Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 157, No. 17
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
$1.50
Presentation spells out vision for comprehensive bike and pedestrian networks By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Over the past decade – through the vision and ingenuity of individuals and agencies -- southern Chester County has evolved into a vast network of pathways and routes traversed by foot and by bike for the health and enjoyment of its residents. While definitive on their own, these tributaries exist mostly as separate entities, but a long-term plan now
INSIDE
underway aims to connect many of them together. In her presentation before the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors on April 19, Natasha Manbeck, a senior project manager for McMahon Associates, Inc., introduced Planning Kennett Connections, a study that is exploring the potential of developing a permanent link between Kennett Township, Kennett Square Borough and East Marlborough Township at three key areas: • Eastern area: Establish
Races take shape for the Primary Election on May 16
The Pennsylvania Primary Election is now less than Landenberg Life three weeks away and the Magazine races for various elected positions in southern Chester County are starting to take shape as candidates have circulated and filed the necessary nomination papers to reserve a spot on the ballot. The Primary Election allows registered voters of each political party to select the candidates who will be The Chester County nominated for the General Courthouse: A walk Election. The Primary through history...1B Election will take place on Tuesday, May 16, while the General Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Here’s a list of candidates who have filed for some of the positions that will be
Unionville’s Parisi tosses shutout…5B
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Biohabitats and Unknown Studio, the 80-page report – a year in the making – is being funded by Longwood Gardens, Chester County’s Vision Partnership Program and matching municipal funds, and is partnering with a steering committee made up of members from the three municipalities and Continued on page 4A Photo courtesy of Bike Kennett
Planning Kennett Connections, introduced on April 19 at the Kennett Township Building, is exploring the potential of developing a transportation link between Kennett Township, Kennett Square Borough and East Marlborough Township through pedestrian and bike trails.
FROM OUR LENS A festival of families
decided in the upcoming election: County Commissioner and row offices Chester County residents will be electing the threeperson board of County Commissioners this election cycle. Democratic incumbents Marian Moskowitz and Josh Maxwell are seeking re-election and are unopposed in the Primary Election. On the Republican side, former State Rep. Eric Roe and David C. Sommers are seeking to win election. The incumbent Republican on the board is Michelle Kichline, and she opted not to seek a third term as
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Anthony and Meghan Roman of Avondale and their son were among the hundreds of families who attended the annual Brandywine Backyard Barbecue Festival, held on April 23 at New Garden Township Park. For a story and additional photos, see Page 3A.
Continued on page 3A
Motorcycle riders gather to bless their bikes By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
© 2007 The Chester County Press
connections to the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway and the Kennett Bikeway on Route 52 • Northwestern area: Establish connections to Unionville, Willowdale, and Unionville Road (Route 82) • Western area: Establish connections to downtown Kennett Square, Anson B. Nixon Park and the Kennett Greenway Being developed through a consulting team made up of representatives from McMahon Associates, Inc.,
Motorcycle riders realize more than most people how dangerous it is to travel the highways. Still, when the warm breezes of spring start to blow and the temperatures rise, there’s
no stopping diehard bikers from climbing aboard and taking to the streets. The promise of the wind in their faces and the lure of the road challenges likewise prompt them to seek the company of like-minded bike devotees at what is called locally “The Blessing
of the Bikes.” For 13 years now, several hundred riders and their bikes have joined in Kennett Township at The Power Place Church parking lot in the early spring to renew old friendships and invoke the oversight of God with prayers for the next
April 29 festival to take place at Kennett Brewing Company, Holly Peters and The Kennett Flash
Kennett JazzFest: Three locations, one day of great music By Caroline Roosevelt Contributing Writer This Saturday marks the second annual Kennett JazzFest, a new rite of musical passage that will bring the talents of ten musical acts to three different venues in Kennett Square Borough and wrap up with a headline performance by Grammynominated organist Pat Bianchi at The Kennett Flash beginning at 8 p.m. Presented by Kennett
Festivals and sponsored by MacElree Harvey, the festival will bring a wide variety of jazz flavors to the Kennett Square Borough that range from Brazilian cocktail lounge to Philadelphia Classic Soul to Big Band to Blues to Jazz/Funk/Soul fusion. In addition to The Kennett Flash, audiences will get to hear live performances at the Kennett Brewing Company and the Holly Peters studio on Broad Street. The brainchild of musicians Bryan Tuk (GrooveKSQ,
GrooveOxford), Jeff Piscitello (co-founder of Kennett Festivals) and David Mattock (The Kennett Flash, Mattock School of Music), the Kennett JazzFest premiered last year before an audience looking to escape the post-pandemic grip of their zoom calls and sweatpants and check out something decidedly cooler and smoother. The event was so well attended, planning for year two Continued on page 2A
summer of travel. Honor Bound Motor Ministry makes its home at that building on Rosedale Road and attracts a large congregation of motorcycle riders. Jeff Smack is the chaplain of the group, and he served as master of ceremonies at the get-together
last Sunday morning. “Would you consider this opening day for riding?” Smack was asked. “Absolutely!” he replied. The bikes started arriving shortly after 9 a.m., but they kept coming in singles and in groups for the next two Continued on page 3A
Oxford officials discuss a new comprehensive plan, police training, and the importance of the Oxford Library By Betsy Brewer Brantner vidual comprehensive plan Contributing Writer the Borough has held. We welcome those individuals Mark Gallant, a senior who are interested in lookcommunity planner for ing at this first draft. It will Chester County, presented a be available at the Borough draft of the new comprehen- of Oxford for anyone wishsive plan to Oxford Borough ing to view it. Final adoption officials at a council meet- will be in July, but before ing last week. then the Oxford Borough “This is a 10-year plan Planning Commission will and we thank all those who be reviewing it and also helped,” Gallant said. “I holding a public meeting.” Continued on page 2A believe this is the first indi-