Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 158, No. 20
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
$1.50
KCSD appoints new superintendent By Chris Barber Contributing Writer The Kennett School Board approved the hiring of Kimberly Rizzo Saunders as the next superintendent of schools for the Kennett Consolidated School District in a unanimous vote at a special meeting on Monday night. Rizzo Saunders will replace Superintendent
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Dusty Blakey, who announced his intention to retire effective July 26 this year. The newly elected superintendent was not physically present at the meeting, but she did participate in the meeting via a video conference call. When the school board approved the appointment, Rizzo Saunders responded, “I am very excited about
Event will include fireworks and a 150-drone light show
Air show coming to New Garden on June 25 By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Chadds Ford Life
beginning our work. I want to be an advocate for all students.” It was announced that she will come to visit the district on Friday, and she said she is looking forward to “listening and learning.” Rizzo Saunders is the current superintendent at the Contoocook Valley School District and its nearly 2,000 students in New Hampshire. The district is
Owing largely to the near constancy of temporary flight restrictions (TFR) placed upon them due to its proximity to President Joe Biden’s home in nearby Wilmington, the New
Garden Flying Field did not hold its usual flight show in 2023. With a virtual roll of the dice and a strong likelihood that a TFR will not be enacted on a Tuesday, the airport will be taking to the air once again, with an air show and fireworks
situated near Nashua at the southern border area with Massachusetts. She has been with that district since 2014, serving as superintendent since 2016, according to her LinkedIn online profile. She earned her undergraduate degree at Rivier University in New Hampshire. She did her graduate work and earned her doctorate in education
at Northeastern University in Boston. She has been widely praised for her dedication to education and for being an advocate for fair funding for schools. Most recently, she was honored as one of four finalists for the title of national Superintendent of the Year. Following the vote, the individual board members
Courtesy photo
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Kimberly Rizzo Saunders
FROM OUR LENS Red Clay Valley history, commemorated
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Loch Nairn Farm’s second chapter...2A
Photo by Richard L. Gaw Courtesy image
A performance by the Sky Elements Drone Show will highlight the New Garden Air Show and fireworks celebration on June 25 at the New Garden Flying Field.
Kennett Township recently unveiled a new historic marker in the Chandler Mill Nature Preserve that commemorates the events of Sept. 9 and 10, 1777, when 8,000 Crown Forces maneuvered their way along Chandler Mill Road on their way to what became The Battle of the Brandywine.
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Rev. Dan Nicewonger, Chamber’s Outstanding Citizen Award recipient, passes away at the age of 55
© 2007 The Chester County Press
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
years just two weeks after he received that honor. He passed away at the age of Rev. Dan Nicewonger, 55 on May 17 at Chester the beloved former pastor County Hospital. Continued on Page 2A of the First Baptist Church of Kennett Square, was Photo courtesy the honored by the Southern Southern Chester County Chester County Chamber of Chamber of Commerce Commerce as its Outstanding Pictured with Reverend Citizen for 2024. The occa- Daniel Nicewonger (seated) sion of the presentation took are Rev. Annalie Korengel, place at the Mendenhall Inn 2019 Outstanding Citizen; Rev. David Grainson; on May 4. Dr. Marvin Williams; Nicewonger succumbed Rev. Kenneth Buck; Fr. to cancer that he had been Chris Rogers; and Pastor fighting for the past eight Gustavo Castanada.
$3 million streetscape improvement
Birch Street Transformation Project receives groundbreaking By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
raindrops to formally recognize the Birch Street Transformation Project, a $3 Despite the persistent rain million streetscape improvethat fell upon it this past ment that will modernize a Saturday morning, and the one quarter mile stretch of the craggy cracks to its surContinued on Page 2A face from years of overuse and neglect, Birch Street in Photo by Richard L. Gaw Kennett Square shone on Rep. Christina Sappey May 18 as a place where and Chester County the fulfillment of current Commissioner Eric Roe dreams is merging with were just two of the more future dreams on what has than one dozen elected become a boulevard paved officials and community leaders who participated with progress. in a groundbreaking cerMore than 50 elected offi- emony for the Birch Street cials, community leaders Transformation Project on and area residents braved May 18.