Chester County Press 02-21-2018 Edition

Save Our Water group to file protest in response to Artesian application

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

On the morning of Feb. 16, three days after it first solicited responses from local citizens, Save Our Water – a grassroots organization created two years ago to oppose the application by Delaware-based Artesian Water to extract water from a Landenberg well – received more than 50 signatures that will become a part of a formal protest against Artesian’s latest application, and filed with the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission. Over the next week and leading up to the March 14 deadline, the number of

protest signatures is expected to more than double.

Save Our Water is opposed to the application that was filed last December by Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc. with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to obtain a certificate of public convenience, in order for Artesian to implement the easements for the Broad Run well and placement of the water pipe from the water well to Broad Run Road.

A certificate of convenience is the legal mechanism by which a public utility gains the right to undertake certain activities to govern the approval

Fundraisers succeed in raising money to purchase handicapped accessible van

By John Chambless Staff Writer

The community came together over the past three months, with donations big and small, to fund the purchase of a handicapped accessible van for a local family.

Joanna Johnson, a teacher at Unionville High School, sent a note through the school district on Feb. 13 to thank all the people who contributed to several fundraisers and a Go Fund Me page. “This amazing community showed up big and with all of the money raised we are shopping for a handicapped accessible van and hope to have it in our driveway this spring,” she wrote.

The couple’s sons, Elliott and Henry, have Duchenne Muscular

It is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting about one in every 3,500 male births – about 20,000 cases each year, worldwide. The Duchenne gene is found in the X chromosome, so it primarily

affects boys. Duchenne results in progressive loss of strength and is caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes for dystrophin, a key muscle protein. In the absence of dystrophin, muscle cells

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KCSD unveils $86.3 million preliminary budget

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

The Kennett School Board voted to authorize the release of an $86.3 million preliminary budget for 2018-2019 school year during its meeting on Feb. 12. It’s still early in the budgeting process, but it seems likely that a tax increase will be necessary to fund the spending plan.

School board member Michael Finnegan, who

A tax increase seems likely at this point in the budgeting process serves on the district’s Finance Committee, outlined some of the specifics of the budget. He explained that the budgeted expenditures total $86,337,497 for 2018-2019, which is an increase of more than $2 million over the current year.

If the budget is approved as is, Finnegan said that a 2.27 percent tax increase would be necessary— slightly less than the 2.4 percent Act 1 Index limit for the next school year.

The Act 1 Index limit establishes the highest amount that a school district could raise taxes without seeking approval from residents through a referendum.

A 2.27 percent tax increase amounts to a $123 increase in taxes for the owner of a home with an assessed value of $330,000, which is the average assessed value in the district. The millage rate would be 30.5542 mills. In addition to the tax

Local business owner donates computer lab to Study Buddies program

On Feb. 14, Steve Figgatt, the CEO of Sycamore International, visited a Study

class in Kennett Square. Figgatt donated a computer lab to the Study

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

On Monday, Feb. 5, a group of students who participate in the Study Buddies after-school program

Kennett

visited one of Chester County’s most innovative businesses for a

program. International, led the students on a trek around the business that buys old technology like computers, iPads, or laptops from schools, businesses, and hospitals, and then refurbishes them to be used again, effectively recycling millions of pounds of electronics each year.

Steve Figgatt, the founder and CEO of West Grove-based Sycamore

The students even got to see some of the Sycamore International technicians at

work on refurbishing the devices.

Then, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, Figgatt visited a Study Buddies class in the Bethel AME Church in Kennett Square to see the students use the new computer lab that his company had donated to Study Buddies.

Ethan Cramer, the executive director of Continued on Page 2A

increase, Kennett will also be dipping into its fund balance for approximately $714,330 to balance the spending plan.

The year-to-year increase in spending can be attributed in part to another big hike in the state-mandated PSERS costs. The state determines the rate that school districts must contribute to the retirement fund, and that rate has been skyrocketing for more than a decade. For 2018-2019, it is projected

that Kennett’s costs will go up by $592,894, or approximately 2.6 percent.

The salaries in the district are going up by $745,021.

This figure includes one new teaching position that is being added next year. The district’s costs related to charter schools are going up by $200,000. When a Kennett student attends a charter school, a large portion of the per-pupil expenditures travel with the student to the charter

John Fetterman meets local leaders at roundtable meeting

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

From a purely visual standpoint, the similarities between current Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack and four-term Braddock, Pa. Mayor John Fetterman –one of four candidates who are trying to upseat Stack this Nov. 6 – are practically nil. Stack, the flamboyant byproduct of the Philadelphia Democratic machine, is known for his toothy smile, his slickedback hair and his pinstripe suits. In contrast, Fetterman, who met last week with prominent Kennett Square leaders at a roundtable discussion held at the Kennett Brewing Company, would never be confused with someone who is beholden to any particular fashion sense.

Fetterman wears customary black shirts that semi hide his many tattoos, including one that reads

15104 – the zip code of Braddock, that is imprinted on his left forearm. Beneath his bald head are a set of eyes that do not linger on their subject but pierce, deliver and move on, and there is a kind of urgency in the way he carries his sixfoot-eight frame – central to his movement and his candidacy – that suggests a feeling that he is carrying the burdens of every Pennsylvanian, beginning with immigrants.

“I am appalled every day by how we treat immigrants, the way we talk about immigrants in this country, the way we are rounding up people now and deporting law-abiding citizens who have done nothing wrong, and they’re just trying to create terror,” said Fetterman, whose wife Gisele is an immigrant and became a U.S. citizen nine years ago. “[Immigration] speaks to me very intensely, and I’m running for lieutenant governor because I want Continued on Page 4A

Local

Study Buddies...

the Joseph & Sarah Carter Community Development Corporation (Carter CDC), which operates the Study Buddies program, said that the donation was appreciated and much-needed—the students had been working on old computers that could no longer support the programs that the students need to use in order to complete their homework assignments from school. Most of the computers that they had been using were more than 12 years old.

During the tour and Figgatt’s visit to the Studies Buddies program, students and teachers expressed their gratitude to the CEO for donating the computer lab, which features iMac computers.

Some of the Study Buddies students are now learning how to disassemble and reassemble computer CPUs, while others are working on the Scratch Program that has been downloaded on the computers so that they are able to explore basic programming. Working on basic computer programming helps the students improve their ability to think logically, which has myriad benefits as they

Save Our Water...

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Continued from Page 1A of its acquisition property interest.

The protest letter reads:

RE: Docket

A2017-2639994

I protest the Application A-2017-2639994 made by Artesian Water Pennsylvania to the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission for Approval of Affiliated Interests Agreement and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Approving Transfer Of Property from Artesian Resources Corporation, Docket Nos. G - 2016.

Since I do not wish to be an active participant in the above matter, I hereby request that Save Our Water protest this application on my behalf going forward in this matter.

It’s Artesian’s latest application in a long fight to gain final approval that would grant them the right to withdraw as much as 288,000 gallons of water per day from the well, at a rate of

mature and go through life.

“They are really thoughtful, smart kids,” Cramer said of the students. “When we invest in these kids, we are investing in the community.”

Leon Spencer, the longtime public servant and former mayor and council member in Kennett Square, gets the credit for first pairing up the Study Buddies program with Sycamore International.

“Leon Spencer was the one who made the connection,” Figgatt explained. “I

200 gallons per minute, with more than 100 million gallons projected over the course of one year.

Artesian cleared a significant hurdle in that goal on Dec. 9, 2016, when the five-member Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) gave approval to Artesian’s application to withdraw water from the Broad Run Aquifer at the site of the well. However, those opposed to the DRBC ruling feel that giving Artesian the OK to withdraw water from the well opens the way for what many in opposition believe is the company’s ultimate goal: to extract water from Pennsylvania and transport it over the Delaware state line for distribution there.

In an email sent on to its constituents and supporters on Feb. 13, Save Our Water wrote that Artesian’s application “clearly indicates that this would be intended to allow Artesian to use its water allocation granted by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to supply water to its Delaware customers. We strenuously object to this. This is obviously aimed

heard about the program from Leon, and it seemed like a great opportunity to be able to help.”

Figgatt, a resident of West Chester Borough and a graduate of Henderson High School, started Sycamore International about seven years ago. His idea was to recycle computers and other electronic equipment that still had usefulness, but was on the verge of being tossed away by schools or hospitals or businesses that need more up-to-date equipment

at circumventing local regulations.

“We cannot overstate the potential for this to have significant impact on local well water supplies and the Broad Run stream,” the Save Our Water letter continued. “Furthermore, there is no obvious benefit to the majority of local Pennsylvania residents who are served by private wells.”

“If you read [Artesian’s] application, the only justification that they offer for this is that they are asking for this certificate of convenience so that Artesian Delaware can utilize their allocation from the DRBC, to take water from Pennsylvania to Delaware,” said Marion Waggoner of Save Our Water. “They’re actually coming out and admitting it this time.”

The objections to Artesian don’t end there. In 2017, New Garden Township filed a court action against Artesian, in response to Artesian laying pipe from the Broad Run well to Broad Run Road that year, without obtaining permits from the township. At the Jan. 16 New Garden Township Board of Supervisors meet-

the refurbished devices end up in the hands of users who might not otherwise be able to afford brand new equipment, which is also a good thing. Being in a position to occasionally make donations to programs like Study Buddies is an additional plus to operating a growing, successful business.

Figgatt said that once an ongoing expansion project is completed later this year, the facility, which is on Old Baltimore Pike in West Grove, will be approximately 30,000 square feet.

good job. Cramer said that he thinks the students will remember the field trip for a long time.

to meet their daily needs.

Sycamore International would pay these school districts or hospitals for the devices and then wipe all the computers and electronics clean and the technicians could, then diagnose and perform any repairs or refurbishments that are necessary. When all the work is complete, the devices—instead of being discarded—are ready to be used again. According to Figgatt, they typically can refurbish up to 15,000 devices per month. Often,

ing, township solicitor Vince Pompo said any public filing of protest would be in conjunction with the township’s lawsuit against Artesian.

“The township has been saying all along that in order for Artesian to gain an exemption from regulations because it claims it is a public utility, it must first get some type of approval from the PUC, [relevant to the company’s wish to activate the well],” Pompo said at the meeting. “The PUC agreed with that decision and required Artesian to file additional documents in order to gain that approval and to notice the public, the township and other agencies of the application, so that they would participate in that application before the PUC.”

On Feb. 20, State Sen. Andrew Dinniman, long an opponent of Artesian’s efforts to activate the well, issued a statement on the issue.

“We’ve known from the beginning that Artesian’s plan is to pump water from the Broad Run aquifer over the state line to its tens of thousands of customers in

As important as the computer lab donation was to the Study Buddies, it was also great that the students had the opportunity to tour a Chester County business and interact with a local entrepreneur who created an innovative company that employs dozens of people.

Meaghan Toohey, an instructor with the Study Buddies program, said that the children really enjoyed the tour and learning about what is certainly one of the most interesting businesses in the area.

Cramer noted that touring a business like this, which employs local people with practical training, can illustrate to students that if they study and work hard in school, they can find a

Delaware regardless of the potential impacts on Chester County wells, streams, and waterways,” Dinniman’s statement began. “This is just another case of Artesian attempting to do an end-run around local ordinances to try to exploit a precious natural resource as cheaply as possible in order to pad their bottom line.

“Artesian is a Delaware company, but they ought to know that this is not how to go about business in Chester County – especially for a company looking to profit off a natural resource that we all depend on. As others have learned, that type of approach just doesn’t work here. On matters of protecting natural resources and the environment, Chester County residents and municipalities won’t be pushed around.”

A formal letter of protest from New Garden Township is due to be made public this week.

Waggoner remains hopeful that while the Save Our Water presence during Artesian’s application process continues to pressure the company to prove to its opposition that activat-

Even the adults who accompanied the children on the tour were impressed at the work that is being done at Sycamore International. Last year alone, 1.8 million pounds of electronics did not end up being dumped into landfills because it was processed through the West Grove business and found a new life. Sycamore International employs approximately 40 people and does extensive work with schools and hospitals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, especially in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas.

Cramer pointed out that it’s great to see a business in southern Chester County making such a big impact by being innovative, socially aware, and environmentally friendly.

“It’s overwhelming that these kids get to see this,” Cramer said. “This business employs local people. It’s a business that is very responsible. These kids are the future and this kind of company is the future.”

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

ing the well will have no impact on local, private wells or users, or the Broad Run stream, the group has already won a victory, realized during the DRPC ruling, which held Artesian to an extended period of water monitor testing at sites near the well and the stream.

It’s a job that Waggoner does every week with fellow Save Our Water members Dave Yake and John Riabov, and all monitoring data is collected and archived online.

“We’re going to give it our best shot, and hope that other entities will have persuasive stories,” he said of the group’s latest protest. “We hope the PUC looks at the numbers of supporters we have, but at the end of the day, if Artesian gets what they want, our fallback position would be that there will still be a [water-level and stream] monitoring program, and we will continue to do our own monitoring. We have been steadfast on this all along.”

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

Fundraiser...

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are easily damaged. The weakness leads to inability to walk, and damages the heart and lungs. Most young men with Duchenne don’t live past their late 20s. There is no cure.

Duchenne can be hereditary, but about 35 percent of cases occur due to a random mutation, called a “nonsense mutation.” Elliott and Henry are in that 35 percent.

The Johnson family has needed a van that is equipped to carry a scooter or wheelchair for the boys. The van is not covered by

school.

The district is seeing costs increase for having a school resource officer in the school buildings. A grant had helped offset the costs for this position for several years, but that funding is no longer available.

The district is also planning to contract for additional mental health services for students through the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

Much remains to be determined on the revenue side of the budget because it will almost certainly take the state several more months to finalize its budget. Kennett is anticipating a slight increase in the basic education subsidy from the state, but not nearly enough of an increase to keep up with the increases in fixed costs.

Finnegan noted that the state, at one time, contributed about 50 percent of the overall costs of educating children. That percentage is now less than 20 percent in the Kennett Consolidated School District.

“More and more of the costs of educating children is being put on the local taxpayers,” Finnegan said.

District officials will continue to work on the spending plan until a final budget is adopted in June, and Finnegan said that they are optimistic that some combination of higherthan-expected revenues or reductions in spending can be found to reduce the amount of the tax increase. He noted that the district has been very good about

insurance. While the successful Run for Our Sons held in Chester County each spring raises money for Duchenne research and treatment, none of the money goes to the Johnson family. So the community stepped up. On Jan. 6, the Unionville Basketball teams played Garnet Valley in a girls/ boys doubleheader. A collection was taken for the family through concession sales and donations. On Jan. 28, Sovana Bistro in Kennett Square donated a percentage of the tab for meals, beverages, and takeout orders to the Johnson family. On Dec. 1, a Go

delivering budgets that are below the Act 1 Index limit.

The budget will be one of the topics of discussion at the next Finance Committee meeting on Monday, March 5. The meeting is open to the public.

In other business at the Feb. 12 meeting:

In his report to the school board, superintendent Dr. Barry Tomasetti explained that the district is having a difficult time filling several custodial staff vacancies so they are looking to contract out those positions to ServiceMaster, a company that provides custodial services to numerous school districts in Chester County, as well as the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

Tomasetti emphasized that they are only contracting out those positions on a trial basis, and KCSD is not looking to outsource all the custodial positions.

“We value the staff that we have,” Tomasetti said. “We have no plans of doing this wholesale with our staff.”

Toward the conclusion of the meeting, board vice president Dominic Perigo expressed his concerns that a recent committee meeting involved a discussion about the possibility of redistricting so that the populations of Greenwood Elementary, Bancroft Elementary, and New Garden Elementary would be more evenly distributed between grades and between buildings. Perigo noted that two redistricting options that had been mentioned involve redrawing boundary lines in such

Fund Me page was started by friends of the family to raise money for the van.

In a message sent to the families in the UnionvilleChadds Ford School District on Dec. 12, Dave Listman, the district’s head of communications, wrote, “Imagine how difficult it is when you can’t have your family just hop in the car and drive off to your destination. Imagine having to transfer your children from their scooters into the car, and then load the scooters in the back of the car. Imagine then having to do it all in reverse after arriving at your destination. Imagine having to unload the scooters and

a way that students who live in the borough will be moved to new schools, away from their neighbors and friends.

Perigo said that it’s too early to tell what impact two proposed housing developments in the district will have on the elementary schools’ enrollments, and it’s too early to be considering moving students who live in the borough to different schools when other options aren’t being considered.

Tomasetti pointed out that since the borough is the only area in the district without a neighborhood school—the Mary D. Lang building in town was converted into a district-wide kindergarten center several years ago—it is difficult to redraw boundaries without having the families in the borough be impacted the most. Those families living closest to the neighborhood schools are much less likely to be affected by redrawn boundaries.

Perigo made a motion for the district to abandon discussions about the specific redistricting options that had been mentioned for the 2018-2019 school year, and encouraged district officials and his colleagues on the board to consider other options. However, Perigo withdrew his motion when he was assured that, as discussions continue, other options would be considered.

The Kennett School Board will meet again on Monday, March 12.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

transferring your children back to their scooters so they can enter their home.

“Imagine the Unionville extended family and community donating enough money so the Johnson family could purchase a van to transport Elliott and Henry independently and safely. As Elliott’s and Henry’s disease progresses, the need for a van that two wheelchairs can get into safely is not a luxury; it is a necessity. And the necessity needs to be filled now. So, imagine being a part of honoring this heroic, brave family who deserves our support.”

As of mid-February, the page had raised almost

$60,000 of the $80,000 goal, which allows the Johnsons to begin looking for a suitable van. In the family’s message to the community on Feb. 13, Joanna Johnson wrote, “I am finding it incredibly difficult to find the right words to say thank you, but truly, there are no words to express our overwhelming gratitude for your generosity. Every time I think about what this community has done, I am brought to tears by all of the people, near and far, current and retired colleagues, past and present students and their families from grades K-12, and so many people that I do not

know or have never met who gave so selflessly and sent messages of encouragement and love. People often ask me how we stay so positive. How can we possibly be down when we are supported over and over again by so many people? When you open your heart to the kindness of others, anything is possible. Your incredible kindness makes our hearts so very full. Many blessings for you and yours for 2018.”

Visit the Johnson Family GoFundMe page: www.gofundme. com/25daysofxmasjohnsons.

Oxford Area High School presents ‘The Sound of Music’

The halls of Oxford Area High School will be alive with “The Sound of Music” as the OAHS Drama Department presents the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical comedy on Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 10 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students and children and can be purchased online at https://oahsdramadepartment.wikispaces.com. Tickets will also be available at the door, but advance purchase is encouraged for best seating options.

Like snowflakes on noses and eyelashes, the hearts of theater-goers melted when “The Sound of Music” debuted on Broadway in 1959. Based on “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers” by Maria von Trapp, the musical is set in Austria on the eve of its annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938.

Maria Rainer (senior Meghan Pitney) takes a job as governess to the seven children of widowed Naval Captain von Trapp (junior Luke Winand) while she decides whether to become a nun. She falls in love with the children, and eventually their father, but their future together becomes in doubt when the captain, who opposes the Nazis, is ordered to accept a commission in the German navy.

“The Sound of Music” features many songs that have become American standards, including “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb

Ev’ry Mountain,” “Do-ReMi” and the title song.

The original Broadway production won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was adapted as a 1965 film which won

five Academy Awards. The Sound of Music was the last musical written by Richard Rodgers with Oscar Hammerstein II, who died nine months after the Broadway premiere.

a larger platform to speak to these issues.” Throughout the hourlong meeting, Fetterman addressed many of the issues of key concern to local residents: immigration in the age of kicked-up measures for deportation of undocumented immigrants; and the impact of these immigration policies on the future of the mushroom industry.

Much of Fetterman’s own personal rise to prominence, he said, was inspired by his relationship as a young man with a young boy in Pennsylvania, whom he was matched through Big Brothers-Big Sisters. Both of the boy’s parents had died from AIDS. He met the boy’s mother just prior to her death.

“How could I have a Master’s Degree and could do anything I wanted with my life, and yet this little boy is going to bury both of his parents before his ninth birthday,” said Fetterman, who later taught GED classes for AmeriCorps, in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, before coming to Braddock.

Fetterman said he won his first mayoral election by one vote in 2005.

“I know that if a kid didn’t take off from his job at Lowe’s Home Improvement and vote that day, I wouldn’t be sitting in front of you and running for Lieutenant Governor,” he said. “That literally changed the trajectory of my life.”

Fetterman documented the fall and rise of Braddock, a once thriving town that was

hit hard by the shutdowns that affected the steel industry in the 1970s and 1980s. By 1988, Braddock was designated a financially distressed municipality, and had lost about 90 percent of its population. Fetterman began to initiate several revitalization efforts that stimulated new residents, the establishment of cultural and creative centers, and created new economic opportunities.

“We went five-and-a-half years without the loss of life through gun violence,” he said. “We were a community that didn’t have single restaurant within our borders, and we had a restaurant open this past year that brought Anthony Bourdain and [Bourdain’s television show] ‘Parts Unknown’ to eat there.”

The round table also included Kennett Borough Council members Doug Doerfler and Wayne Braffman; Kennett Consolidated School Board member Paola Rosas; paralegal Gabriella Pedoza of the law firm of Sweet & Paciorek, LLC; and Meghan Klotzbach and Karen Eichman, members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Task Force. Braffman told Fetterman that the current Democratic Party is made up idealists and pragmatists, a split between those who believe that they key to winning is through remaining true to progressive beliefs, and those who believe that winning campaigns depends on “meeting the people where they are.”

While Fetterman defined

his ideology as progressive, he equated his beliefs to common sense thinking.

“It shouldn’t be considered progressive to support a living wage for someone. If we continue to keep marijuana illegal, we going to incur displacing billions of dollars and incur mass incarcerations, for a substance that has had zero overdose deaths in 40 years.

“There is a time and place for both [idealism and pragmatism], but when it comes down to two choices, you have the moral responsibility to make the right choice, and make it enthusiastically.”

Fetterman also weighed in on the issue of immigration and enforced deportation efforts. He called the ICE roundups – some of which have occurred in the last year at mushroom-growing facilities in Chester County – “Unconscionable.”

“We’re never more unAmerican than when we’re enforcing who is an American versus who isn’t, whether that affects the mushroom facilities or high tech or the school system,” he said. “Especially when the overwhelming majority of whom are much less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens, and are here to work harder and make a life for themselves that doesn’t exist in their native countries.”

Fetterman said that too many times, where a person lives dictates the level of quality of education he or she receives.

“Depending on what zip code you live in, you can pretty much predict what kind of education you’ll

have, how long you will live, and what kind of quality of life you will have,” he said. “I see it as a tragedy that teachers in the public school systems have to make up for the enormous inequality that exist in these communities.

“We don’t spend enough and the friendly formula needs to be fixed. It’s also disingenuous to say, ‘If we tweak this or that curriculum,’ and believe somehow, that’s going to change the massive systemic inequality that we have in our society.”

With his candidacy, Fetterman is part of crowded field who are looking to be elected as the state’s 34th lieutenant governor. They also include Aryanna Berringer, an Army veteran and IT project manager from

Westmoreland County; Madeleine Dean, state representative from Abington, Montgomery County; Craig Lehman, a Lancaster County commissioner; and Kathi Cozzone, a Chester County commissioner.

Elected every four years and limited to two terms, the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania is the second ranking officer of the executive branch of state government and the first in line to succeed the governor. Although he or she presides over the state’s Board of Pardons and Senate sessions, the job is largely a ceremonial one, a description Fetterman said he wants to change if he is elected.

“I think the office has been undervalued and underutilized,” Fetterman

said. “I would like to use that platform that it affords to push back against the poisonous and toxic rhetoric that the other side has regarding immigration and the way they treat people of color in this community.

“When I come to a fork in the road, I’m always going to make the most progressive decision or choice based on that, and I have a long record of doing just that, long before it was fashionable to be progressive,” he added. “For 17 years, I’ve been where the Democratic Party should have always been – with the marginalized, the forgotten, and with the communities that have been left behind.”

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

Regional police’s report details coverage area reductions in crime, traffic collisions in 2017

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

The 2017 Annual Report of the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department (SCCRPD), issued on Feb. 1, spells out some great news for the communities the newlyformed force serves.

The 39-page report stated that in 2017, the SCCRPD saw a 31 percent reduction in Part I crimes including a 44 percent decline in theft; and a 9.3 percent reduction in Part II crimes. Part I crimes are identified as murder and non-negligent homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, larcenytheft, and arson. Part II crimes are categorized as simple assault, curfew offenses and loitering, embezzlement, forgery and counterfeiting, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, drug offenses, fraud, gambling, liquor offenses, offenses against the family, prostitution and public drunkenness.

The department made about 250 criminal arrests in 2017, including approximately 100 in the

last few months of the year.

“I think our presence and activities [in our coverage area] have dramatically changed how things happen in West Grove Borough and in other communities, as well,” said Police Chief Gerald Simpson. “There’s more of an omnipresence of law enforcement, because we’ve been able to change the way we staff. It was part of the whole idea of merging, to boost up the quality of the services while at the same time increasing the size of our coverage area.

“When the idea of forming a regional department began to gain traction, our mission was to build in the efficiencies, and help influence new behaviors into each community.”

The communities within the regional police department’s coverage area also experienced an 18.6 percent reduction in traffic collisions last year, in conjunction with a nearly eight percent increase in the number of traffic citations written up by department officers,

and a staggering 43.8 percent rise in the amount of DUI arrests made in the department’s coverage area in 2017.

The report stated that the SCCRPD stopped 2,455 motorists in 2017, and of these stops, an average of 74 percent of drivers were issued an enforcement action.

The SCCRPD also ranked fifth among Chester County police departments in the use of the Pennsylvania License Plate Recognition Network (LPR) to identify stolen vehicles, arrest suspects and issue traffic citations and written warnings. In June, the use of LPR helped to identify a Megan’s Law offender who had just left a carnival at St. Rocco’s Church on Sunny Dell Road. In October, the department’s use of LPR helped identify a vehicle that had been used in connection with an armed robbery, and in November, the LPR helped identify and seize upon a stolen vehicle.

The department also helped save the lives of seven individuals in 2017,

through administration of CPR, an automated external defibrillator or Narcan, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose.

Combining efforts to create a safer community has also been felt in the department’s budget, as well. The report stated that the department was able to reduce its original projected budget for 2017 by about 10 percent. Anticipated to be $2.38 million for 2017, the SCCRPD’s budget forecast a cost of $127,213 per each officer for last year, but due to the department’s efforts to stabilize costs, that cost was reduced to $114,859 per officer.

The department also received an additional $138,261 in grant awards and from other revenue sources in 2017, and $30,000 in contracted services, in 2017.

“Our efforts to stabilize public safety costs have succeeded,” the report said. “It’s created a reduction in overall costs. Economizing to scale, [creating] a management

rights-friendly collective bargaining agreement and an aggressive stewardship and management style have all contributed to these positive results.”

The positive outcome that is reflected in the report also comes as great news for a department that officially opened on Jan. 1, 2017, after more than two years of negotiations that culminated in the merger of the West Grove Borough Police Department and the New Garden Township Police Department, with a combined force of 15 full-time officers, eight to ten part-time officers; one administrative assistant and one records clerk, as well as Simpson and Deputy Chief Michael King.

The department provides 24-7 service to 13,000 residents in New Garden, and about 3,000 in the Borough.

The report also included several “Quality of Life” measures the department addressed in the coverage area during 2017. They included installing speed monitoring devices in the Broad Run Road/ Somerset Lake vicinity;

enforcing observation of the stop sign at the corner of Southwood Road and Buttonwood Road; increased patrol division at Cooper and Ellicott roads; establishing parking patterns at Railroad Avenue and Exchange Place; and increasing efforts to patrol areas throughout the coverage area.

The good numbers emphasized in the report, Simpson said, are reflective of an inclusive approach to the SCCRPD’s police operations, developed at twice-a-week meetings with division commanders Sergeant Joseph Greenwalt and King, and operational managers.

“We talk about the issues that we’ve experienced, and the things that we’re predicting or projecting that might be happening in the near future, that we have to plan for,” Simpson said. “I find that it keeps everyone on the same page and in the same story line, and we’re able to build our successes from that.”

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

Medical marijuana patients in Pennsylvania can begin legally obtaining their medicine

Medical marijuana sales have begun in Pennsylvania, allowing certified patients to obtain their medicine legally for the first time. Six out of the 10 dispensaries that have been approved to operate were set to open their doors, and up to 81 more dispensaries are expected to open

Six dispensaries to begin sales across the state

across the state over the next few months.

Nearly 4,000 patients are certified to purchase medical marijuana products at these locations, and more than 13,000 are awaiting approval to participate in the program. This stage of the implementation process is taking place ahead of schedule, less

than two years after Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 16 into law.

“Seriously ill Pennsylvanians will be able to get relief earlier than expected thanks to the diligent efforts of regulators and operators,” said Becky Dansky, legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project

Varied slate of issues addressed by Oxford School Board

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

The Oxford School Board discussed a variety of items at the Feb. 13 work session, including a review of new course selection guides, a proposed school calendar for the 2018-2019 school year, an honorary diploma request, a discussion about the possibility of starting a Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Program, and a request for new drumline equipment.

Erin Kauppila, the band director at the high school, addressed the school board about a request to purchase new instruments for the marching band’s drumline. The new equipment is estimated to cost $15,000. Kauppila explained that the marching band has been using the same drumline equipment since it was purchased in 2003. The equipment was purchased from West Chester University, and was already four years old when Oxford acquired the equipment for the band. Kauppila said that the equipment has been well-used through the years, and many of the

instruments have been kept in working condition by using replacement parts from other instruments.

“The equipment takes a beating—literally, we beat them with sticks,” Kauppila said.

Superintendent David Woods informed the school board about a request that has been made for an honorary high school diploma. A family member has requested that an honorary high school diploma be awarded to a gentleman who attended Oxford Area High School but left school before he graduated and entered the U.S. military. The gentleman served during World War II. Woods said that he was still researching the request, but was in favor of awarding the honorary to the man, who is now in his nineties. The school board could vote to approve the honorary diploma as early as its next meeting. Woods also presented new course selection guides and a draft school calendar for the 2018-2019 school year for the school board to review.

The superintendent also

provided some background information to the school board about the possibility of starting a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Program for students at the high school. There is some funding made available to schools that have Junior Reserve Officer Training programs, but it is competitive, and a school district would need to be fully prepared to fund the program on its own. Woods said that the costs of the program would be approximately $150,000, would serve anywhere from 25 to 125 students in a year. Woods said that the next step for the district is to evaluate the level of interest that Oxford students have in such a program. He will continue to research the programs that are available as well.

The Oxford School Board has upcoming meetings on Tuesday, March 13 and Tuesday, March 20. Both meetings will take place at 7 p.m. at the administration building.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

who helped lead the medical marijuana effort in the state legislature.

“There is still a lot of work to be done before implementation is complete. We are hopeful that the medical marijuana program will continue to be refined and improved to ensure patients have safe, reliable, and affordable

access to their medicine.”

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Board is still in the process of making recommendations for changes to the program. The Board met recently to discuss allowing patients to access medical marijuana flowers at dispensaries as a way to increase treatment options and lower costs for patients. Pennsylvania was the 24th state to pass and implement an effective medical marijuana law. There are 29 states with effective medical marijuana laws and more than a dozen states are expected to have medical marijuana bills introduced this year.

Delaware-based gas company to occupy PREIT site

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

For those residents of New Garden Township and nearby municipalities who have expressed concern that the recent activity at the Philadelphia Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) property on Route 41 is the re-invigoration of the company’s long-planned White Clay Point mall complex, they can relax.

For the next six months to a year, the

Dover, Delaware-based Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company will be occupying the site as a staging area for pipeline projects it currently has in Chester County and Lancaster County.

The company, which has served the natural gas transportation needs of the Delmarva Peninsula since 1959, is developing approximately 23 miles of pipeline looping in Maryland and Delaware, and in Honey Brook, Parkesburg,

Jennersville, and installing an additional 3,750 horsepower compressor unit at its Daleville Compressor Station, north of West Grove. The company is also providing upgrades to existing facilities in Lancaster County

None of the pipeline improvements will take place in New Garden Township.

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

The time has come for a reasonable gun-control discussion

The scene is hauntingly familiar now.

The news showing images of a school. The startling sound of gunfire. The more distrubing sound and images of people screaming. Children fleeing from the school building. Police officers swarming toward the building. Parents, panicked and crying, searching for their children in the midst of all the chaos. Eventually, the dead will be carried out on stretchers while the living huddle together seeking small comfort during the nightmare. Later, there will be vigils, candles, and family members and friends remembering the victims through lots of tears. There will be talk about how to prevent this from ever happening again.

We’ve seen this all before. And we’ll see it all again.

Last week, this horrific scene played out at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which is considered one of the safest communities in the entire state. There were 17 people killed at the high school in Parkland, Florida by Nikolas Cruz, a former student with a history of disturbing behavior. He used an AR-15 rifle to carry out the attack, and reportedly had ten more rifles and loads of ammunition.

While a shattered community begins to come to grips with its new reality, the rest of country is left to contemplate and debate what can be done to prevent mass shootings in public places.

If a school shooting like this could happen in Parkland, it could happen anywhere. That’s the same thing that was said in the aftermath of the Columbine High School shooting in April of 1999, when two perpetrators killed 13 people and wounded 24 others. The country was horrified by the attack. Who would have thought that in the intervening years, school shootings would become almost commonplace, and the United States would not have been able to accomplish anything legislatively that strives to prevent the shootings from taking place? This year alone, there have already been 17 instances where a gun has been fired on a school campus. The year isn’t even two months old yet.

There is a serious problem and responsible people shouldn’t be ignoring it.

Students who survived the most recent school shooting rampage are calling for action, which could include everything from a ban of certain assaultstyle weapons to expanding background checks and wait times to improving services for people who are dealing with mental health issues. All three should be starting points for a meaningful discussion about reasonable gun-control measures.

A bipartisan assault-weapons ban was approved in 1994, back when Republicans and Democrats could still work together, but the ban was not reauthorized in 2004.

Why? Not because the ban didn’t produce results. It was because our so-called leaders in Washington, D.C. and state capitals like Harrisburg have proven repeatedly that they are willing to prioritize campaign contributions over what’s good for Americans.

The National Rifle Association has spent tens of millions of dollars of profits from an industry that produces north of $11 billion in profits annually for the purpose of preventing the passage of common sense laws that would keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Each time there’s a mass shooting, fear sets in and people run out to buy more guns—and gun company profits only increase. The “big tobacco” companies only wish they had that situation.

The gun industry is in the business of selling guns, so the solution won’t come from them. The National Rifle Association is in the business of lobbying for the gun industry, so the solution won’t come from them. But our lawmakers are supposed to be representing and protecting us, rather than serving as sycophants for the gun industry.

Just last year, the U.S. rolled back Obama-era regulations that were enacted after 27 children and teachers were gunned down at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Those regulations aimed to require the Social Security Administration to send records of beneficiaries with severe mental disabilities to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and only impacted approximately 75,000 people who have such severe mental disabilities that they can’t manage their own financial affairs. Is there any justification for that at all when innocent Americans are being slaughtered at movie theaters or night clubs or schools?

In the aftermath of each mass shooting, we hear the same, predictable arguments from both sides of the debate. It’s time to abandon those fallback positions and listen to each other, to work toward a reasonable compromise.

We know what NOT doing anything looks like. If you look up a list of the ten deadliest shootings in U.S. history, 7 of the 10 have taken place in approximately the last ten years. Fifty-eight people lost their lives in Las Vegas. Forty-nine more were slaughtered in Orlando, Florida. Thirty-two lives were lost on the campus of Virginia Tech University. The shootings will continue and they will become more frequent and more deadly until we take action.

Governor’s proposed budget leaves seniors in nursing facilities behind

Medicaid funding desperately needed to support state’s sickest and frailest people entrusted to their care.

W. Russell McDaid, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA), issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed 2018-19 General Fund budget, which provides no additional Medicaid funding for nursing facility care for the fourth time in Wolf’s first four years in office:

“The continued underfunding of nursing facility care of Pennsylvania’s seniors and individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program is unacceptable. The fastest growing population in Pennsylvania is individuals 85 and older, and they increasingly need intensive around-the-clock care, which is most safely and cost-effectively provided in nursing facilities. Pennsylvania should be reinforcing its commitment to this vulnerable population and those providing their care by adequately funding nursing facility and post-acute care.

“Currently, the Pennsylvania Medicaid program does not even come close to covering the real cost of care, and continued flat funding leaves our frailest and sickest residents, such as those with advanced dementia or severe chronic health conditions, at tremendous risk. The Governor’s proposed budget fails to address the escalating costs of caring for this vulnerable population or support the dedicated caregivers who work tirelessly to protect the

“If the Wolf Administration wants to continue its intense scrutiny of nursing facilities, it must acknowledge the harsh realities of continued underfunding, the negative impact that underfunding has on residents, caregivers and quality in those facilities.

“Pennsylvania’s nursing facilities lose an average of $27.25 each day, or $9,900 annually, for each Medicaid resident in their care. Twothirds of all nursing facility residents, more than 52,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities, rely on Medicaid for their nursing facility care.

A $9,900 gap between costs and reimbursement for each Medicaid resident equates to almost $1,000,000 in underfunding for a facility serving 100 Medicaid residents. No healthcare provider can sustain real losses of this magnitude over time without negative impacts.

“We have grave concerns about the Governor’s decision to flat fund nursing facility care in his proposed budget for the fourth year in a row. This lack of investment in seniors living in nursing facilities and their caregivers is more than disturbing, it’s fiscally unsustainable for this critical component of the long-term care continuum. The proposed FY 18-19 budget puts additional stress on our nursing facilities at a time when it is essential that they have the necessary funding to

invest in quality care for their residents, in a sustainable workforce and in technology and capital improvements for their aging buildings.

“We support consumer choice of care setting, but believe that when a consumer has multiple chronic health care needs and requires care on an around-the-clock basis, the most appropriate and costeffective setting to assure they get the care and services they need is a nursing facility.

Pennsylvania has an obligation to ensure that the system is not stacked against their access to that care. Unless a Medicaid-eligible person needs significantly less care AND can be safely cared for in their home, Medicaid-funded care in a nursing facility is the most cost-effective use of Pennsylvania’s tax dollars.

“We recognize that this is the first step in a very long budget process. We also recognize the difficult fiscal situation the state is facing with ongoing structural challenges in the state budget. But, in spite of those challenges, flat funding for the fourth year in a row is not fiscally responsible or sustainable.

“Education, for instance, has seen year-over-year increases in funding since the Governor took office. It is time that the Wolf Administration invest in care for Pennsylvania’s sickest and most frail residents in need of care in a nursing facility in the same way it invests in the future success of

Pennsylvania’s youngest residents. It is time to make good on the promise Pennsylvania made to its oldest and frailest citizens to care for them when they are unable to care for themselves, and that begins with the FY 18-19 budget.

“Nursing facilities cannot sustain flat funding for a fourth straight year, and increased support for our sickest, frailest elderly residents and those providing their care in this budget is essential. PHCA remains committed to working with the administration and legislature to provide additional funding to allow nursing facility residents to receive the quality care and services they need, and support our dedicated caregivers the way they deserve.

“We are eager to work with the Wolf Administration and members of the House and Senate to ensure we meet our seniors needs in this year’s state budget.”

The Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) is a statewide advocacy organization for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable older residents and their providers of care. Members comprise for-profit, nonprofit and government providers. Together, they represent more than 500 long-term care and senior service providers that care for more than 50,000 elderly and disabled individuals. For more information call (717) 221-1800 or visit www. phca.org.

County’s WalkWorks ChesCo! asks residents to increase efforts to promote good health

At their Sunshine Meeting public work session on Jan. 29, the Chester County Commissioners, along with Health Department Director Jeanne Casner, announced this year’s WalkWorks ChesCo! Goals, and challenged all county residents to increase the number of steps collectively taken from one billion to five billion by the end of the year.

WalkWorks ChesCo! is a program that promotes, educates and empowers county residents to adopt a healthier lifestyle one step at a time by creating more places for walking, supporting and promoting walking groups, coordinating walking challenges – and importantly – creating the website that allows everyone to track and tally their steps.

It is the County’s response to the national Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, a two-year competition that empowers cities and counties across the nation to create a positive health impact. At the end of 2016, the county was selected out of 400 applications as one of 50 members of the HealthCommunity 50 and received $10,000 in community seed funds to establish WalkWorks ChesCo. In addition to upping the step count, a new goal has been set for a minimum of 5,000 registrations on the WalkWorks ChesCo! website to track and tally the steps taken towards the five billion goal.

If judged the most successful Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge program, the county will receive $500,000, which will be used to further enhance health programs for all county residents. The Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge is a partnership established between the Aetna Foundation, the American

Public Health Association and the National Association of Counties.

“As of January 29th, Chester County has cumulatively taken nearly 1.7 billion steps, and 2,900 people have registered to track their steps,” Chester County Health Department Director Jeanne Casner said. “Our new goal is ‘5 & 5’ – five billion steps and 5,000 registrations by the end of 2018. It’s a good balance of being a stretch, but one that we believe can be achieved with effort.”

“Last year, we set a goal to take one billion steps from the WalkWorks ChesCo! launch in April to the end of 2017, and Chester County residents didn’t disappoint,” said Chester County Commissioner Terence Farrell, who first brought the national challenge to the attention of his fellow commissioners. “From nearly 80 walking challenges between communities like Coatesville and Phoenixville and between businesses and work environments, to tremendous school support, senior center support and health center support, the steps kept rolling in until we reached nearly 1.5 billion by December 31st.

“Public survey feedback has given us the confidence to stretch ourselves even further through 2018, and we will become even more creative in the ways in which we encourage more walking opportunities and incentives,” Farrell added.

One of the key components of the WalkWorks ChesCo! program is the specially designed website that tallies all steps taken by residents who register to participate. The website, www.chesco. org/walkworks, syncs with most devices and mobile apps that already track steps and it

also allows users to convert other physical exercise into steps to be manually added.

“Walking is the most simple and inexpensive form of exercise and can happen in towns, on trails, in our parks and even in the home,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Michelle Kichline.

“The beauty of WalkWorks ChesCo! is that it doesn’t just direct people to get out and walk, but it creates and highlights walking opportunities like safe walking trails established in our town centers, and maps of established trails

throughout the County. It also encourages partnerships with health organizations, physicians, schools, senior centers, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, scout troops and many other community and civic organizations – all in an effort to increase physical activity.” More information about the WalkWorks ChesCo! program and how to register, visit www.chesco.org/walkworks, or contact Communications Coordinator Rebecca Brain at 610-344-6279, or Chief Operating Officer Mark Rupsis at 610-344-6026.

A heart for animals

By John Chambless Staff Writer

The happy scramble of clattering toenails and snuffling snouts is a constant for Ruth Jenkins, who has devoted decades to rescuing cats and dogs that otherwise would be facing a bleak future.

On Monday in her Oxford home, Jenkins gently presided over Francine, a bouncy pit bull, and Angel, a huge Mastiff, during an interview with her friend, Katie Beard.

Beard, 26, met Jenkins in April 2015 when they were both involved with animalrelated causes, chiefly trapping, neutering and returning feral cats. “I’m from Lancaster County, and in high school, I did a fundraiser related to a puppy mill. That’s a big thing there,” Beard said. “Ruth and I met kind of through mutual acquantainces who also did help animals around the area. We started helping with feral cats. There is a big problem with feral cats due to people not spaying or neutering outdoor cats.”

Using humane cage traps that do not harm the cats, Beard and Jenkins and initially five or six other women responded to tips from concerned citizens when a feral cat colony was located in the region. Working with Frostry’s Dream in West Grove, they make sure that the cats survive outdoors without reproducing any more unwanted cats. “Ruth works with Elk Creek Vet in Oxford. The doctors there are really awesome” and provide the low-cost surgeries, Beard said. The two women devote most of their free time to helping animals in distress. Beard is an office manager in West Grove and Jenkins works for the Amazon Warehouse in North East Md., and their rapport has helped them form “Lost and Found Pets of Oxford, Pa., and Vicinity,” a Facebook page that takes tips about lost pets, found pets and animals running loose.

For Jenkins, who struggles with a severe stutter, Beard is an ideal partner in promoting the rescue, and the two share a deep love for animals. “Ruth and I just work well together,” Beard said. “We just have stuck together through it all.” Jenkins has been involved in

Two local women lead an organization to help find loving homes

rescue work for 10 years.

“I was born in the island of Fogo, Cape Verde in Africa,” Jenkins said. “I always had pets as a child -- a chicken and then cats. After my father committed suicide when I was 5, my mother immigrated to Angola. Then Lisbon, Portugal after the civil war in 1975 in Angola, then to the U.S. when I was 16. I lived in New England for most of my adult life, but I moved to Pennsylvania 14 years ago, when we relocated here for my husband’s job.”

Jenkins gradually started advocating for animals

“when I noticed so many stray cats in the Oxford area,” she said. “I started by feeding feral colonies and working with Jerry Parker from Four Paws Rescue and Shelter when he helped me get the cats from my feral colonies spayed and neutered. I also met people like Katie, Nancy Gwinner, Lisa MacArthur and others who were active in rescue for a long time, and learned about the need to help locate stray or lost dog and cats. I decided to create the Facebook page to have a hub where people could network and post their lost pets.”

Jenkins volunteers at Lamancha Rescue and Greenmoore Farm Rescue.

“Dru Campbell from Lamancha Rescue has helped me a lot by donating a large dog trap that I use in my rescue efforts and always offering food for my colonies,” she said.

“Whenever the Cat Condo at Lamancha has room for cats, she always lets me know that she can accommodate them.

I receive a lot of support from Bailey and Nanci Newsom, who run Frostry’s Dream, an organization in West Grove; and also from Angel Wings Rescue, Crystal Romine in Rising Sun, Md., who runs Eden Rehab Rescue, and Cecil County Animal Services. I receive a great deal of support from Elk Creek Vet Services in Oxford. Dr. Justin and Dr. Kristie Olsen and their staff help me provide vet care for the animals I rescue. I have a stray fund at the vet office, and area folks can donate to the fund, which makes it possible for me to continue to help stray or lost area animals. Ginny, from Rescue Dogs Rock in New Jersey, also helps me a lot.”

Because they’re both

animal lovers, Jenkins and Beard work hard to get animals placed in other homes, although Beard laughed and said she has “four dogs, and a cat and 20 chickens, so I’m not really in a position to adopt amy more.”

A year ago, Jenkins adopted Francine, the energetic pit bull, and is temporarily nursing Angel back to health in preparation for getting her adopted elsewhere.

“Someone contacted Ruth about this dog that was running at large for a few weeks,” Beard said. “They said she was aggressive. She was sleeping on someone’s outdoor couch. Ruth went over and finally got her. We had her seen by a veterinary specialist in Malvern. Her jaw was broken in multiple places, and the vet told us that it was definitely not caused by a car. It was caused by a beating,” Beard said as Angel laid her huge head in her lap.

“It’s amazing how animals can be so forgiving, after all she has been through.”

The unexpected cost of Angel’s surgery – more than $3,000, with more costs on the way – stretched the budget, but Beard said the community consistently rallies to help when needed.

“Whenever we post that we need help, the whole Oxford community comes together – businesses and people. Oxford Feed and Lumber in Oxford started an account there for food donations. We couldn’t do it without the help of the community,” she

said. “I really am shocked. I’ve had people send me checks. They don’t know me, but they’re so willing to help out. Someone was sending me monthly checks to help with the trap/neuter/return. She’s just a wonderful lady who cares about cats. People really want to help out.”

Both women say the goal is to get animals into loving homes, no matter who does it.

“Sometimes I work with rescues to find placements for lost animals after their stray hold has passed,” Jenkins said. “The goal is always to find the owner, and that’s easily done by networking on Facebook. A loving owner always frantically searches for their lost pet. The few dogs that I helped find placements for were dogs that were dumped by their owners for various reasons.”

Sometimes, all Jenkins can do is deal with the aftermath.

“The most difficult part of my efforts is helping provide some dignity for a deceased dog,” she said. “The most heartbreaking one was a very large blue pit bull, which was struck and killed last year

on Route 7, just over the line in Hockessin. He was there for two days. After I posted on Facebook and went door to door, checking for his owners, a local resident helped me provide him with a final resting place after a week. I called all the local agencies and none could help.

“Another three dogs that will always have my heart are Diesel and Dakota from Lamancha, and Sammy, a dumped dog I helped rescue who found a home, but who passed away last year.”

With puppy mills, inhumane owners and abandoned pets in seemingly never-ending supply, Jenkins said that her satisfaction comes “from knowing that I make a difference, and even providing a meal for a cat I see roaming the street that will help that one cat survive another day. But the support I receive from area folks is just incredible, and I could have never achieved any successes without their support and trust,” Jenkins added.

For Beard, animals have been a lifelong passion. “I was the kid who came home saying, ‘Mom, I found this

cat at work.’ It would end up being pregnant and we’d end up with 12 kittens,” she said. “But that was me – always trying to have animals. The first dog I ever got is 14 now. I remember begging my dad to get this big dog. And I still have him.”

Once someone has looked into the eyes of an animal in distress, it is nearly impossible to not want to help. Jenkins said she welcomes assistance, and “I would love any advice or assistance to obtain a 501c-3 so I can help more animals,” she said. “My goal for this year is to get my nonprofit organization.

“And people can help by always having a collar or tag on their pets, or microchipping them. Local rescues are in desperate need of volunteers. Giving a couple of hours makes a huge difference in the life of a shelter dog or cat.”

For more information, visit “Lost and Found Pets of Oxford, Pa., and Vicinity” on Facebook.

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

ROSETTA C. TOBIA

Rosetta C. Tobia, 75, of Kennett Square, passed away peacefully at her residence, under the loving care of her husband and hospice nurse, on Feb. 8.

She was the wife of Dr. Louis A. Tobia, with whom she shared 54 years of marriage. Born in Naples, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Ernesto Carcaise and the late Rosalie Mocherino Carcaise. Rosetta emigrated to America with her mother in 1947. She was a member of St. Patrick Church in Kennett Square. She was a receptionist /secretary at the Unionville Chadds Ford School District, retiring in 2008 after 28 years of service. Rosetta was all about family and friends, and will be deeply missed by all.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Sheri Ott and her husband Raymond of Dover, Del., and Kathleen Carmody and her husband Brian of Chadds Ford; five grandchildren; and one sister, Edda Jackson and her son Kevin Jackson of Clairton, Pa.

A funeral mass was held Feb. 15. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www. griecocares.com. In memory of Rosetta, a contribution may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

JOHN W. DOWDELL, JR.

A service for John W. Dowdell, Jr., was held Feb. 17. Interment with military honors was at St. Patrick Cemetery in Kennett Square.

John proudly served our nation during World War II as a part of operations to secure the Island of Leyte, which was the first and most decisive operation in recapturing the Philippines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in John’s memory to Willow Tree Hospice, 616 East Cypress Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

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HOWARD F. RHODEWALT

Howard Frederick “Fred” Rhodewalt, 98, passed on in Paradise, Calif., on Feb. 4 after a short illness.

Fred was born in 1919 to Howard and Florence Rhodewalt in Cornog, Pa. He grew up and went to school in Oxford, Pa. During the late 1930s he worked for Bitunimous Paving Company of West Chester. He enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and served aboard the U.S.S. Idaho during the bombardment of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, plus several bombardments in Gen. MacArthur’s troop landings from New Guinea to the final liberation of the Philippine Islands. Fred returned to the U.S. after the war in l946 to marry his beloved Lillian “Peggy” Cornell. He retired from the Navy after 20 years and accepted a job with the National Weather Service in San Francisco. He retired from the Weather Bureau in 1974 and he and Peggy moved to Paradise, Calif. They enjoyed their retirement years, fishing and traveling. He was also active in the Fleet Reserve Association. He is srvived by his sister-in-law, Virginia Rhodewalt Hardy; nieces Cathy Rhodewalt Strubel, Elaine Rhodewalt, Karen Rhodewalt Olivieri, Judith (William) Henning, Patty Mengel and Barbara Radswillas; nephews Stephen (Lynne) Rhodewalt, Scott Rhodewalt and Donald Rhodewalt; and grandnieces and grand-nephews.

A private inurnment at Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, Calif., will be held.

DORIS A. PERICLES

Doris A. Pericles, 91, of Media, passed away on Feb. 11 at Lima Estates.

She was the wife of James Pericles, with whom she shared 65 years of marriage. Born in Atco, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Lawrence W. Pyle and the late Nellie Goodwin Pyle. Doris was a Registered Nurse, working for various area hospitals. She retired in 1980 after 30 years of service. She was a member of the Middletown Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and being with her family and friends.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by one son, James S. Pericles and his wife Joann of Bel Air, Md.; one daughter, Diane Poff and her husband Don of Roanoke, Va.; one brother, Donn Pyle of Media, Pa.; one sister, June Kozak of Lima; and four grandchildren.

Her services and burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

THERESA A. MOREFIELD

Theresa A. Morefield, 79, of West Grove, passed away on Feb. 13 at the Jennersville Regional Hospital. She was the wife of Carl J. Morefield, with whom she shared 59 years of marriage. Born in New York, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Amerigo Tait and the late Helen Butcher Tait. Theresa was a homemaker. She was a member of the New London Baptist Church. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, playing bingo, helping others, and being with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by one son, Carl E. Morefield and his wife Leona of Colorado Springs, Colo.; one daughter, Margie Brackin of West Grove; one brother, Robert Tait of Manheim, Pa.; one sister, Helen Gerenza of Hazelton, Pa.; and eight grandchildren. She was predeceased by one daughter, Jodi Morefield; one grandson, Raymond Brackin; one sister, Barbara Morollo; and two brothers, Andrew Tait and Johnny Tait.

A service was held Feb. 19. Burial was in Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1626 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

KARL KUERNER, JR.

Karl Kuerner, Jr., 91, of Chadds Ford, passed away on Feb. 13.?He was born in Chadds Ford to the late Karl, Sr., and Anna Kuerner. Growing up on his parents’ farm, he followed in his father’s footsteps and farmed his entire life. One time he was asked what he would have done with his life other than farming, he responded, “Farming is all I knew and all I ever wanted to do.” In 1998, he and his son approached the Brandywine Museum and Conservancy about donating the family farm. He loved that idea and to see the property preserved was his greatest gift in life. Karl was a member of the Brandywine Baptist Church and Brandywine River Museum of Art.

Survived by his son, Karl J. Kuerner; two sisters; a nephew, Phillip Edwards of Jennersville; and niece Catherine Stevens of Tennessee.?At the request of the family, funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Brandywine Museum of Art, specifically for the Kuerner Farm. For online condolences, please visit www.Chandlerfuneralhome.com.

Feb. 24

Buffet breakfast

The Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford) hosts its monthly buffet breakfast for the community on Feb. 24 from 7 to 10 a.m. The menu includes buttermilk pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon, fruit, roasted potates, dried beef gravy and more. Tickets at the door are $7 for adults and $3 for ages 3 to 10. Call 610-932-9698 for more information.

Feb. 28

Joseph’s People meeting

The next monthly Joseph’s People West Grove meeting for the unemployed/ underemployed will be

on Feb. 28 at 6:45 p.m. in the Parish Life Center of ABVM’s Church (300 State Rd., West Grove). The presenter will be Darren Chick, speaking on “Reinventing Yourself: What Have I Forgotten That I Know How To Do?” Joseph’s People provides prayerful support, introduces community resources, encourages member interaction, and discusses job opportunities. Visit www.josephspeople. org.

March 3

Chocolate Festival

The Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford) hosts the fifth annual Chocolate Festival on March 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. For $5, patrons will get six tickets, allowing six samples of chocolate treats (additional tickets are 50 cents each). Local bakers are encouraged to enter the contest, which will include cakes and cupcakes, cookies, candy and fudge, brownies and other desserts. Awards will be given. Call 610-9329698 for more information.

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: jchambless@ chestercounty.com.

Dreamy abstract paintings invite you to linger

By John Chambless Staff Writer

David Eldreth’s solo exhibit at the Oxford Arts Alliance

is a big showcase for his open-ended and dreamy abstract paintings, which are about as far as possible from the traditional pottery he produced over his long career.

These contemplations of sky, earth and horizon – or whatever else they suggest to you – work in all sizes, from the smaller format, about the size of an LP cover, to the sort of statement pieces that would be the focal point of even the biggest room.

They work so well because they allow each viewer to make a connection with a place or a memory. Some people might see distant mountains under a brooding sky, while others could see a stormy ocean. And Eldreth isn’t giving any clues. The works are merely numbered, not titled.

You will have your own favorites, but the ones that struck me the most are No. 34, a midnight blue scene with a lighter jagged line

Works by David Eldreth at Arts Alliance through March 10

to the left that recalls surf breaking on a shore. Then there’s No. 9, a huge panel, again in dark blue, that has a lighter horizon, a soaring sky, and a smudge of darker gray that suggests drifting smoke from a bonfire. Or whatever you’d like it to be. Some of the skies are vividly colored pink or red, and not representational, but visually pleasing and dramatic nonetheless.

The more grounded-inreality works include No. 6, an earth-toned ground overlaid with heavy clouds; and No. 35, a rare sunny view with a white cloud over a golden ground. No. 40 is a large work with a white smudge on the right that, to me, is a beach house. Except, of course, it isn’t – it’s a splotch of lighter color.

It’s a testament to the appeal of these dreamscapes that you see more in them the longer you look. You’ll need to bring your imagination to this show, but you’ll be rewarded with maybe a dozen little trips to your favorite places. Silent, calm and introspective, these paintings are a soothing balm

for hectic daily life.

Art by David Eldreth continues on view at the Oxford Arts Alliance (38 S. Third St., Oxford) through March 10. Eldreth will discuss his work on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in the gallery. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10

a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours on the first and third Fridays of the month until 8 p.m. Visit www.oxfordart.org.

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

from week to week. The season ends with Jazz Championships held at several southeastern Pennsylvania schools in April. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Concessions will be sold.

Through April 27

Dance lessons

The Oxford Area Senior Center (12 W. Locust St., Oxford) hosts dance lessons by Shirley Mackey on March 2, 16 and 30, and April 13 and 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. She will teach an assortment of popular line dances such as the Electric Slide, Cha Cha, Boot Scootin’ Boogie and more. Beginners and experienced dancers are welcome. The cost is $5 per class/per person. Call 610932-5244 or email oxsrctr@ zoominternet.net.

Feb. 24

Kennett Winterfest

Broad Street in Kennett Square will be the site of the annual Kennett Winterfest on Feb. 24 from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

The event features unlimited beer tastings from 60 breweries, music by Shady Groove, food trucks and a warm-up tent. No one under 21 admitted. The event will be held rain, show or shine. Tickets are $60 ($15 for designated drivers). For tickets and more information, visit www.kennettwinterfest.com.

Feb. 24

Willowdale fundraiser

JUMP for Willowdale, an exuberant evening in the spirit of Carnival, will be held Feb. 24 from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Yellow House on the steeplechase Grounds. Guests will enjoy music by DJ Freeze and silent bidding on a few special auction items. Proceeds from JUMP will help fund the Willowdale races, which raise money for the Stroud Water Research Center, the University

of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, and Quest Therapeutic Services, Inc. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. willowdale.org or call 610-444-1582.

Feb. 28

Gardening class

The Oxford Area Senior Center (12 E. Locust St., Oxford) hosts a gardening program with Steve Seivwright, a landscaper with 43 years of experience, on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. He will discuss the benefits of composting, correct watering methods, the importance of sunlight and using raised beds. For those that don’t have garden space, gardening in pots will be taught. The program is free and includes seeds for planting. For reservations, call 610932-5244 or email oxsrctr@ zoominternet.net.

March 2

Fundraiser for anti-trafficking

On March 2, there will be a fundraising event for Meet Me At the Well at the Concord Country Club (1691 Wilmington Pike, West Chester). The group works to fight sex trafficking. There will be bidding on more than 30 silent auction items such as sports memorabilia, vacations, and themed baskets. There will be cocktails and hors d’oeuvres by chef John Klebart, a James Beard Award nominee. Local artists will be selling their work. Contact Diana Suchodolski for details at 302-743-7765 or

email Diana.Suchodolski@ TheWellDE.org.

March 15 to 17

‘The King and I’

Unionville High School will stage the classic musical “The King and I” on March 15, 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. Email uhstickets@gmail.com for ticket reservations and more information.

March 18

‘Azul’ in West Chester

The Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 N. High St., West Chester), hosts “Azul,” a theater/dance piece exploring Picasso’s blue period, on March 18 at 3 p.m. It interweaves flamenco music and dance with stunning imagery to create a dramatic canvas of Picasso’s thoughts, doubts, actions and torments. The Latin Program at Uptown! promotes Latin culture in West Chester and neighboring communities through live theater, dance and music performances. Purchase tickets at www.UptownWestChester. org, at the box office, or call 610-356-2787.

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. The schedule includes: Ellis Paul (Feb. 24, 8 p.m., $24 and $28); “I Saw the Light: Films and Words at the Flash” with Scott Birney (Feb. 25, 7 p.m., $10 and $15); Aubrey Logan

Through Feb. 24

‘Around Town’

Mala Galleria (200 E. State St., Kennett Square) presents “Around Town,” with city and town views by Teresa Haag, Jack Giangiulio, Rhoda Kahler, Marie Wolfington Jones, Sarah Baptist and Brad Earl, through Feb. 24. Call 484-883-5429 or visit www.malagalleria.com.

Through Feb. 24

Group Show

The Station Gallery (3922 Kennett Pike, Greenville, Del.) hosts a show of paintings by Marlene Dubin, Elaine Lisle and Mary Ann Weselyk through Feb. 24. Call 302-654-8638 or visit www.stationgallery.net.

Through March 4

‘Any Body’

Bookplace Gallery (2373 Baltimore Pike, Oxford) presents “Any Body,” a show highlighting the human figure, through March 4. Artists include Ruth Ansel, Lisa Bartolozzi, Jill Beech, Mark Bockrath, Marijke van Bucem, Reenie Chase, Alex Cohen, Gillian Pederson-Krag, Georgia Ellis, Harold Kalmus, Meinrad Lekie, E.M. Saniga, Steven Tanis, Vicki Vinton, and Denise Young. The gallery is open Friday through Sunday. Visit www. bookplaceoxford.com.

Through March 10

Paintings by Dave Eldreth

The Oxford Arts Alliance (38 S. Third St., Oxford) hosts a show of abstract paintings by David Eldreth through March 10. Eldreth will discuss his work in the gallery on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.oxfordart.org for more information.

March 16 and 17

Chadds Ford Art Show

Chadds Ford Elementary School (3 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford) hosts the

69th annual Art Sale and Show, featuring more than 65 professional regional artists, on March 16 and 17. A free reception and sale will be held March 16 from 7 to 10 p.m. (adults only), with regular hours on March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be

free guided tours of the art collection at the school, and an Art Paint Along for adults and children will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Admission is free, and 30 percent of purchases benefit educational enrichment programs at the school. Call 610-388-1112.

of Postmodern Jukebox (Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $20 and $24); Phish tribute band The Last Rewind (March 2, 8 p.m., $14 and $17); Molly Tuttle (March 3, 8 p.m., $15 and $18); Open Mic hosted by Dennis Melton (March 4, 7 p.m., $4); James Maddock (March 9, 8 p.m., $25 and $28); Stu Hamm with Tom Griesgraber (March 10, 8 p.m., $24 and $28); Julia Johnson and Felicia Berrier (March 11, 6 p.m., $10 and $14); Beyond the Pale (March 17, 8 p.m., $20 and $24); Open Mic hosted by Angelee (March 18, 7 p.m., $4); Cactus

featuring Carmine Appice (March 23, 8 p.m., $40 and $50); Genesis tribute band Trespass (March 24, 8 p.m., $24 and $28). Reactors Comedy Club schedule Reactors Comedy Club, in the Quality Inn and Suites (943 S. High St., West Chester). Hosts live comedy presented by Reactors on weekends. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and showtime is 8:30 p.m. Admission is $20 at the door. Visit www. reactorscomedyclub..com. The schedule includes: Dan

Mahoney with Tommy Highland (Feb.

To submit items to the Calendar of Events, e-mail jchambless@chestercounty. com. There is no charge. Not every submission can be included. Items should be submitted at least two weeks before the event.

A Honus Wagner baseball card (ca. 1909-11), one of the rarest and most iconic of all sports-related objects, will be on view at Winterthur this spring. In this “Eye on the Iconic” exhibit, a prized Wagner card from the New York Public Library will be displayed along side a “Hans Wagner” cigar box label from the Winterthur Library collection.

The Honus Wagner T206 card is considered the “holy grail” of the sports memorabilia world. Only 50 copies survive, in part because Wagner had it removed from circulation by the American Tobacco Company, which produced it. Wagner did not want young children to have to purchase cigarettes to get a card with his image on it. A near-identical Honus Wagner card set a new world-record price for a baseball card, selling for $3.12 million in 2016.

Like the card with his image, Wagner himself was an icon, considered the best shortstop of his era and the greatest of all

time. Johannes Peter “Honus” Wagner (1874-1955) played in the major leagues from 1897 to 1917, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series championship in 1909, his greatest professional season. His statistics were astounding even by 21st-century standards, with a .327 career batting average, 3,415 hits, and 101 home runs.

“Like seeing a total eclipse of the sun, viewing the Honus Wagner baseball card is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is not to be missed,” said Gregory Landrey, Winterthur’s director of academic affairs and organizer of the exhibit.

Collecting objects such as sports memorabilia is a beloved pastime for many. That passion for collecting can result in a museum such as Henry Francis du Pont’s Winterthur, or in personal albums featuring cards of baseball players, past and present.

“Eye on the Iconic” is a series of exhibits that focus on a single memorable object.

students and seniors; and $6 for ages 2 to 11. Visit winterthur.org or call 800-448-3883.

CLASSIFIEDS

of Penn Township, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Robert A. McMillan having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Jane Freeman, Co-Executrix and Ruth Ann Sumner, Co-Executrix, c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, 208 E. Locust St., P.O. Box 381 Oxford, PA 19363, Phone: 610-932-3838

2p-7-3t

ADVERTISEMENT FOR GRANT OF LETTERS

ESTATE OF Harold J. Nichols, late of Oxford Borough, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Deceased. Letters of Administration on the estate of the above named Harold J. Nichols, having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Attorney: Shaun E. O’Toole, 220 Pine Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101. 2p-7-3t

PUBLIC NOTICE

Kenneth Battin, Township Manager 2p-14-2t

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Supervisors of London Grove Township will hold a public hearing in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, Suite 100, West Grove, Pennsylvania 19390, to consider adoption of Ordinance 211 of an amendment to the Codified Ordinances of London Grove Township. The title of the proposed ordinance is as follows: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 15-304 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LONDON GROVE TOWNSHIP TO PROHIBIT TRUCKS ON INNISCRONE DRIVE BETWEEN STATE ROAD AND CLAY CREEK ROAD, EXCEPT LOCAL DELIVERIES; AND PROVIDING FOR POSTING OF APPROPRIATE SIGNS

of Lower Oxford Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Deceased. Letters of Administration on the estate of the above named Lawrence E. Kirk, having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Larry Kirk , 230 W. Ridge Road Nottingham, PA 19362, or Elizabeth Nichols , 2321 Scarsborough Drive Harrisburg, PA 17112. Co-Administrators. 2p-21-3t

PUBLIC NOTICE

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF Doris M. Bachman, also known as Doris Mae Bachman, late of Oxford Borough, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Doris M. Bachman having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Richard A. Bachman, Executor, c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire 208 E. Locust St., Oxford, PA 19363 Phone: 610-932-3838 2p-7-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF Robert A. McMillan, late

known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Scott N. Pletcher, Executor, c/o Emily K. Dietrich Witmer, Esq., Dietrich Witmer LLC, 221 W. High St. Suite 900, Bellefonte, PA 16823 2p-7-3t

NOTICE – The London Grove Township Board of Supervisors will conduct a conditional use hearing on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in the London Grove Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA at 7 p.m. to consider the conditional use application of Avondale Investors, LLC to construct a Taco Bell and any other business before them. Section 27-1002 (2)(C) of the Codified Zoning Ordinance requires conditional use approval for the proposed use. The property subject to the conditional use application is tax parcel number 59-5-117 and is located on the north side of Gap Newport Pike (Route 41), across from Wawa convenience market, just to the west of the Walgreen’s Pharmacy. All who wish may attend and be heard. All communications relative to this hearing are to be addressed to London Grove Township, 372 Rose Hill Road, Suite 100, West Grove, PA 19390. Contact London Grove at (610) 345-0100 if any special services or facilities for the handicapped are required.

The purposed ordinance will prohibit truck traffic on Inniscrone Drive between State Road and Clay Creek Road, except for local deliveries; official signs notifying the public that no trucks, except local deliveries, are permitted shall be erected at the beginning and the end of each section of road affected, which signs shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. A full opportunity to be heard will be given to any citizen and all parties in interest who attend the meeting. Complete copies of the proposed ordinance are available for public inspection at the offices of the Chester County Press, 144 S. Jennersville Road, West Grove, Pennsylvania, and the Chester County Law Library, 201 West Market Street, Suite 2400, West Chester, Pennsylvania. Complete copies of the proposed ordinance are also available for public inspection and may be examined without charge or obtained for a charge not greater than the cost thereof at the London Grove Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, Suite 100, West Grove, Pennsylvania 19390, during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kenneth Battin, Township Manager 2p-14-2t ADVERTISEMENT FOR GRANT OF LETTERS ESTATE OF Lawrence E. Kirk, late

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Supervisors for Elk Township, 952 Chesterville Road, Lewisville, Pennsylvania, will conduct a conditional use hearing on Monday, March 12, 2018, at 6:30 pm at the Elk Township Building to consider the Application of Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless for property owned by American Tower Corporation and located at 253 Mount Olivet Road, being tax parcel #70-3-3

New Garden to benefit from state investment in area transportation projects

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Through a commitment from Pennsylvania’s Comprehensive Transportation Funding Plan, New Garden Township will receive $2 million to help pay for improvements to the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Newark Road. This project calls for reconstructing, realigning and widening the intersection to include new turn lanes, increasing turning radius, modernizing traffic signals and installing ADA-compliant sidewalks and crosswalks.

In addition, State Sen. Andrew Dinniman recently announced that he has secured an additional $600,000 in state funding for this project. New Garden is one of three municipalities in Chester County who will receive state funding to improve roads, upgrade intersection and enhance pedestrian and bicycle travel. The other projects being funded include:

• $1.26 million for the Borough of Phoenixville for the construction of the Northern Relief Route, Ashburn Road Extension. Under this project, the borough, in partnership with

a private developer, will construct a regional arterial connector by reconstructing and extending Ashburn Road (Fillmore Street) 0.34 miles from where Ashburn Road ends to Township Line Road;

• $143,836 for Oxford Borough for downtown roadway and pedestrian access improvements related to the construction of a proposed transit center. Funds will be used to reconstruct and repair Second Street (between Locust and Mt. Vernon Streets) and Octoraro Alley (from Second Street to the entrance of the new transit

B. Toto, age 35, of Avondale is facing drug charges according to a report from the Southern Chester County Regional Police, after a family member alerted police to illegal drugs and contraband found in her bedroom. On Jan. 30, in the 9000 block of Gap Newport Pike, a family member heard a loud noise in Toto’s bedroom. He discovered that her dog had knocked over a piece of furniture, causing a black box safe to fall and open. After observing drug paraphernalia inside the box and on the floor, he contacted police. Inside were more than 100 blue, stamped wax papers, commonly used for packaging heroin, as well as related drug paraphernalia. These items, as well as two vessels containing a white, powdery substance, were seized and sent for analysis.

FATAL CRASH

A Coatesville man was killed in a two-car crash on Feb. 8, according to

Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. Kenneth Vernon Heath, 56, of Coatesville, was driving south on Buck Run Road and tried to pass a car on the left that had stopped to turn. His car struck the second car, and then hit a utility pole. He was reported dead at the scene. Police said controlled substances are suspected as contributing to the crash.

GRANDFATHER CHARGED IN SEX ASSAULT

Pennsylvania State Police Avondale reported on Feb. 15 that an unnamed grandfather who lives in Avondale Borough was charged with raping his granddaughter several times over four months spanning Jan. 2011 to May 2011. No further information was provided to protect the identity of the granddaughter.

CAR THEFT

Pennsylvania State Police Avondale reported that a car parked in a driveway at 1793 Twin House Road

BUSINESS

BURGLARIZED

A business in the 200 block of West State Street in Kennett Square was burglarized sometime between 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 and 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 22, according to Kennett Square Police. Stolen was $2,200 in cash, according to police.

SHOTGUN FOUND

Pennsylvania State Police Avondale reported that a woman putting groceries into the bed of her pickup truck in Oxford Borough on Jan. 16 found a shotgun there that was not hers. She brought it to police.

HOME BURGLARIZED

A home at 4 Peacedale Court was broken into through a rear window on Feb. 13 between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. Several pieces of jewelry and a jar with about $50 cash were stolen.

center). Dinniman previously partnered with state Rep. John Lawrence to secure $540,000 in state funding for the transit center; and • Fair Share Properties will receive $750,000 to construct a new connector road and bicycle path running directly west of and parallel to U.S. Route 202 in Westtown Township. The road, connecting West Pleasant Grove Road and Stetson School Drive, will enhance the safety and accessibility of two major intersections along U.S. 202 and provide children with safe routes to school. Funding for these proj-

ects comes through Act 89 of 2013, Pennsylvania’s Comprehensive Transportation Funding Plan, which increased transit funding and established dedicated multimodal funding for aviation, passenger rail, rail freight, port and bicycle-pedestrian projects. The four Chester County projects were part of 45 multimodal transportation projects across 22 counties that were approved for $41.5 million in state funding. They were selected from more than 220 applicants.

“These projects will provide an additional route to relieve traffic congestion in

Phoenixville, repair roads that are vital to development Oxford’s anticipated transit center, and enhance safety and improve the flow of traffic at a key thoroughfare in New Garden,” said Dinniman, who serves on the Senate Transportation Committee. For more information about the program, including the application form, visit www.penndot.gov and click on Multimodal Transportation under the “Projects & Programs” button.

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

U-CF School Board addresses transportation issues, calendar and more

By John Chambless Staff Writer

The packed agenda at the Feb. 12 meeting of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board addressed a wide range of issues, including the planned purchase of new vehicles.

The board voted to solicit bids for three fullsize school buses, two passenger vans and one maintenance truck with a plow for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

Robert Cochran, the district’s Director of Business and Operations, said that the newest pickup truck in the district’s fleet is from 2003. “We’re looking to get a vehicle that has a little bit more capacity, so that it can haul the new, 30-foot trailer that our band program has acquired,” he said. “It’s time to get a new vehicle, so let’s get one that can pull the trailer and use the plow as well.”

The buses will be replacing vehicles in the current fleet. They will likely be traded in as part of the purchase. The bids are scheduled to be approved at the board’s Feb. 26 meeting.

Marie Wickersham, the Supervisor of Food Services and Transportation, updated the board on transportation in the district. “There is now

RICHARD A. JOHNSON a/k/a RICHARD ANGELO JOHNSON a/k/a RICHARD A. JOHNSON SR. DECEASED SALE ADDRESS: 206 Linden Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 PLAINTIFF

audio and video recording equipment on all buses,” she said. “It used to be 80 percent, and we would move the equipment from bus to bus.”

In the past year, there were 161 incidents reported on the district’s buses, she said. “An ‘incident’ can be a bloody nose, a student throwing something out the window, somebody tripping, an accident, it can be a discipline issue,” Wickersham said. “We have 4,600 kids we’re transporting them 182 days a year, so that’s not a lot of incidents at all. We have very good kids. The things we deal with on the buses are very manageable things.”

The district calendar for next year was also discussed. For the coming year, said district superintendent John Sanville, “In the event of terrible winter and missing a lot of days, the order of days taken as makeup days would be June 11, 12, 13 and 14. Then we go to Feb. 18, then we’d go to April 15 and 16, the first two days of spring break. Day 9 and 10 -- in the event of a big snow year -- we would forgive the students those two days. Then we would tack on day 10 and 11 makeup days as June 17 and 18.

“The difference here is the makeup days 8 and 9,

which are not made up.

The reason we’re able to do that is our current district policy is for 182 school days for students. The state only requires 180 days. This is something that we did three years ago, when we had an exceptionally harsh winter. We had two days we didn’t make up.” The board will vote on the calendar at next week’s meeting.

The board also heard about a revamped district website, which is being updated and realigned to work better on a wide range of devices. The launch is planned for spring break of 2018, and public notifications of the changes will begin on Feb. 26. The new, cloudbased technology platform replaces 15-year-old homegrown technology. It will be accessible to users with disabilities and will meet all ADA compliance requirements. Users will be able to control the language used on the site, and the pages will resize automatically from desktop to hand-held devices. All documents and content will be searchable, and directory improvements will search pictures, profiles and links.

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