He took pleasure in going to Site 6, in Lake Havasu City, where he loved to fish.
Robert is survived by his wife, Carol A. Herb; his sons, Alan Herb and Robert Herb, Jr.; his daughters, Kathy Phillips and Christine Mahlstede; his sister, Linda Shiplet; as well as nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held in the spring of 2020 in Oxford. Details will be shared at a later time.
JOYCE L. JOHNSON
Joyce L. Johnson, 85, passed away on Dec. 16 at her niece’s home in Oxford.
Born in Raleigh, NC, she was the daughter of the late Carson and Bonnie Peterson Hughes.
She was a member of Church of Jesus Christ, Oxford. Joyce loved cats, dogs and especially her family.
She is survived by one brother, Morris Hughes of West Grove; and three sisters, Geneva Noblit of Oxford, Doris Horton of Oxford and Edna Guy of Kennett Square.
A memorial service will be held and interment will be private.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., Oxford.
Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
BARBARA WHITE SCHNEEMAN
Barbara White Schneeman, 68, of Oxford, formerly of Newtown Square, passed away on Dec. 17, at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del. She was the wife of Walter D. Schneeman with whom she shared 13 years of marriage. Born in Lansdowne, she was the daughter of the late Robert E. and Gloria E. Ingersoll White. Barbara attended Nottingham Presbyterian Church.
She graduated from Marple Newtown High School and received her master’s in social services from Villanova University.
GEORGIANNA M. TALLEY
Georgianna Mary (Tuohey) Talley, 80, of Oxford, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 12 in Bridgetown, Barbados, while traveling with her family on a Caribbean cruise. She was the beloved wife of Albert Lee Talley, Sr., with whom she shared 62 years of marriage. Born April 6, 1939 to John T., Jr. and Jenny (Hunter) Tuohey in Chester, Pa., Georgianna lived in Aston Mills, Pa. and Chester, Pa. before moving to Oxford in June 1965.
Georgianna will be remembered by her family and friends as a gifted conversationalist and friend to everyone she met. She was happiest with her family during the summer at Rehoboth Beach, Del., where she spent time every year since 1989. She loved the sand, sun and boardwalk, but most of all, she loved spending time with her family and friends at the beach. She was known for hosting lively family gatherings throughout the year, with the most anticipated being the massive Easter Egg hunts for all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and all the family friends.
Georgianna worked hard to support her family over the years in various food service jobs, including several years at Bowling Green Brandywine Alcohol and Addiction Treatment Center, in Kennett Square. She was also a very proud and active member/friend of Bill W. for over 39 years, attending many conventions throughout the United States, and speaking engagements including taking a meeting to women in prison. It is said that it was always an honor to receive one of her coins when celebrating an anniversary marking another year in sobriety.
William J. Turner
120 Doe Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348 302-760-3190 wjt4th@outlook.com sipplemonuments.com
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
TheChesterCountyPressfeaturesadedicatedchurch/religious pagethatcanhelpyouadvertiseyourhouseofworshipand/or business.Thepageisupdatedweeklywithnewscripture.Only$10 Weeklyforthisspace.
Weareofferingaspecialdiscountof25%offeachandeveryhelp wanted/classifiedadvertisementtoanybusinessthatadvertiseson thePRESSchurchpage.
For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10
Barbara was retired from Villanova University as student placement advisor in chemical engineering. She was also the longtime bookkeeper for Newtown Square Sewer Authority.
She enjoyed cooking, gardening, landscaping and her cat, Annie. Barbara had a vivacious personality. She especially enjoyed spending time with her friends, nieces and nephew.
She is survived by her husband; and his children, David A. Schneeman (Patti) and Jeff Schneeman (Celia); one step daughter, Joyce Ricks; one brother, Thomas F. White (Patricia) of Fogelsville; two sisters, Donna Halacz and Linda Weaver; three nieces; one nephew; and seven greatnieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by Walters’ son, Daniel Paul Schneeman. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28 at Nottingham Presbyterian Church, 497 W Christine Rd. in Nottingham where friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be in Oxford Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Nottingham Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
She had you in tears with all her love and compassion she gave so freely and carrying the message to save another one’s life.
She was preceded in death by her husband Albert Lee Talley, Sr., her sons Frank Day Talley, Micheal John Talley and Albert Lee Talley, Jr., one grandson Erik Jon Peterson and one brother Peter (Pete) Tuohey.
She is survived by her daughter, Linda Peterson (married to Dennis) of Oxford; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Talley) Rohrer (married to Paul) Rohrer of Quarryville, Sarah (Peterson) Colondrillo (married to Chris) of Carlisle, Mandy Talley (married to Thomas Lander) of Nottingham, Jason Talley (married to Kelly Wiggins Talley) of Colora, Md., Jake Talley, Ashley Ann (Talley) Utter (married to Steve) of Springfield, Virginia; nine great-grandchildren, Amber Hamson Wu, Dillon Rohrer, Marisa Colondrillo, Cody Colondrillo, Taylor Talley, Faith Talley, Gabriel Lander, Alistair Utter and Miles Utter; six brothers, John T. III (Mike), Joseph S., Philip J. (Jim), Donald J., Dennis, and Harry W. Tuohey; and one sister, Marian L. (Sis) Balawejder.
Funeral services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia (Breast Cancer Research), 125 South Fifth St., Suite 202, Philadelphia, PA 19107 or Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163 www.aa.org.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., Oxford. On-line condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Obituary submissions
The Chester County Press publishes obituaries, free of charge, for those with a connection to southern Chester County. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received, space permitting. They also are posted on www.chestercounty. com. Photos should be sent as .jpg attachments to the obituary text. To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press, email the information to: editor@chestercounty.com.
311 Sawmill Rd., Cochranville, PA 19330 has been filed in the Department of State at Harrisburg, PA, File Date 10/04/2019 pursuant to the Fictitious Names Act, Act 1982-295. The name and address of the person who is a party to the registration is Melvin Yoder, 311 Sawmill Rd., Cochranville, PA 19330. 12-24-1t
PUBLIC NOTICE PENN TOWNSHIP ZONING HEARING BOARD NOTICE is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board of Penn Township will hold a Public Hearing at the Penn Township Municipal Building, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at which time the Board will hear the following matter: In Re: Application of Avon Grove School District, seeking variances from the requirements of Penn Township Zoning Ordinance Sections: §1203.A.2 (noise levels at lot boundaries); §1203.A.5 (requiring underground utilities); §1401.A (steep slope controls); §1512.B.2.a (restricting access to public water); §1514.C (screening of outdoor recreation areas); §1602.D.1 (minimum planting requirements); §1602.F.6.b (elevation or bordering of parking lot planting areas); §1603 (minimum lighting and light shielding); §1704.A.2 (parking stall width); §1704.A.3 (curbing of parking lots); and §1803 (maximum size of signs); all so as to permit the construction of a public school on property consisting of 153.8 acres located at 148 Sunnyside Road, in the Township’s R-2 and I-1 zoning districts (UPI #58-4-71).
If you are a person with a disability and wish to attend the public meeting scheduled above and require an auxiliary aide, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceedings, please contact the Township Secretary at (610) 869-9620 to discuss how Penn Township may best accommodate your needs. Edward M. Foley, Solici-
tor, Brutscher, Foley, Milliner, Land & Kelly, LLP, 213 E. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 12p-24-1t
INCORPORATION
NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT Articles of Incorporation were filed with and approved by the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 22ND day of NOVEMBER 2019, for the purpose of creating a business corporation which has been incorporated under the provisions of the Business Corporation Law of 1988. The name of the corporation is CM Travelventures Inc. 12p-24-1t
ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Helen Marie Ruggieri Late of Kennett Square, 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, Joseph Ruggieri, 1 Bridleshire Circle, Newark, DE 19711 Executor, or Attorney: Denise D. Nordheimer, Esq., 2001 Baynard Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19802
12p-24-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff CAROLYN B. WELSH, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 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, February 17th, 2020. 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. 20-1-10 Writ of Execution No. 2019-06502 DEBT $237,737.04
ALL THAT CERTAIN tract of land situate in West Nottingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a final subdivision plan thereof prepared by Kenneth G. Crossan, Professional Land Surveyor, dated 05/26/1986, revised 07/28/1986 and recorded as Plan no. 6929 on the Office of the Recorder of
Deeds of Chester County, as follows: BEGINNING at a point near the center line of Red Pump Road, known as T-304, a corner of land now or late of Norman Wolgin and Sylvan M. Cohen; thence along said Red Pump Road, South 28 degrees 54 minutes 00 seconds East 186.58 feet to a point; a corner of Lot No. 2 on said plan; thence along the same South 53 degrees 25 minutes 41 seconds West 514.10 feet to a point in line of other lands of Rose Chase Eshleman; thence
BEING
UNDER
1.
shall be placed on the premises for dwelling purposes.
Tax Parcel # 68-5-3.3
PLANTIFF: DITECH FINANCIAL LLC VS DEFENDANT: E. WILHELMINA CLAY A/K/A ETHEL WILHELMINA CLAY, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF WALLACE H. CLAY A/K/A WALLACE HENRY CLAY
SALE ADDRESS: 164 Red Pump Road, Nottingham, a/k/a Nottingham Township, PA 19362
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: RAS CITRON, LLC 855-225-6906
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 12p-25-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff CAROLYN B. WELSH, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 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, February 17th, 2020. 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. 20-1-19 Writ of Execution No. 2019-01101 DEBT $34,186.26
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot of land, situate in East Marlborough Township, Chester County, Commonwealth of PA, bounded and described according to a Final Subdivision Plan of Fox Lee Manor, Section 1, made by George E. Regester, Jr. and Sons, Inc., Registered Land Surveyors dated 4/1/1977 last revised 6/22/1977 and recorded in Chester County as Plan No. 1214 as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point of curve on the Southwesterly side of Fox Hunt Drive (50 feet wide) a corner of Lot No. 10 on said Plan; thence extending from said beginning point along the side of said road, on the arc of a circle curving to the left, having a radius of 180 feet, the arc distance of 37.03 feet to a point of reverse curve at the corner of lands designated as Future Right-of-Way; thence extending along said lands on the arc of a circle curving to the right, having a radius of 125 feet, the arc distance of 171.60 feet to a point of tangent; thence extending along same, South 3 degrees 34 minutes 56 seconds East, 46.06 feet to a point in line of lands now or late of J.B. Swayne; thence extending along said lands South 86 degrees 25 minutes 4 seconds West, 422.20 feet to a corner of Lot No. 10, aforesaid; thence extending along said lot, North 54 degrees 20 minutes 21 seconds East, 338.12 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.
BEING Lot No. 11 on said Plan.
BEING UPI No. 61-5-16.74.
CONTAINING 1.049 acres of land, more or less.
BEING the same premises which GREGG B. GERSHON AND SUSAN A.GERSHON, HUSBAND AND WIFE, by Indenture bearing date AUGUST 4, 2000 and recorded AUGUST 22, 2000 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for the County of CHESTER in RECORD BOOK 4805 page 1632 etc., granted and conveyed unto GREGG E. NEWSCHWANDER and JANE K. NEWSCHWANDER, HUSBAND AND WIFE, in fee.
PLANTIFF: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR GMACM HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST 2004-HE5
VS DEFENDANT: Linda Surdo & Peter Surdo
SALE ADDRESS: 708 Fox Hunt Drive, Kennett Square, PA 19348
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: RAS CITRON, LLC 855-225-6906
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 12p-25-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff CAROLYN B. WELSH, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary
Longwood Gardens executive chef named Chef of the Year
Restaurant Associates Chef of the Year Award. Restaurant Associates is
Dwelling
PLANTIFF: Santander Bank, N.A. f/k/a Sovereign Bank N.A. VS DEFENDANT: Francis Hildwine & Jeanette Hildwine
SALE ADDRESS: 301 Anvil Road, Nottingham, PA 19362-9612
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP 215-563-7000
a subsidiary of Compass Group and the Be-AStar program is Compass Group’s excellence recognition for its top performers.
“We are extremely proud of Chef Brown for receiving the 2019 Restaurant Associates Chef of the Year Award,” said Longwood Gardens President & CEO Paul B. Redman. “This important recognition is a testament to our vision of creating a memorable dining experience for all in the extraordinary setting of Longwood.”
Originally from Kennett Square, Brown attended the prestigious Culinary
Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and was offered a position as Sous Chef at Winterthur Museum and Country Estate in Winterthur, Del. After moving to Atlanta in 2005 and a six-month stint as the Sous Chef of Table 1280 restaurant, he shifted to the catering division at the Woodruff Arts Center. After four years in Atlanta, Brown took the position of executive chef at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. In the summer of 2011, he came back to Longwood Gardens and is now the executive chef at the Terrace Restaurant,
which includes the full service 1906 dining room, as well as the Café. Named in honor of the year Longwood founder Pierre S. du Pont purchased the property in the picturesque Brandywine Valley outside of Philadelphia, 1906 offers a fresh approach to elegant dining featuring seasonal fare with a focus on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Named one of the 100 Best Alfresco Restaurants in America by OpenTable, 1906’s menu highlights produce freshly harvested from the Gardens, as well as local farms. Through
an innovative menu style, 1906 takes diners on a culinary journey to experience the past, present, and future of elegant dining.
Hopewell School honors Students of the Month
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
Elementary School teachers nominate Students of the Month based on the students’ academic achievements and participation in class and school activities. Pictured with principal Dr. Nicole Addis and assistant principal Jason Soule, are fifth grade Students of the Month (front row from left), Ilvin Carabello, Camilla Sanchez-Alba, Adrianne Quinones, Chase Verbanas and Kaylee Teagle; (sec-
ond
J. FRANCO WHO AC-
LSF11
19363
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC 614-220-5611
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 12p-25-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff CAROLYN B. WELSH , the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 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, February 17th, 2020. 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. 20-1-36
Writ of Execution No. 2019-04736 DEBT $118,846.88
Property situate in the EAST NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania
BLR# 69-6-73.4
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: Residential Dwelling
PLANTIFF: Branch Banking and Trust Company s/b/m to Susquehanna Bank VS DEFENDANT: Hilma Campbell, in Her Capacity as Heir of Mark A. Campbell a/k/a Mark Campbell, Deceased Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns, and All Persons, Firms, or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest From or Under Mark A. Campbell a/k/a Mark Campbell, Deceased
SALE ADDRESS: 320 Mount Pleasant Road, Oxford, PA 19363-2806
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP 215-563-7000
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff CAROLYN B. WELSH, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 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, February 17th, 2020. 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. 20-1-37 Writ of Execution No. 2019-05671 DEBT $227,072.92
Property situate in NEW LONDON
TOWNSHIP, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania
BLR# 710100190000
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: Residential Dwelling
PLANTIFF: New Residential Mortgage LLC VS DEFENDANT: William Showalter, Jr
SALE ADDRESS: 2125 Newark Road, West Grove, PA 19390-9553
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP 215-563-7000
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 12p-25-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff CAROLYN B. WELSH, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 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, February 17th, 2020. 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. 20-1-38 Writ of Execution No. 2019-01906 DEBT $848,433.24
Property situate in the PENNSBURY TOWNSHIP, CHESTER County, Pennsylvania
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: Residential Dwelling
PLANTIFF: Bank of America, N.A. VS DEFENDANT: Martin Eichelberger & Annemieke Eichelberger
SALE ADDRESS: 2 Misty Meadow Drive, West Chester, PA 19382-7096
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP 215-563- 7000
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 12p-25-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff CAROLYN B. WELSH , the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 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, February 17th, 2020. 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. 20-1-39
Writ of Execution No. 2015-01455 DEBT $149,507.56
PROPERTY SITUATE IN KENNETT TOWNSHIP
TAX PARCEL # 62-02J-0003
SOLD AS THE PROPERTY OF: DOROTHY N. CONNOLLY and FREDERICK P. MRAZ
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: Residential Dwelling
PLANTIFF: M&T Bank VS DEFENDANT: Dorothy N. Connolly & Frederick P. Mraz
SALE ADDRESS: 9 Woodchuck Way Lot 9, Kennett Square, PA 19348
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY:
Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, February 17th, 2020. 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. 20-1-40 Writ of Execution No. 2015-06920 DEBT $135,576.05
PROPERTY SITUATE IN KENNETT TOWNSHIP
TAX PARCEL # 62-02J-0003
SOLD AS THE PROPERTY OF: DOROTHY N. MRAZ A/K/A DOROTHY C. MRAZ A/K/A DOROTHY N. CONNOLLY and FREDERICK P. MRAZ
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: Residential Dwelling
PLANTIFF: M&T Bank VS DEFENDANT: Dorothy N. Mraz a/k/a Dorothy C. Mraz a/k/a Dorothy N. Connelly & Frederick P. Mraz
SALE ADDRESS: 9 Woodchuck Way, Kennett Square, PA 19348
PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-627-1322
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 12p-25-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff CAROLYN B. WELSH , the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 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
Longwood Gardens executive chef Will Brown is the recipient of the 2019
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo Will Brown, the executive chef for Longwood Gardens, is the recipient of the 2019 Restaurant Associates Chef of the Year Award.
row from left) Griffin Bonk, Ruby Canaday, Lily Tsakiris, Price Harrison and Ethan Cook. Sixth grade Students of the Month are (third row from left) Davian Guerrero, Kaylee Carr, Rylinn Barnes, Kylie Quin and Owen Graf; (top row from left) Daniel Goodrich, Omar Zavala-Ruiz, Samantha Kiernan, Clark McPeak, Kate Arnold and Alize Behrenhouser. Fifth grade Student of the Month selection Colin Scheckner is not pictured.
Through Jan. 5
‘A Longwood Christmas’
“A Longwood Christmas” will be on display at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square) through Jan. 5. This year’s holiday display is inspired by the contours of traditional holiday favorites, such as poinsettias, pinecones and snowflakes, as well as shapes unique to Longwood. The exhibition Hall holds a 400-foot-long ribbon entwined with giant ornaments, nestled among trees, culminating in a towering Christmas tree decorated in red, gold and silver ornaments. Daily concerts and themed light and fountain shows are scheduled. More than half a million lights are on the trees outside. Admission is by timed admission ticket, purchased in advance for a specific date and time.
Members require free, timed reservations every day if arriving after 2 p.m.
Gardens Premium Members do not require reservations. Tickets and reservations are available at www.longwoodgardens.org.
Through Jan. 1
Herr’s light display
Herr Foods Inc. (20 Herr Drive, Nottingham) opens its drive-through Christmas light display every day from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Jan. 1. Visit https://herrs.com/ visit-us/community-events or call 1-800-344-3777.
Through Jan. 5 ‘A Brandywine Christmas’
The magic of the holiday season returns to the Brandywine River Museum of Art (Route 1, Chadds Ford) during “A Brandywine Christmas,”
through Jan. 5. There will be a gallery filled with an expansive model train display; a special exhibition featuring a selection of three beloved fairy tales and their evolution through time and different cultures; towering trees decorated with whimsical Critter ornaments; and a wide selection of holiday events and programs for the whole family. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 65 and older, $6 for students and children ages 6 and older; free for children 5 and younger. Visit www.brandywine.org/ museum
Jan. 3
Book signings
The Palette & The Page gallery will host book sign-
ings with authors Gwen Davis and Karin Harrison on Friday, Jan. 3. The event is part of the First Friday Elkton Art Loop event that takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Davis is a writer eager to tell a story. She was born in New Jersey, raised in Delaware, and finally settled in Maryland. She has worked as a children’s librarian, story-teller, and is now retired after 31 years from the University of Delaware. Harrison was born in Germany but has lived in the United States for over fifty years. Leaving her successful career in the optical field to go back to college, she focused on becoming a writer, and her short stories have since been published in books of anthology, literary journals, and online. She has authored five novels. Meeting the authors is
a free event. The Palette & The Page is located at 120 East Main Street in Elkton.
Jan. 26
Chocolate Lovers Festival
The Kennett Chocolate Lovers Festival will be held on Jan. 26 at Unionville High School. Dozens of bakers will be competing for prizes, and offering tastings of their creations at the event. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Southern Chester County. Tickets are on sale at www. KennettChocolate.org. VIP ticket holders gain early entrance at noon. General admission opens at 1 p.m. Additional tasting tickets are available.
Kennett Flash schedule
The Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square) hosts regional and national artists. Tickets are available in advance at www.kennettflash.org, or at the door. Snacks and beverages are sold, or guests can BYOB. Upcoming shows include: Jeffrey Gaines (Dec. 27, 8 p.m., $25); Steal Your Peach: Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead tribute (Dec. 28, 8 p.m., $18 and $23); Films & Words: Miles Davis Birth of the Cool with guest lecturer Matt Cappy (Dec. 29, 7 p.m., free); Steve Forbert and the New Renditions Trio (Dec. 31, 7 and 9:30 p.m., $45 and $50).
To submit items to the Calendar of Events, e-mail editor@chestercounty. com. There is no charge. Not every submission can be included. Items should be submitted at least two weeks before the event.
Chester County Commissioners invest in United Way’s Mobile Home Reassessment project
Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell recently presented a check for $10,000 to the United Way of Chester County to support the organization’s Mobile Home Reassessment project. The donated funds are part of the County’s annual appropriations to organizations and non-profits and will be used by the United Way of Chester County to provide property tax reassessment support to all mobile home owners in the County. The Mobile Home initia-
tive, piloted by the United Way of Chester County in partnership with the Honey Brook Food Pantry, resulted in 177 successful mobile home assessment appeals with an average property assessment decrease of $970 a year. The funds presented by the County Commissioners will allow for an expansion of the United Way of Chester County’s program to reach an additional 200 homeowners.
Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone, who also serves on the United Way of
Chester County Board, said, “Chester County has a tremendous resource in the United Way, with many programs that effectively and practically support the education, health and financial independence of county residents. The Mobile Home Reassessment project is a great example of the way in which the United Way of Chester County comes alongside other non-profits, as well as public and private organizations, to provide practical solutions that, in this instance, truly benefit County homeowners who have been unfairly taxed.”
Chris Saello, President and CEO of the United Way of Chester County said, “We are so grateful to Commissioners Kichline, Farrell and Cozzone for their investment in this important project that is allowing United Way to help people in Chester County towards financial stability.”
For more information about the United Way of Chester County’s Mobile Home Reassessment project, contact Darshana Shyamsunder, Manager of Community Impact at United Way of Chester County at 610-429-9400.
Courtesy photo
Chester County Commissioners Terence Farrell, Michelle Kichline (left and second left) and Commissioner Kathi Cozzone (right) present a check for $10,000 to Chris Saello, President and CEO of the United Way of Chester County, to support the organization’s Mobile Home Reassessment project.
