Chester County Press 01-17-2018 Edition

Speaker tells MLK gathering: ‘Our difference is a blessing, not a curse’

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Reflecting on the message of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King., Jr. and juxtaposing it against the contemporary backdrop of a racism that continues to smolder in the United States nearly 50 years after Dr. King’s death, Bishop Dwayne D. Royster delivered a searing, inspirational and informative message to an audience of more than 250 who attended the 17th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. CommUNITY of the Greater Kennett Area breakfast, held at the Red Clay Room in Kennett Square on Jan. 15. Introduced as “a man of the faith and a man of action,” Royster said that the long-imagined dream of racial and economic equality in the United States is headed on a backward course. Using the speech King gave at the Riverside Church in New York City

speaker.

on April 4, 1967 as a backdrop to his address, Royster said in reading the text of the speech, King made frequent reference to “the soul of America,” proclaiming that racism, extreme materialism and militarism were preventing some Americans from achieving equality, all of which, Royster said, did not go away after the election of Barack Obama in 2008, but

Eager to serve

By John Chambless Staff Writer

The spirit of volunteering inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King was overflowing in Unionville-Chadds Ford schools on Jan. 15, as full parking lots and jampacked cafeterias showed how eager families were to donate their time. While it’s an official school holiday, King’s birthday has been turned into a day of service nationwide, and in the U-CF School District, it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated

Families fill Unionville-Chadds Ford schools with the spirit of giving days of the year. Instead of sleeping late, students at Unionville High School signed up to work at one of several activities on Monday morning. As 9 a.m. approached at Hillendale Elementary School, several high-school students arrived in the chilly cafeteria to help prepart peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fill snack bags, make chocolate chip cookies, and help children decorate lunch bags and make place mats. The lunches went to Safe Harbor, along with handmade cards made by children that

merely “went underground” during Obama’s two terms in office.

Referring to the increased incidents of racially motivated violence in the United States in 2017, including that which happened in Charlottesville, Va., Royster said that “we’ve gotten to an age where folks don’t feel the need to wear the white sheets over their

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‘A seismic change in the whole county’

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

On Jan. 3, just before noon in the Ballroom of the Sykes Student Union on the campus of West Chester University, four elected officials -- all Democrats, none of whom had ever pursued a public office prior to their election last Nov. 7 -- took their oaths of office to assume their roles in Chester County government.

Patricia Maisano became treasurer, Yolanda Van de Krol became clerk of courts, Dr. Christina Vandepol became coroner and Margaret Reif became controller. They became the first Democrats to occupy seats on the Chester County row since 1799.

New county row officers reflect on their historic win itics, these elections simply represented a backlash against the controversial presidency of Donald J. Trump, but to Maisano, Van de Krol, Vandepol and Reif – all of whom attended a Chester County Democratic Committee party at Barnaby’s in West Chester on Dec. 19 – the results of the historic election had less to do with the President than it had to do with the public’s need for increased transparency in county and local government.

“This election was a seismic change in the whole county, and I say that not just from the standpoint of these four elections,” Lani Frank, vice chair of the Chester County Democratic Committee.

To the many who claim to know the real skinny behind Chester County pol-

“We were hoping for one of the candidates to be elect-

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offered messages of hope. In the kitchen, a vat of chicken noodle soup was simmering early on Monday morning, ready to be ladeled into containers and taken to a senior center in Avondale.

If you want to be great, then serve others

The importance of service to the community and helping others was a theme at this year’s Spirit of Giving Luncheon in Oxford

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

In a sermon that he delivered in February of 1968 at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that whoever wants to become great must be willing to serve. The sermon that day, titled “The Drum Major Instinct,” was inspired by Mark 10:43. During the sermon, King said that, one day in the future, after his death, he would want someone to mention that he tried to give his life to serving others. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee less than two months later, but his words and actions and legacy live on, and—just as he had hoped that February day in his home church in Atlanta—people do remember that he gave his life to the service of others.

The Spirit of Giving Luncheon in Oxford was just one of the events in the area that celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. King on Monday. The luncheon,

now in its 28th year, is an important fundraiser for the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center, the Oxford non-profit organization that helps less fortunate families in southern Chester County.

“It’s only fitting that on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we would recognize an organization like the Neighborhood Services Center,” said Jim McLeod, who serves on the committee that plans the event each year. McLeod explained that the Neighborhood Services Center helps many people in need, and the organization’s resources are stretched thin this time of the year.

All the proceeds from the luncheon will be used by the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center to provide nutritious food, financial assistance for housing, heating, and utility services, and health care assistance for individuals and families in need.

The Spirit of Giving Luncheon was started in 1990 by a group of community leaders and business

people who wanted to raise funds for the Neighborhood Services Center. Initially, the luncheon took place right before Christmas, but in 2008, when the Oxford Area School District joined as a partner, the luncheon was moved to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, combining the original purpose of the event with the spirit of King’s life and legacy.

McLeod noted that Oxford Area School District superintendent David Woods and his team at the school district are very supportive of the event. Numerous food service employees volunteer their time to prepare the food for the luncheon, and student groups like Interact and Earlyact volunteer for the event.

“They have made it truly a community event,” McLeod said of the school district’s participation, adding that it’s never too early to teach young people the importance of getting involved in the community.

Michael Audevard, the principal at Hillendale, was watching the operation unfold smoothly thanks to volunteers and several years of practice at funneling the energy of everyone in the

right directions. “The kids are always so excited about this, to get a chance to do something with their hands,” Audevard said, surveying the busy room. “It’s one

A conditional-use hearing was to take place on Tuesday, Jan. 16

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

The Lower Oxford Township Board of Supervisors was scheduled to hold a conditional-use hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 16 regarding the request by G.M. Leader Corp. for a conditional use under section 27-800.12(J).M. of the Lower Oxford Township Zoning Ordinance, as codified, for a Nursing, Rest, or Retirement Home use in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District.

The nursing home is proposed for approximately 12.5 acres of a parcel at 175 Limestone Road, near the Oxford Commons Shopping Center. The property is owned by Runnymede Partnership.

The Leader family has been in the business of operating quality retirement services since 1962. It was founded by George M. Leader and Mary Jane Leader. George M. Leader served as Pennsylvania’s governor from 1955 to 1959. While he was governor, the state made strides in promoting safety and personal welfare for residents. The state’s Office of Aging was first established under Gov. Leader, and he and his wife were both personally interested in helping older adults maintain and enjoy personal independence and the highest possible quality of life. The family oversees eleven different retirement communities throughout the state, including locations in Allentown, Bethlehem, Mechanicsburg, Hershey, Lancaster, Wyomissing, and York.

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ed, and we got four, but where we’re really going to start to see change is in the individual townships.

“Residents will begin to elect supervisors who have never served before, and where decisions that used to be made behind closed doors will be now changed. Elected officials will no longer be able to have those conversations behind closed doors, and walk in lock-step from meeting rooms.”

Beginning early, Maisano’s ear-to-theground campaigning took shape in the form of her announcement that if she were elected as county treasurer, the books of the county coffers would be flung open for public view: Where is the money? Where and how is it being spent? Who is being awarded the bidding contracts for county projects? Is the money being spent outside of the county, or is it being recirculated throughout the county?

Now that she’s in office, Maisano said that one of her goals is to include a summary of the county expense sheet on her own website, and possibly, she said, on the county’s website.

“I saw it as promise to the people, and it’s still my objective to share not just the budget but where we stand in it,” she said. “There’s never been transparency, and a feeling of ‘That’s just how we do things.’ My attitude is, ‘No. It’s about the people. It’s about our money, and I’m not afraid to share this.’

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thing to talk about voluntering, but it’s a whole other thing to get your hands messy with peanut butter or pack a snack bag that’s actually going to feed

“I want to put that information out there in a way that everybody can understand it. I don’t want to use ‘money speak’ or ‘political speak.’ I just want to talk to people. I want to share the simplicity of the message, and let them see how these figures affect them personally, as individuals. I want to help answer questions like, ‘Is the county helping your schools? Is the county accountable on the investments that we make on their behalf?’”

While negative reaction to the results of the Presidential election of 2016 still reverberate around the sound chambers of social media, the noise coming from the progressives and liberals about the Trump election has done little but fan the waves of an already volatile cauldron. In between this chorus of dissent, however, a small movement has emerged, one that has turned anger into action.

Reif, a controller for a non-profit organization, is the mother of two children, aged 18 and 21, respectively, and up until the presidential election of 2016, she had never entertained the notion of getting involved in politics. Soon, she became a candidate for county controller, and began her campaign not in terms of her own needs, but her children’s.

“For me, the election of 2016 was the catalyst for me to get involved,” she said. “I had never had any intention for running for office, but I try to model myself for my kids. I tell them all the time that if they’re not happy with the way things are, then stand

someone who is needy. The whole community has been so supportive,” he added as families arrived at the door and children sprinted to their places to lend a hand. At Patton Middle School, students and parents have

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up and do something.

“I didn’t want to look back at this moment in history and feel I hadn’t done enough. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and I needed to up my game.”

Slowly, Reif said, the rigors of campaigning began to exhaust her -- the meetand-greets, the speeches, and the sense that what had been entered into as a private gesture of giving back had become a public story. On Election Day, however, what she saw confirmed her efforts.

“Everywhere I turned, I saw women coming out in droves to the polls,” she said. “I was so proud of everyone stepping up and making sure their voice was heard.”

Vandepol was also compelled to run for public office largely on the impact of the 2016 presidential election, which she said had begun a slow march away from the country’s Democratic principles.

Another influence to run, she said, came from her bloodline; for five years during World War II, the Netherlands, her native country, was occupied by Nazi rule, and in protest of the occupation, her father joined the underground resistance.

“I said to myself, ‘I am going to join the resistance, and follow in my father’s footsteps”, she said.

Vandepol, a physician, began her campaign by scanning the list of available county offices that were in play last November.

“When I saw the offices that were in the running, I didn’t know about county politics, but I do know

been collecting items to help residents of the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, as well as Family Promise of Southern Chester County. On Monday, volunteers of all ages, along with princi-

about medicine,” she said. “I thought being a coroner would be a position that I knew I could do effectively.”

Soon after declaring her candidacy, Vandepol was supported by a base that was both enthusiastic and realistic.

“We thought we were doing something important,” she said. “We didn’t know how it would turn out, but we knew that people were very energetic. We thought that the election would be close, but when election night came, we all looked at the results, and then at each other and said, ‘Can you believe this?’”

As her campaign got underway, Van de Krol began to construct it in terms of exploring the need for more efficiency in county government, specifically in the clerk of courts office. One of her chief goals is to explore

pal Steve Dissinger, joined in the school’s cafeteria to sort, box and begin to deliver practical household items – sheets, pillows, blankets, towels and household items for adults – along with gift bags for younger people that contained cocoa mix, granola bars, microwave

the idea of incorporating automation like e-filing into county government.

“A lot of what I ran on was asking questions about how things are being done in county government, compared to how I saw them being done in other nearby counties,” said Van de Krol, a former banker.

“I was wondering about why we weren’t involved in the automation that a lot of other counties around us have done. I ran on the question, ‘Why aren’t we doing this, and what would it take to do this, in order to become more efficient?’”

By definition and in theory, the election of Maisano, Van de Krol, Reif and Vandepol may merely be a pin prick response in what may serve as a potential and growing national backlash. In its application, however, these four county seats, occupied by Democrats for the first

popcorn, puzzles, crayons and coloring books.

time, represent a tabula rasa slate that will likely shake up the status quo of county business. And yet, given the fickle nature and swaying tides of public sentiment both local and national, whether or not these new row officers will be judged by performance or by party remains anyone’s guess.

“I think this election speaks to a need beyond the Democratic Party,” Maisano said. “It’s the need for change. People will say that this was a win against Trump. Perhaps a little bit, but more so, it was won by people who said ‘This is our community, and we want to have some knowledge about our community.

“‘We’re not going to bury our heads in the sand any more.’”

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

The donated items formed towering stacks on the cafeteria tables as people darted around the room, sorting and boxing everything for distribution. Handmade cards offering messages of hope were slipped into every zip-loc bag. At the same time at Unionville Elementary School, floor space was at a premium in the downstairs cafeteria as families spread out fleece, trimmed the edges and tied the knots together to make soft, cuddly blankets that were going

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McLeod thanked everyone in attendance for supporting the Neighborhood Services Center, which has been serving the area since 1971.

“Every dollar goes right back into the community,” he explained.

The luncheon always attracts some communityminded people in the area, including local officials.

State Rep. John Lawrence, County Commissioner Terence Farrell, Oxford Mayor Lorraine Bell, and local business and community leaders were in attendance at the event.

Connie Winchester, the longtime executive director of the Neighborhood Services Center who is now retired, was also recognized, as was Cheryl McConnell, the current executive director.

There were several speakers at the luncheon, and each one referenced Dr. King and the importance of serving others.

Rudy Allen, the chair of the Oxford Area Neighborhood Service Center’s Board of Directors, noted that Dr. King would often encourage people to think about how they are helping others, and to ask themselves whether they are serving their own community.

Referencing Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream”

speech, Allen said that he has a dream that no child in the Oxford area will have to go to bed hungry or go to school on an empty stomach. He volunteers as a board member with the Neighborhood Services Center to help others. Allen said that it takes everyone working together to help make a difference.

In his speech, Farrell said that Chester County benefits from having a large number of people who are serviceminded and who are willing to help others.

“So many people in Chester County have a heart and a spirit for giving,” he explained. “There are so many people who are willing to help their neighbors.”

The guest speaker this year was Chuck Holt, the president and CEO of The Factory Ministries in Paradise, Pa.

Like the Neighborhood Services Center, The Factory Ministries has proven to be a valuable resource to those in need. The Factory Ministries, which is named after the old sewing factory that serves as its home, offers a youth center, a food pantry, and social services for adults, and has become a hub for connecting needs and resources in eastern Lancaster County. He lauded the work of the Neighborhood Services Center, and the valuable

contribution that it makes to the southern Chester County community.

“What you have here with the Neighborhood Services Center is an incredible thing,” Holt said.

Holt said that the biggest issues in the rural area served by The Factory Ministries are housing concerns, food insecurity, and social isolation, and The Factory Ministries works as a collaborator on many strategic partnerships between non-profits, churches, school districts, municipalities, and businesses throughout Lancaster County to help people overcome these challenges. These strategic partnerships are aimed at providing a variety of social services that will allow people to overcome their poverty for good, not just meet their immediate needs.

“We want to create a culture of empowerment,” he explained.

Holt, who has a master’s degree in organizational leadership, has spent the last 30 years working to empower people who need to overcome poverty. He emphasized three points during his speech, explaining that these are things that he learned to be very important during the time doing this kind of work. He said that it’s important for people to understand that

to be given to children experiencing long-term illnesses at A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital.

Principal Michell Lafferty said that as of Sunday evening, 240 people had signed up to help, but she suspected that more had shown up. Students and parents were augmented by local Boy Scouts, and three women who came from the Crosslands community because they wanted to help.

“The kids love it. They talk about it for weeks,” Lafferty said. “We have a coin collection competition, and the third grade won this year. For that, they got a pizza party that turned into a dance party,” she added, smiling. The money raised went to the purchase of the fleece. Any extra money will be donated to the hospital in June, when supplies traditionally run low.

Upstairs at Unionville Elementary, several fami-

lies were making quilts on the hallway floors while one room was dedicated for making cards that went with the blankets.

At Chadds Ford Elementary, a project carries on all year with its sister school, Mitchell Elementary in Southwest Philadelphia. Over the last two years, families have supported the school with new books, uniforms and other clothing, school supplies, toiletries and

everyone’s journey matters, that we are all on the same journey, and no matter what we do, everything must be placed in the context of having significant relationships.

Holt concluded his remarks by referencing that Dr. King had said that if you want to be great, you have to be willing to serve.

be

backpacks. This year, students brought in canned goods and packaged foods for the emergency food pantry at Mitchell Elementary, as well as clothing for students and their families.

At Pocopson Elementary School, the MLK spirit will extend to Jan. 18, when families and staff mem-

bers will gather to package meals for the organization Rise Against Hunger. The meals will be sent all over the world.

From Unionville High School, students fanned out across the community to help at Mission Santa Maria, His Mission, Project Cure, The Garage Community and Youth Center, TickTock Childcare, Luther House and elsewhere. For more information about Unionville-Chadds Ford schools, visit www. ucfsd.org. To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty. com.

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heads, but are able to stand up with views that are racist and derogatory and absolutely damaging to people that don’t look like them.

“We are in a moment in our country where we are finally able to have a conversation about the fact of how racism is actually ripping out the soul of our nation, and if we are not willing to have honest, courageous conversation about how white supremacy and white nationalism is killing us, we will never be the country that we were destined to be,” he said. “I don’t believe in any supremacy. I believe in humanity, that all of us come together, and instead of seeing our diversity as somehow deficiency, I want to see our diversity as the capability for us to celebrate our differences, and to thank God that we are not the same. If we were all the same, this world would be boring. Our diversity is a cornucopia, not a cacophony.

“Our difference is a blessing, not a curse.”

Royster said the U.S. suffers from a continued commitment to what he called “extreme materialism,” a social “Darwinism” which he said is often achieved on the backs of under-served communities. He gave the recently-passed tax bill as an example, telling the audience that while it attempts to bring down the national deficit, it harms allocations for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, education, and variety of social services that help needy families.

“We have gotten to a place today where our bottom line is more important than the people who are creating the bottom line,” he said. “We have put profits over people, and ultimately are working to destroy the bedrock of our community, which is the American family. You can’t tell me that your agenda is about seeing families thrive when you are attacking the very thing, so that businesses can get tax breaks,” he said.

The finger of blame for this inequality, Royster said, points to fear.

“We are in a moment in our country when we have to take a look at extreme materialism and the way we are hoarding resources, and understand that at the underlying root of it is a fear of the other,” he said. “It is a fear of of black folk and brown folk, indigenous folk, the fear that these folks... that somehow or another, ‘are going to get what we have, and get everything we can get right now, and get it from them.’

“But I’m here today to say to you that if we stand up together, we can change that system, and make it such that every person in Pennsylvania and in our country can thrive, not just merely survive.”

That fear, Royster said, extends to current efforts by the Trump administration to beef up national security by selling the idea of increased militarism, seen most visibly in the administration’s plans to build a wall at the country’s southern-most borders, at a cost of $33 billion. It’s a travesty, he told the audience.

“We spend all of this energy and all this time worrying about undocumented citizens coming to hurt us and take from us, and we know that at the root of that, [is the fact that] this country will become a majority country of color by 2050, as opposed to being a white nation, and people are afraid, so we’re doing everything we can to throw black people in jail, or throw brown folk and Asian Pacific folk out of the country, so that people can maintain their power.”

Again referring to Dr. King’s 1967 address, Royster suggested that the nation’s conversation and subsequently, its actions, needs to create a better recognition for the value of life, a more inclusive democracy, and the establishment of inclusive policies.

“We wrestle with these things, but we wrestle in silence,” he said. “Didn’t Dr. King say that there comes a point when silence is betrayal? We betray not only those whom we think less of, but we betray ourselves, because we will never be able to experience the full benefit of knowing them in their wholeness. We have to have a recognition of the humanity of all.”

Royster, the host of “Urban Insights” on WURD Radio and Designated Pastor of Faith United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C., is a nationally recognized faith leader, preacher, political activist and community organizer. He is past Executive Director of POWER – Philadelphians Organized to Witness and Empower – an organization of more than 50 congrega-

tions intent on building an inclusive city of opportunity.

At the beginning of his address, Royster asked the audience to imagine a playground where children from all nationalities are playing, “their bellies are full,” and their parents are of equal diversity.

“They laugh. They rejoice. They feel safe. They are safe. They experience being whole,” Royster said. “That is the dream, the dream that we are all striving for, but that is not the reality of this moment. That is not the reality that we’re living in, and we’ve got some work to get to that place.

“I believe that we can get to this vision and dream, but we’ve got some work ahead of us. We have to put our hands to the plow and not turn back until liberation and freedom comes for everybody who desires to become a part of this dream called ‘America.’”

The annual event also included performances of “We Have a Dream,” writ-

ten by Dennis and Donna Melton; “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “We Shall Overcome,” by the CommUNITY Choir, under the direction of Leon Spencer; and readings from King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” by Rev. Dr. Anita Powell and her husband, Marvin Powell, Esq.

In addition, 12 students from Avon Grove, Kennett and Unionville high schools were named as the recipients of the 2017 MLK Scholarship Awards.

The MLK CommUNITY of the Greater Kennett Area Breakfast was founded in 2001 by Mabel Latta Thompson, an educator, historian and local civic leader, in order that Chester County residents work collaboratively for peace and harmony. To learn more about the organization, email info@mlkcommunity. org or visit www.mlkcommunity.org.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

Advancing Health and Transforming Lives is what drives us. Now, as the new TOWER HEALTH, we’re proud to bring more communities throughout the

access to nationally recognized care. Joined as one comprehensive health system, our expanded network of leading hospitals, outpatient facilities and premier physicians offers life-changing services – when and where you need them. Together, we’re rising boldly for your health.

New book is a valuable— and pleasurable—resource for Phillies fans

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Fans who follow the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league system closely know that there are plenty of talented players who are moving toward their Major League debut. Top prospects Scott Kingery, Mickey Moniak, Sixto Sanchez, Adam Haseley, Jhailyn Ortiz, Seranthony Dominguez, Tom Eshelman, and Jojo Romero might one day be a part of the team that brings a third World Series title to Philadelphia.

Steve Potter recently released his book, “2nd Annual Phillies Minor League Digest: A Fan’s View” as a recap to the 2017 minor league season. The book includes team

review of each Phillies’ minor league affiliate, a player analysis for top prospects, statistics, and projections.

Potter has written six books about baseball, including his first Minor League Digest book that looked at the 2016 season. Some of the players featured in that book bolstered the Phillies’ Major League lineup in 2017, including Rhys Hoskins, J.P. Crawford, Nick Williams, and Jorge Alfaro. The book is a good way to get comprehensive information about the future Phillies.

Potter certainly knows what he’s writing about when it comes to baseball. After he released his first book about the Phillies’ minor league system following the 2016 season, Potter

Baseball banquet in Kennett Square

The 38th Annual Kennett Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 in the Red Clay Room of the Kennett Fire Co. at 6 p.m. Tickets

($40.00) can be purchased at Burton’s Barber Shop at 105 W. State St. or call 610-444-9964. The guest speaker will be Ben Davis, former major league catcher and current Phillies’ broadcaster.

noted that Hoskins, as a hitter, had some of the quickest hands he had ever seen. When Hoskins arrived in the Major Leagues on August 10, he quickly made an impact, belting 18 home runs and driving in 48 runs in just 50 games. He posted an OPS of 1.014 during his time with the Phillies. Hoskins’ quick hands were one reason why he quickly adjusted to major league pitching. After he published his first Minor League Digest in 2016, Potter said that he wrote the book in part to let other baseball fans know more about the talented players who are on the Phillies’ minor league teams.

Potter is well known in Chester County as an avid baseball enthusiast. He founded the Kennett

Men’s Senior Baseball League in 1989, and served as its president for 14 seasons. In addition to being an administrator, he played, managed, and coached at various levels of amateur baseball. He was a member of three national tournament championship teams in the Men’s Senior Baseball League annual Fall Classic tournament in Florida. He is a Kennett Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and was a vice president of the organization. He spends a considerable amount of time in Clearwater, Florida, watching both major leaguers and minor leaguers at work at the Carpenter Complex or Spectrum Field. While the book is written from a fan’s view, Potter

includes analysis from professional writers and broadcasters who cover the minor league teams on a regular basis.

After tracking the progress of some of the Phillies’ top prospects, Potter believes that the team will soon have an influx of talent that will lead to a lot of success on the diamond, reminiscent of the success that the team enjoyed between 2007 and 2011.

If you are a Phillies fan and are interested in the talent and depth of the minor league system, this book will give you all the information you need for the upcoming season. It includes pictures of the players as taken by photographers who cover the affiliated clubs. The book is a valuable—and pleasurable—resource

Blood drive slated Jan. 19 at Kennett YMCA

This winter’s cold weather has kept donations low for area blood banks, and the American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive at the Kennett Area YMCA (101 Race St., Kenett Square) on Jan. 19 from 8 to 6 p.m. A Red Cross donation bus will be parked outside the YMCA to accept critically needed blood donations. To register for a donation time, you can go to the main desk of the YMCA or visit www. AmericanRedCross.org, click on Find A Drive, and then keep scrolling down and you will see the Kennett Area YMCA drive on Jan. 19. The public can also donate whole blood, for which the process from checking in to actually having your blood drawn from one arm should not take more than an hour. Others may elect to donate platelets. Platelet donations can be done at a Red Cross facility only and takes about two hours to complete. Donors sit and watch a movie while the blood circulates through a machine that pulls the platelets from one arm, and as platelets are removed, the blood circulates back into the body through the other arm.

Third quarter surge leads Avon Grove to 50-31 victory

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

The Avon Grove Boys basketball team used a 19-2 scoring explosion in the third quarter last Saturday night to defeat Unionville, 50-31, in a game held at Avon Grove High School.

Head coach Roy Blumenthal’s Red Devil squad, now 5-8 overall this season, came into the game as the underdog to a Unionville team that had jumped to a 7-3 overall record coming into the game, led in part by the hot shooting of junior guard Bo Furey-Bastian. As the game got underway,

Furey-Bastian confirmed his status as one of the Indians’ go-to players. The left-hander connected on three three-pointers in the first quarter to kickstart Unionville, including a jumper from beyond the circle as time expired in the first quarter, giving the Indians a 9-4 lead. Needing someone to light the fire for Avon Grove, Blumenthal called senior guard Joey Borcky off the bench in the second quarter, who connected on a three-pointer and a layup that helped carve into Unionville’s slim lead. With 5:30 left in the first half, an Aldred Russo layup cut

the Indians lead to 13-11, and after a short jumper by Drew Lankaitis pushed the lead to four points, Avon Grove’s Scooter Whiteside made two free throws to bring the Red Devils to within a bucket.

A jumper by Andrew Brady closed the lead to 16-15 with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the half, and Borcky’s free throw with 1:05 left sent both clubs into the locker room with the score tired at 16.

As the second half got underway, however, Avon Grove went on a scoring tear, reeling off 19 points while holding its opponent to a lone two-point basket by Shawn Rafferty deep in the third quarter. While Blumenthal implored his team to slow the pace of the game, the Red Devils demonstrated a fast-break fluidity that broke the game open: Two early

layups by Russo; a layup off of a steal by Destin Murphy; and a gorgeous pass from Will Petrison to a driving Borcky that gave Avon Grove a 29-16 lead with 1:20 remaining in the quarter. With time ticking away

in the quarter, Unionville’s frustration reached a melting point when Joe Zubillaga was called for a technical foul for attempting to flick the ball out of Petrison’s hands after a whistle was called. Murphy promptly sank the two technical free throws, which he followed up with a layup, staking Avon Grove to a 33-18 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. Avon Grove was led by Whiteside’s 14 points, including seven for 11 from the line; Murphy with 12 points and Borcky with eight points. FureyBastien’s three two-point jumpers and two free throws in the fourth quarter helped him finish with 17 points, while Rafferty chipped in with 10 points.

Beginning on Jan. 17 with a game at Henderson, Avon Grove embarks on a five-game road trip before returning to play host to Downingtown West on Jan. 30. Unionville plays home against Sun Valley on Jan. 18, and then travels to West Chester East on Jan. 20.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

Women are making strides in local government...and we’re all better off because of it

A year ago this week, the Women’s March movement made a statement heard around the world as millions of citizens staged demonstrations to advocate for legislation and policies that promote equality and justice and protect human rights, women’s rights, immigration reform, healthcare reform, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, racial equality and some other worthwhile causes.

The Women’s March took place a day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration and while one purpose of the demonstration was certainly to deliver a loud and clear statement to the Trump administration, the message resonated farther and wider than anyone could have imagined. There were more than 400 marches in cities and small towns throughout the U.S., and nearly 200 more organized demonstrations in 84 countries around the world.

In the U.S. alone, the number of Women’s March participants was estimated to be between 3.2 million and 5.2 million at the various locations—making it the largest, single-day political protest event in the history of the country.

It was also the beginning of The Resistance, a firm declaration that “We the People” will always trump “I, the President.”

A strong argument can be made that the 2017 Women’s March set the stage for the results of the 2017 election when women, especially minority and LGBTQ women, scored historic victories in state and local races. Numerous large cities now have a woman serving as mayor for the first time. Women made great strides in getting elected to the General Assembly in Virginia. Polls have shown that women have become much more engaged in politics since the Trump inauguration, and that’s a good thing. This weekend will see the return of Women’s March activities around the country, with events planned for Jan. 20 and 21. There is a focus this year on emphasizing the need for citizens to demonstrate their collective power on Election Day, when decisionmakers are put in key positions at the local, county, state, and federal level.

Pennsylvania has historically not been at the forefront when it comes to having diverse representation in government. The General Assembly continues to be lacking in women and minorities. There has never been a woman elected to serve as governor.

Local governments have also lacked adequate diversity, but there are signs of progress.

Lorraine Bell officially became the first woman ever elected as mayor in the history of Oxford Borough. Then, on Jan. 2, Sue Lombardi was selected by her colleagues on borough council to serve as council president—the first time that a woman has ever held that position in Oxford. On the same night, Peggy Ann Russell was selected to serve as council vice president. Having women occupy the offices of mayor, council president, and council vice president simultaneously is an historic moment for Oxford Borough, and hopefully, other municipalities will see many more women and minorities holding leadership positions in local government. Our governments at every level should be reflective of who we are as a people today, in 2018, not who we were in 1818 or 1918. The more diversity we have in government, the better off we all are.

Letter to the Editor

Americans have rights and responsibilities

Letter to the Editor:

I have a suggestion for the national Democratic Party in terms of what its “message” should be for the 2018 and 2020 elections. Back in 1987, I heard Bill Clinton give a speech in which he said something that I really agreed with. He said, “People have rights and responsibilities.”

He said that Democrats seem to focus too heavily on their “rights” and seem to believe that they shouldn’t and don’t have any “responsibilities.”

He said that Republicans seem to focus too heavily on their “responsibilities” and seem to believe that they shouldn’t and don’t have any “rights.”

He said that Democrats should say that the federal government should help people who struggle financially, and in return for that assistance and help, people should be expected to lead responsible and productive lifestyles. That includes giving something back to the country and taxpayers in return for receiving that assistance and help, even if that only means doing volunteer work if they cannot find a job. This way, no one is receiving “something for nothing.” I believe that “rights and responsibilities” is a winning message and campaign theme/slogan for the Democrats in 2018 and 2020.

Mentoring: Can you make the difference?

The Oxford Educational Foundation Mentoring Program has been helping students since 1995

Mentoring seems to be a fashionable term throughout the media. We hear the word “mentoring” in television infomercials, read it in print, and hear it in many personal growth programs. But, what does it have to do with our everyday lives?

The dictionary defines a mentor simply as a “wise and trusted counselor,” but to a number of students in the Oxford Area School District and to their adult volunteers throughout the community, the term has a greater significance. Since 1995, the Oxford Educational Foundation (OEF) has been operating a mentoring program, placing hundreds of mentors in the Oxford schools. Volunteers and students from the community are matched with the expectation of developing a continuing relationship between a child and a positive role model.

The program is administered by Kim Lewin, volunteer coordinator for the OEF. With parent/guardian permission and the necessary clearances and training the OEF encourages mentors and students to meet at least once a week through various activities. Some of these activities may include visiting the library or museum, attending a sporting event or school activity, or simply finding a quiet moment during or after the school day to talk about events in each other’s lives. The program can be effective if a relationship between the adult and the youth is based on the following: personalized attention, caring, mutual respect, trust and commitment, along with positive and high expectations for both mentors and students.

Many times these students have difficulty handling conflict, and the mentor is

an excellent resource for offering alternative solutions to problems. The goal of the OEF program is to help provide a positive outlook on life by building self-esteem, developing coping skills and forming attainable goals for the future.

The program’s impact on individual students can be noticed in the child’s increased school attendance and academic success, decreased discipline referrals, and improvements in social skills. It has an impact on the lives of the mentors, as well. Mentors have reported a sense of satisfaction in recognizing that they can make a difference. The program is not a cure-all for the needs and challenges of today’s youth, but it can provide a meaningful, positive relationship in the life of a child that otherwise may receive very little encouragement. These children need

to know there is someone to whom they can turn not only when they have a problem, but also to share a success. According to Dr. Raymond Fischer, Executive Director of the OEF, the key to a quality mentoring relationship is to have a caring adult who is consistently there for a young person. The Oxford Educational Foundation Mentoring Program promotes this type of mentoring by carefully matching such an adult with the mentee and by providing ongoing support to everyone involved. Did someone make a difference in your life? Would you like the opportunity to give back? Give the Oxford Educational Foundation a call at (610) 932-7200 or e-mail us at oxfordeducationalfoundation@yahoo. org if you are interested in becoming a mentor for an elementary or secondary student.

Barrar and bipartisan commission Consider Challenges Facing Emergency Services

After supporting a resolution that established a bipartisan, bicameral commission to address the issues facing emergency services in the Commonwealth, Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) joined the commission’s first meeting this week.

The effort to assist Pennsylvania’s first responders includes a comprehensive

review of the challenges of providing emergency services, as well as a report of recommendations to be completed by June 30. Both paid and volunteer services will be addressed.

“Our emergency preparedness and response services, especially the volunteer portion, are in dire straits regarding manpower

shortages, financial constraints, lack of timely and affordable training, and proper equipment,” Barrar said.

During Tuesday’s meeting, commission members broke into committees and discussed office operations of the fire commissioner, federal and state funding for firefighters, allowable uses for fire grants, and other important topics.

“This commission has the chance to do a great deal of good for our emergency response system across the state,” Barrar added. “I look forward to working with everyone to consider many ideas this year.”

The next meeting will be held on Friday, Feb. 2, in Pittsburgh.

Sheriff gets prestigious public service award

Citing a long career of outreach, the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce (ERCC) bestowed the 2017 Senator Robert J. Thompson Public Service Award on Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh on Jan. 9. State Rep. Becky Corbin, a past recipient, presented the award at the ERCC Annual Review Luncheon at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in

Malvern. She explained that the former state senator had set the bar high while maintaining a sense of humor often punctuated by Snoopy neckties and red suspenders.

“His legacy of public service will live on forever,” Corbin said. “He was a beloved and respected state and local government leader whose 30-year career was a model of both personal and professional integrity, fairness, optimism and humility.”

Noting that Welsh has mirrored that approach, Corbin detailed her achievements, ranging from Welsh’s election as the first female sheriff in Chester County to her leadership roles with state and national lawenforcement agencies. Corbin described community initiatives such as “Shop with the Sheriff,” a program that annually brightens the holidays for 100 elementaryschool students, and a recent effort that delivered thousands of pounds of relief supplies to hurricane victims in multiple states.

“She’s great at building bridges,” Corbin said.

Jeannie McGinn, an ERCC member, said submitting Welsh’s nomination for the award was a no-brainer. She said she was delighted when the ERCC board affirmed her choice. “It was a unanimous vote by the board,” McGinn said.

In McGinn’s submission, she wrote, “Sheriff Bunny is a civil servant who embod-

ies what it means to ‘walk the talk’ and serves all the citizens of Chester County in the highest, most honorable fashion.”

Addressing the audience of more than 100, which included all three county commissioners, Welsh said that the award was special because of her personal connections to Thompson and that he was among those she wanted to thank.

Thompson was one of her earliest supporters, she said, urging her to ignore counsel from GOP leaders that she change her name to make herself more electable. “He was just a constant source of positive energy and a great spirit,” Welsh said.

Welsh also expressed gratitude to her office, explaining that her 95 employees -- deputies and civilians -make her look good each day. She said many citizens don’t realize the scope of the Sheriff’s Office responsibilities, which include serving civil papers, transporting prisoners, overseeing fire-

arms permits, apprehending fugitives, and maintaining security at the county’s government buildings.

“A thousand calls go through the Sheriff’s Office each and every year for deputies – medical response, security response, calls for our K-9s,” Welsh said. “That’s more than a lot of small police departments. You don’t hear about it because they’re handled.”

In addition to the Senator Robert J. Thompson Public Service Award, Welsh

received citations from the Chester County Board of Commissioners, the state Senate and the state House of Representatives. Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Michelle Kichline, who presented the commissioners’ citation, called Welsh a mentor as well as an inspiration to other women in public service.

Welsh has served as Chester County sheriff since January 2000, one of only 40 female sheriffs in the nation.

You’re invited to a very silly world KATS presents its annual pantomime show on Jan. 26 and 27

By John Chambless Staff Writer

If you measured all the silliness that the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society has been responsible for since 2000, it would probably circle the globe

– there can be as many animal characters or fairies, for instance, as the director needs to cast. The tradition of pantomime goes back to the 1700s, and has – as KATS members have repeated endlessly –nothing to do with mimes

several times. Of course, measuring silliness by the mile is just the kind of thing you might expect in one of the group’s annual British pantomime productions, which cheerfully mash up fairy tales, folklore, songs and satire. And everyone –cast, crew and audience – is invited to share the fun.

This year’s production is “Sleeping Beauty and the Tangley Wood,” and it’s packed with more than 40 characters who are larger than life and definitely in on the jokes – think “Shrek” meets Monty Python, and you’ll have a good idea of the dizzy world of pantomime.

Gary Smith, who wrote the show this year, spoke last week as rehearsal was about to get underway at the American Legion Hall in Kennett Square.

“In about 2000, we had the idea of forming a theater company for adults, with the notion that we would give everybody a chance to do whatever they felt like,” Smith said. “We wanted to make it a little different, in that we would do away with auditions as a selection process. If someone auditions for the company, they get a role, even if you have to write one for them.

“The second thing that’s different is that we rotate our principal and supporting actors on an annual basis. Everybody gets a chance to have a lot of lines, or a small number of lines. … We want to be as inclusive as possible. The aim is, basically, to have fun,” he added, smiling.

Toward that end, the scripts are written with expandable casts in mind

in white face makeup.

Back when KATS was getting started, Smith said, “We had a script for ‘Dick Whittington and his Cat,’ which is a standard British pantomime, and we advertised auditions, and nobody came. We advertised again, and two people came, one of whom dropped out. So after that, it was a matter of phoning up friends and begging people. The first one had a cast of about 12. Now we have casts that are typically 40 to 50 people.”

Smith wrote this year’s script with actress Kathryn Petersen, who has been part of the long-running British pantomime tradition at the People’s Light and Theatre Company in Malvern.

Each year, there are original songs written for the shows. “There are 10 to 13 songs in each one, and since this is our 17th pantomime, that turns into an awful lot of songs,” Smith said. “To be honest, we have recycled some of them.”

The Kennett group stakes a claim to being the second oldest continuously operating British pantomime company in the country. It’s lasted so long because so many people are involved in the show, and they tell their friends, who discover that they want to get involved, too. The rollicking humor, audience participation and sheer wackiness of the show draw big crowds, and inevitably, several people want to get up on stage themselves.

Beth Holladay was one of them. “This is my 14th show,” she said last week. This year, she’s co-directing for the first time with

Smith.

“My mother’s in the show this year,” she said. “My daughter used to be in the show, but she’s away at college now. My daughter saw the show for the first time when she was in first grade. I went with her to rehearsals and thought, ‘Well, this is fun. I can probably do this.’ I had taken ballet since I was 5 and I’d been on stage, but it had been a while since I actually had to speak on stage, so when I first got up there I was like, ‘Oh, no! Can’t I just dance?’ But it’s always fun to be someone else.”

The young people who are welcomed into KATS can be as young as five or six, so adults are designated as “Child Wranglers” in the program each year. While corralling that much youthful energy can be a chore, it does lead to children getting hooked on the fun of the show and returning, year after year, to take bigger roles. Or, drawing in their parents to take part.

The scripts – some of which are written by Smith, some by outside authors – are loose enough to allow some improvisation, Holladay said. And topical humor is usually slipped in, although this year, the contentious nature of political life has led the company to simply give one character the line, “Insert joke here,” because it didn’t make sense to take sides.

Standard elements of any “panto” production are a silly song for the audience to sing with the

cast, gender-swapping roles (women playing men, men playing women), some sort of “Immortal” character who narrates or explains the action as the show goes along, and “skin parts,” which is usually a pantomome horse – played by someone in a horse costume – that trots on at some point.

For audiences who have never seen this kind of show, it’s not an evening of sitting in respectful silence. You are encouraged – and in some cases, coerced – into booing, cheering, singing along or talking back to the actors.

“It’s silly, it’s fun, there’s a wide range of ages,” Holladay said. “You can definitely bring kids to see these shows. Everybody gets to yell, so if you’re concerned about your kid

being a little squirmy in the theater, it’s no problem.”

The group rehearses where it can – the basement of the American Legion Hall is storage for the group’s sets and costumes – but the shows are always done onstage at Kennett High School. This year’s production will be on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m., and Jan. 27 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

The group also rehearses in donated spaces at The Garage, Longwood Performing Arts, and the Episcopal Church of the Advent.

The plot of this year’s show, such as it is: Princess Rosa’s family offends Specula, the wicked fairy, who derives her power from the ever-expanding Tangley Wood. Specula puts a spell on Princess Rosa that can only be broken by the kiss

of a “noble man.” After sleeping for 100 years, the spell is broken by Jack, a penniless yoeman, and Rosa discovers she has lost everything that matters: Family, friends and her fortune. Rosa responds by lashing out at the very people who rescued her from the spell. Will Rosa’s inner beauty ever emerge, will the Tangley wood eventually choke the entire kingdom, will Specula rule the world?

Audiences will have to make reservations to find out. Tickets are $10 for adults ($5 for ages 12 and younger), and are available by visiting www.callkats. org.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty. com.

MATTHEW J. OSBORNE

Matthew James Osborne, 33, of Kennett Square, died on Jan. 7 at his home after a long illness. Born in West Chester, he was the son of Ronald Moody and the late Kim Osborne. Matthew was a part of the 2003 graduating class at Kennett High School. He studied culinary arts and was a celebrated chef. He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, displaying his culinary expertise, and the Eagles. He was proceeded in death by his loving mother, Kim Osborne, who passed in March of 2017. Survivors include, in addition to his father, his stepmother Della Moody; one sister, Nicole LeMier of Hayleville, Ala.; his maternal grandparents, James and Ann Osborne of Cochranville; and four sons, Dominic, Dylan, Devin and Dawson Osborne of West Grove.

A memorial service was held Jan. 13. Interment was held privately. Contributions in his memory may be made to https://team.kidney.org/campaign/MatthewOsborne. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.griecocares.com.

RUBY PAULINE TESTERMAN

Ruby Pauline Testerman, 81, of Avondale, passed away on Jan. 4 at Chester County Hospital in West Chester. She was the companion of Jessie Roark for 40 years. Born in Mountain City, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late Charles and Blanche Farthing Ward. Ruby enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her companion; three sons, James Testerman of Barrington, N.J., Bruce Testerman of Manchester, N.H., and Greg Testerman of Nottingham; two daughters, Pauline Testerman of Oxford and Carla Moxley of Sparta, N.C.; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl W. Testerman; and two sons, David Testerman and Danny Testerman.

A graveside service will be held at a later date in Homeville Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

SHEILA CONNELLY GENTILE

Sheila Connolly Gentile, 70, of Kennett Square, died on Jan. 5, surrounded by her family. She was the wife of Richard F. Gentile, who recently died on Jan. 11, and with whom she shared 47 years of marriage. Born in Bennington, Vt., she was the daughter of the late John F. Connolly and the late Elizabeth McPherson Connolly. Sheila attended Mount Ida Junior College in Newton, Mass., where she graduated with an Associate Degree in fashion merchandising. She later went on to work as a bank teller in Kennett Square. Sheila was a well-liked and well-respected fixture of the community. Many a time, patrons of Sheila’s bank would comment that they continued to bank there because of her personality and welcoming spirit. She also had a creative side. In addition to enjoying crafts and ceramics, she loved to share her homemade chocolates, cakes and candies with her family. Perhaps most of all, Sheila adored her grandchildren and could never spoil them enough. Sheila’s feisty but incredibly loving spirit will truly be missed by all.

Sheila is survived by two sons, Michael Gentile and his wife Susan, and Brian Gentile and his wife Sue; a daughter, Ellen Riegel and her husband Mike; two brothers, John F. Connolly, Jr., and Peter Connolly; one sister, Margaret May; seven grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

A funeral was held Jan. 16. Interment will be held at a later date in Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Historic Kennett Square, C/O Beautification Committee, 106 W. State St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. To visit Sheila’s online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

BERNICE J. KENT

Bernice J. Kent, 82, of Nottingham, passed away on Jan. 8 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford. She was the wife of William B. Kent, with whom she shared 61 years of marriage. Born in Hickory Hill, she was the daughter of the late William and Rebecca Queston Porter. She was a member of Nottingham Presbyterian Church. Bernice retired after 38 years of service with Aberdeen Proving Grounds. She was also employed with Herr Foods Inc., Nottingham, as a tour guide for 10 years. She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Machele M. Dormer and her husband Don of London Grove, and Madonna L. Kent of Phoenix, Ariz.; one grandsond; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Audrey Stanley of Kirkwood.

A funeral was held Jan. 13. Interment was in Freemont Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2117. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

RICHARD F. GENTILE

Richard Frank Gentile, 70, of Kennett Square, died on Jan. 11 at Neighborhood Hospice, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Sheila Connolly Gentile, who died very recently on Jan. 5, and with whom he shared 47 years of marriage. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was a son of the late Frank and the late Carmela Ann (Arecchi) Gentile. He served our country for 44 years, including service during the Vietnam War and in Haiti. He retired from the Army Reserve as a Command Sergeant Major in 2010. He was a graduate of Fordham University. Richard had a long career in sales and marketing, working with several companies, including DuPont in Wilmington, VWR in West Chester, and Thermo-Orion in Beverly, Mass. He enjoyed fishing and golfing, along with spending time with his military friends and his grandchildren. He was a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Wawa coffee.

Survivors include two sons, Michael Gentile and his wife Susan of Oxford, and Brian Gentile and his wife Sue of Glenmore; one daughter, Ellen Riegel and her husband Mike of Claymont, Del.; two brothers, John Gentile and his wife Gail of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Robert Gentile and his wife Robin of Naples, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

A life celebration service for Richard and Sheila was held Jan. 16. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., at a later date. Contributions in his memory may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America, 7 Mill Brook Rd Wilton, NH 03086. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.griecocares.com.

DORIS MAE BACHMAN

Doris Mae Bachman, 82, of Oxford, passed away on Jan. 10 at the Hospice Center in Mount Joy. She was the wife of the late Harry L. Bachman, who passed away in 2010 after 54 years together. Born in 1935 in Oxford, she was the daughter of the late John Noah and Frances Elizabeth Whiteside Fetters.

Doris retired as a bookkeeper for Davis Fuel Company Inc., now Alger Oil Inc., in 1995 after 21 years with the company. Doris graduated from Oxford High School Class of 1953. She was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of Oxford and member of Octorara Chapter No. 463 Order of Eastern Star, Oxford.

She is survived by two sons, Richard A. Bachman and wife Peggy of Oxford, and Robert D. Bachman and wife Debbie of Lock Haven; five grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; and two sisters, Barbara Sammons of West Grove and Jane Roten of Oxford.

A funeral was held Jan. 15. Interment was in Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to First Baptist Church of Oxford, 552 Market St., Oxford, PA 19363; or Ware Presbyterian Village Auxiliary, 7 E. Locust St., Oxford, PA 19363. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

Jan. 24

Joseph’s People meeting

The monthly Joseph’s People West Grove meeting for the unemployed/ underemployed will be on Jan. 24 at 6:45 p.m. in the Parish Life Center of ABVM’s Church (300 State Rd., West Grove).

The presenter is Steve

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

Bowman and his seminar, “Health Transformation –Maximizing your health and quality of life!” Joseph’s People provides prayerful support, introducing community resources, encouraging member interaction, and discussions of job opportunities. Visit www.josephspeople.org.

Continued from Page 2B

ROSE MARIE MAGUIRE

Rose Marie Maguire, 75, of Avondale, passed away on Jan. 8 at Foulk Manor South in Wilmington, Del.

She was the wife of J. Patrick Maguire, with whom she shared 52 years of marriage. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Emmett Sherry and the late Marie Ohara Sherry. Rose Marie was a homemaker, and she enjoyed gardening, social activities with her friends, traveling and being a mom. She was a member of St. Gabriel of the Sorrrowful Mother Church in Avondale.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by one son, Shawn Maguire of Wilmington, Del.; one daughter, Kelly Maguire of Newark, Del.; two brothers, Pat Sherry of Ocean View, N.J., and Joe Sherry of Medford, N.J.; two sisters, Joan Hunt of Drexel Hill, and Mary Ann Snow of Havertown; and one granddaughter.

A funeral was held Jan. 15. Burial was in St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery in Wilmington. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

WINNIE ELDRETH

Winnie “Louise” Eldreth, 78, of Kennett Square, passed away on Jan. 11 at her residence.

She was the wife of James Roger Eldreth, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage. Born in Shouns, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late William F. Mains and the late Stella Wagner Mains. Louise was homemaker after retirement. Prior to that, she had worked many years at Leone Pizzini & Son and the Brown Derby Restaurant. She enjoyed embroidering, cooking, shopping, doing Word Search books, and being with her family and friends.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, James L. Eldreth and his wife Janice of Coatesville, Jerry L. Eldreth and his wife Wendy of Oxford, and Roger J. Eldreth of Kennett Square; two daughters, Alice L. Eldreth of Kennett Square, and Linda L. Woods and her husband Jerry of Nottingham; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by one daughter, Janet S. Hudson; two sisters, Sue Wynn and Edna Davis; and six brothers, Ed Mains, Bill Mains, Jim Mains, Clayton Mains, Walter Mains and Ralph Mains.

To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

JEAN RENARD DAVIS

Jean Renard Davis, 91, of West Grove, died on Jan. 9 after a brief illness.

She was the widow of the late Horace Ewing Davis, with whom she shared 62 years of marriage, and who died in 2009.

Jean was the daughter of Gaston W. and Violett V. Renard, and sister to the late Evelyn R. Wyckoff and Margaret R. Eder. Her sister, Dorothy R. Harkins, survives her. She attended Bucknell University and was a graduate of Beacom College. She was a skilled and respected administrative assistant to the succession of Directors of Research at Hercules, Inc., in Wilmington for more than 30 years, retiring in 1985. She and Horace spent most of their retirement years in Fenwick Island, Del., and Siesta Key, Fla., where they created many special friendships. In 2007, they moved to southern Chester County to be near their sons and their families. They continued to make many special friendships.

Jean is survived by her two sons, John S. and his wife Patricia of Landenberg, and Robert R. and his wife Mary of New Castle, Del.; four grandsons; and six six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in the spring when interment will be made in the Renard family compound in Unionville Cemetery. The family wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the staff of Ruston Residence at Jenner’s Pond, as well as the caring staff of Willow Tree Hospice. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

ROBERT J. DEINISH

Robert (Bob) J. Deinish of Kennett Square, and formerly of Bozman and Ellicott City, Md., died peacefully on Jan. 11. He was 91 years old. Bob was born in 1926 in New York City and was the son of the late Joseph L. Deinish and the late Katherine M. (Viebrock) Deinish. He served his country in World War II as a member of the 7th Infantry Division (Hourglass) in the Pacific Theater, where he took part in the Okinawa campaign. He received the Combat Infantry Badge and was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic actions. As a member of the Army Reserve, Bob was recalled during the Korean War and served as an instructor in the Armored School of Ft. Knox, Ky. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University, Bob spent his entire career working for Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He was a Master Freemason with Howard Lodge 101 and a Boumi Temple Shriner since 1955. In 1956, Bob married the late Dorothy Katherine Ross, to whom he was married until her passing in 1985. They lived in Ellicott City, Md.,

raising three sons. In 1988, Bob married the late Woody Shirley. They lived in both Bozman, Md., and Kennett Square until her passing in 2015.

Bob is survived by his sons Jim, Gary (Donna), and Bruce (Michele); his stepson Jim Shirley; stepdaughters Margaret Shirley Hein (Rick) and Nancy Shirley Imbalzano (John); and his nine grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Given, and her husband John.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 17 at the Episcopal Church of the Advent (401 N. Union St., Kennett Square). A viewing will be at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial with United States Army honors will be private in Meadowridge Memorial Park in Elkridge, Md. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bob’s memory may be sent to: Zearfoss Fund, c/o Kendal-Crosslands Communities, P.O. Box 100, Kennett Square, PA 19348; Talbot Hospice, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601.

RAYMOND P. PRICE

Raymond P. Price, 82, of West Grove, passed away on Jan. 12 at Seasons Hospice.

He was the husband of Velma Dean Price, who passed away in 2005, and with whom he shared 47 years of marriage. Born in Shouns, Tenn., he was the son of the late Filmore Price and the late Belle Johnson. He was a grower at South Mill Mushrooms in Kennett Square, retiring in 2017 after 32 years of service. He was a member of the Christian Life Center in New London. He served his country in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed gardening, watching nature shows on TV, country music, loved the outdoors, was an avid Eagles and Phillies fan, and enjoyed going to their games. He was a gentle soul and was totally devoted to his family.

He is survived by two sons, Chris Price and his wife Linda of Newark, Del., and Ray Price of West Chester; four daughters, Brenda Haley of Oxford, Nancy Walsh and her husband Thomas of Castle Rock, Colo., Penny D’Ottavio and her husband Anthony of Kennett Square, and Teresa Wilson and her husband Jerry of Lincoln University; one brother, David D. Hartsoe of Hickory, N.C.; one sister, Jennie Lawson of Mountain City, Tenn.; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by one sister, Bettie Moose.

A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 18, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 19, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (250 W. State St. Kennett Square). His funeral will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the New London Presbyterian Church Cemetery. In memory of Mr. Price, a memorial contribution may be made to Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, 4755 Ogletown Stanton Road, 6th Floor, Newark DE 19718. To view his online tribute or to share a memory with the family, visit www.griecocares. com.

the definition of “Eco-Village Dwelling Unit” and section 27-603.6A to permit dwelling units in a building containing Eco-village Dwelling Units to be separated by horizontal common party walls rather than to be separated only by vertical common party walls. E.) A variance from section 27-603.6D and section 27-1836 to permit the net tract area for the Eco-village to be calculated utilizing the actual proposed road right-of-way determined to be required in connection with the Development by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and London Grove Township rather than the estimated proposed road right-of-way. Pursuant to section 27-1836, 10 % is required to be deducted for proposed road right-of-way in the RR District when calculating net tract area. In this case, under a prior iteration of a proposed Eco-village development on the Property, PennDOT reviewed and approved the access points on the Property as part of a Highway Occupancy Permit. These same access points are proposed to utilize in connection with the currently proposed Development. At that time of PennDOT’s review, the actual amount of proposed road-rightof-way needed for the Property was determined, which equated to a 4% deduction rather than a 10 % deduc-

tion. Accordingly, Applicant is seeking a variance to utilize a 4% deduction for proposed road-right-of-way rather than a 10 % deduction when calculating the net tract area applicable to the Development. F) A variance from Section 27-603.6. L to permit a maximum building height of 42 feet rather than the permitted 35 feet or 3 stories. G). A variance from section 27-603.6. N to permit the proposed Eco-Village Internal Accessways to be constructed of asphalt or other paved material rather than reinforced pervious or vegetated surfaces and to permit permanent parking in designated areas along the proposed Eco-village Internal Accessways. H). Such other relief as is necessary for the Development as proposed. This property is in the Rural/ Residential (RR) District. William Grandizio, Chairman, Zoning Hearing Board

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Horst Oberst, a/k/a Horst Wilhelm Oberst, late of Coatsville, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Horst Oberst, having been grant to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Ilka Oberst, Executrix, 5009 Chicago Street, Omaha, NE 68132 or her attorney: Robert J. Breslin , Jr., Esquire, Pappano and Breslin, 3305 Edgmont Avenue, Brookhaven Avenue, Brookhaven, PA 19015 1p-10-3t

NOTICE OF ORDINANCE ADOPTION –CHALLENGE OPPORTUNITY

The Board of Supervisors of Elk Township is providing public notice of the opportunity to challenge the validity of the herein described Ordinances on the basis that a defect in procedure, as permitted under Section 1002-A(b) or 1002.1-A, of the PA Municipalities Planning Code, resulted in a deprivation of constitutional rights, and to provide a period of limitation to raise such challenges.

The Board of Supervisors of Elk Township is providing this Notice for Adoption of the following Ordinances:

-Ordinance No. 2017-01, Elk Township Flood Plain Ordinance, adopted on September 5, 2017, which includes the following: An Ordinance requiring

all persons, partnerships, businesses, and corporations to obtain a permit for any construction or development; providing for the issuance of such permits; setting forth certain minimum requirements for new construction and development within areas of the Township of Elk which are subject to flooding; and establishing penalties for any persons who fail, or refuse to comply with, the requirements or provisions of this Ordinance.

-Ordinance No. 2017-02, an Ordinance amending the Elk Township Zoning Ordinance of 2002 as amended, adopted on September 5, 2017, which includes the following: Deletes and replaces existing Section 1101 Floodplain Conservation Overlay District, and establishes the lands contained within the Floodplain Conservation Overlay District; and provides that the provisions of the Elk Township Flood Plain Ordinance shall apply to all lands within the Floodplain Conservation Overlay District. This publication is intended to provide notification of ordinance enactment.

Any person claiming a right to challenge the validity of the ordinance must bring legal action within 30 days of the publication of the second notice described herein.

The full text of the ordinances are available for review at no charge, and copies may be obtained for a charge not greater than the cost thereof, at the Elk Township Building, 952 Chesterville Road, Lewisville PA during their normal business hours. If you are a person with a disability or need special services or facilities, contact Elk Township at 610-255-0634. R. Samuel McMichael, Esquire Solicitor for Elk Township 1p-17-2t Non-Profit

Corporation Notice Notice is hereby given that Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State on January 2, 2018 for the purpose of forming a nonprofit corporation under the name 64th Brandywine BPSA Inc., pursuant to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporation Law of 1988, as amended.

The corporation has been organized for the following purposes: 64th Brandywine BPSA is organized and operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 64th Brandywine BPSA is an inclusive, traditional scouting organization. 1p-17-1t

POLICE SEEK MAN IN CONNECTION WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT

Ismael RamirezMartinez, 33, of Toughkenamon, is wanted for the alleged sexual assault of a minor. The incidents occurred in the fall of 2015 at the his home in Toughkenamon, according to the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department. The conduct came to the

Drivers: Immediate Openings.

attention of police in May of 2017 and the subsequent investigation led to charges of sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and related ofenses. An arrest warrant was obtained, but police learned that the defendant had fled the area, and possibly fled the country. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts is asked to call 911.

UNIT STOLEN

GAME

A Nintendo NES was stolen from a home in Lincoln University between Nov. 1 and Nov. 18 of last year, according to Pennsylvania

State Police Avondale. Police have accused Luis Algenis Ortega, 27, of Oxford, with the theft.

BURGLARY

Pennsylvania State Police Avondale are investigating a burglary at a home at 748 Beversrede Trail in Pocopson Township on Jan. 8 between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Cash was taken from the home. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call police at 610-2682022 or Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS.