Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 158, No. 14
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
$1.50
Oxford Chamber President outlines ongoing support for fire victims The Oxford Chamber of Commerce and other organizations are still working to help the individuals, families, and businesses impacted by the devastating fire last September By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Six months after a tragic fire in downtown Oxford destroyed buildings and displaced nearly 100 people, support continues to flow to the victims. Multiple agen-
INSIDE
cies continue to report to Oxford Borough Council about how donations continue to come in, and at a recent council meeting Dennis McCartney, the Oxford Chamber of Commerce board president, told council about the organization’s Continued on Page 2A
Courtesy photo
The impact of the devastating fire in downtown Oxford is still being felt. Its aftermath has illuminated how close-knit and caring the community is, and support hasn’t faded for the fire victims, individuals, families and businesses.
Kennett Run 2024: Bringing the people to the people’s race
FROM OUR LENS Water for Peace
Extended Party in the Park will serve as prelude to Cinco de Mayo celebration Herr’s offers onsite health care to its employees...5A
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
On the first Saturday of every May in the Borough of Kennett Square, a semiformal invitation extends itself to every neighbor, friend, business and organization in southern Chester County to join in the celebration of what is becoming among the largest block parties in southern Chester County. It has been this way since the Kennett Run first Living History: Barclay kicked off in 1989, and Rubincam’s artistic as the finishing touches are applied to this year’s work...1B race on May 4, there is already reason to believe that this year’s event will unfurl that same welcome carpet to what has become
the people’s race – only bigger. In what has become a new tradition, more than 900 runners and walkers will kick off this year’s Kennett Run at 9 a.m. in Anson B. Nixon Park before hundreds of supporters, and then navigate their way through the borough along State Street before heading their way back to the park. After all competitors cross the finish line – from 10K runners to youngsters completing a Kids Pond run – this year’s Party in the Park will be extended to include award ceremonies, musical performances, children’s activities, vendor booths and:
Photo courtesy of Stroud Water Research Center
Stroud Water Research Center hosted its third annual World Water Day Celebration on March 22, with 150 in attendance on the banks of the White Clay Creek, the Center’s long-term research stream. The annual event, sponsored this year by M&T Bank and Wilmington Trust, is part of a global observance by the United Nations to raise awareness of water issues, and its 2024 theme – Water for Peace – inspired those in attendance to work together to protect the water they share with 15 million people in the Delaware River Watershed. To learn more about Stroud Water Research Center, visit www.stroudcenter.org.
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Filmmaker Jeff Gorcyca
© 2007 The Chester County Press
Kennett Square native’s production company making strides in horror genre By Caroline Roosevelt Contributing Writer The Philadelphia area boasts a rich history in filmmaking. We’re home to the Rocky series, the stomping ground for director/auteur M. Night Shyamalan, the birthplace of director Sidney Lumet, the inspiration behind the long-running sit-
com “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and the setting for the silver screen classic, A Philadelphia Story. It’s no surprise then, that there continues to be a dearth of inspired film makers generated from the region. Jeff Gorcyca, a Kennett Square native and a participant/creator of Girl Soup
Collective, now adds his name to the list. His short film, Don’t Bother the Neighbors recently won “Best Grindhouse Film” at Grindhouse Nights Horror Film Festival in New Jersey, and it’s also about to be screened at additional theatres in Pennsylvania. Gorcyca already has quite
a few short films under his belt and is in post-production for his first feature length film, a quiet-horror film based on Appalachian Witchcraft entitled Outen the Light. As a fellow film enthusiast -- especially of the underappreciated horror genre -- I was excited to recently talk with Gorcyca about his upcoming proj-
ects, and how he got started in filmmaking. Caroline Roosevelt: Who makes up Girl Soup? Jeff Gorcya: We are a group of six collaborators. Some of us met through graduate school at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, Continued on Page 3A
Cheshire Races enjoys 77th running By Marcella Peyre-Ferry and a side-saddle race on Staff Writer the flat and three flat races. The day of racing was The date for Easter dedicated to the late changes from year to year, Jonathan Sheppard, but the Chester County who is a member of the horse racing days can be Thoroughbred Racing Hall depended upon to remain of Fame and the winningest the same each spring. trainer in steeplechasing. The 77th running of the He has the most steepleCheshire Races took place chase wins per year—26 Sunday, March 31 at the times—during his career, Plantation Field property from 1972 to his retirement near Unionville. There in 2020. Photo by Marcella Peyre-Ferry With the Easter holiday, The Joseph Walker III Memorial Cheshire Bowl Open were three pony races and Timber Race highlighted the day of races. On the far a lead line race for young some of the spectators right is ultimate winner Court Ruler with jockey Freddie riders followed by four opted for Easter tailgating Proctor races over timber fences complete with spring flow-
ers and tasty Easter treats. Mini Young of Unionville and Jill Hunt of Kennett Square worked together on a tailgate that featured Easter-themed décor and sweets. “This is what we do, we do it at polo in the summer and at Plantation Field (eventing) in the fall. This is what we do – we entertain and try to make it nice for people and have fun,” Young said. “Fox hunting roots are very deep in my family. My mother was a Continued on Page 5A