Chester County Press 05-30-2018 Edition

Parking garage talks continue in Oxford

Council member Robert Ketcham makes a presentation about usage of the metered parking lots on the commercial district.

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Oxford Borough expects to receive contractors’ bids on the parking garage project by June 19, so soon officials will have a better idea of the actual costs for what would be the most significant infrastructure investment in the town’s history. The costs of the project, and more specifically how much the borough would have to borrow in order to finance the project, will ultimately decide whether borough officials continue to make decisions that move the project forward. At the May 21 meeting, borough officials and residents continued to discuss the project, its costs, its drawbacks, and the potential economic impact

While proponents of the parking garage project view it as a much-needed catalyst for economic development and as a long-term solution to the borough’s parking issues, critics have expressed concerns about the costs and whether the parking garage is needed.

The borough has already achieved an extraordinary amount of success in securing funding from state and county sources.

Pauline Garcia-Allen, of Econ Partners, has helped facilitate the parking garage project for the borough, and she outlined how the borough has received $3.7 million from a variety of state and county agencies, and another $600,000 in grants for streetscape

Continued on Page 3A

A day of honor

KHS students form new campus safety awareness group

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

On the afternoon of

Feb. 14, 14-year-old Ben Strusowski, a freshman at Kennett High School, came home from school and received a text from a friend that read, “Turn on the news.”

He then saw it for the first time, and with it came a fear that has not left him since: Students and administrators at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., had just been murdered by a lone gunman.

Strusowski remained riveted to the television screen, while combing social media and the internet for any information he could find. Miraculously, he connected with Parkland students, who sent him graphic videos of the shooting that showed bloodied school hallways where dead teenagers lay strewn about. He watched a video that showed the progression of the shooter.

“My first thought was, ‘Oh, another school shooting,’ and in a way, this sounds terrible, but my feeling was, ‘This happened,

Important information about opioids is shared by Franklin Supervisors

By John Chambless Staff Writer

The national opioid epidemic was brought home to the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors at their monthly meeting on May 16. Township resident Robert Weidenmuller pre-

sented an overview of the crisis and how it is affecting the local area, and his presentation is now posted on the township’s website (www.franklintownship.us).

Weidenmuller told the supervisors, “In 2000, less than 20,000 Americans died from drug overdose.

In 2016, over 64,000 died, mostly from opioid family drugs. In 2016, 4,642 drug-related overdose deaths were reported by Pennsylvania coroners and medical examiners, an increase of 37 percent from 2015. The presence of an opioid, illicit or pre-

scribed by a doctor, was identified in 85 percent of drug-related overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2016. In Chester County, a total of 153 people died of a drug overdose in 2017, compared with 106 in 2016 and 81 in 2015.

“And, in case you believe

this to be problem only of young people, 47 percent of those who died in 2017 were under the age of 35, while 53 percent were 35 or older, including 6 percent over 65. And, these numbers do not reflect the number of overdoses where lives

Citizen Recognition Awards in Oxford

Fire police captain and the Oxford Area Recreation Authority receive Citizen Recognition Awards for their contributions to the Oxford community

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

at a council meeting any time soon.

Bell thanked Amy for his dedicated service to the Oxford community. He has been a member of Union Fire Company No. 1 for 12 years. Amy has helped keep his fellow emergency responders and citizens safe while responding to more than 1,900 calls for emergency service. He has also volunteered countless hours

and again, nothing will be done about it,’” Strusowski said. “At first I thought it couldn’t be as bad as Sandy Hook or Columbine or Virginia Tech, until I saw that this guy hit all corners of Building 1200 (at Parkland]. It was surreal that it happened again, and that in the aftermath, nothing seemed to be getting done. I wanted to take action, but I didn’t know how.”

Mia Gruce, 15, a friend and classmate of Strusowski’s, saw the incident unfold before her on television when she returned home from school.

“My first reaction was that of horror,” Gruce said. “I was completely desensitized. I thought, ‘It’s another shooting, and it won’t do much to [eventually bring awareness to the epidemic]. You hear of another shooting and you begin to think, ‘That’s become the norm.’”

A third classmate, 15-year-old Lily Goodwin, saw the Parkland massacre on social media.

“I really didn’t talk about it with my family, until a few days later, but I had already begun to learn about it and doing research on it,” she said. Shortly after the carnage stopped, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz confessed to the shooting, and was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.

It was the deadliest school shooting in United States history, and it soon became clear to Strusowski, Gruce and Goodwin that the general demographic of the group they belong to was no longer being defined by aspirations, but by a continuing violence that had fully penetrated schools and turned them from sanctuaries into shooting ranges. They were now part of the Mass Shooting Generation, and they decided to do something about it.

On May 6, Strusowski created a petition and then called Gruce and Goodwin, who signed on to assist him. He has since been in contact with Parkland students who survived the shootings, for support and assistance. He is creating a social media page, “Keeping Our Classrooms Safe.”

Strusowski has also taken his case to the office of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf – he hasn’t received a response yet – and begun correspondence with Lori Alhadeff, the daughter of Alyssa Alhadeff, who was shot and killed at Parkland, whom he said formed the “building blocks” of the student movement at Kennett High School.

On May 17, Strusowski met with Kennett High School Principal Dr. Jeremy Hritz, Officer Jeremiah Boyer of the Kennett Borough Police Department and Dr. Barry Tomasetti, superintendent of the Kennett Consolidated School District, where he spelled out the following initiatives – in the form of a petition – for the school district:

1. To enact “Alyssa’s Law” in all classrooms in the school district. The law, named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, who died in the shooting at Parkland, is expected to be signed into New Jersey state law soon. It requires all public

elementary and secondary schools be equipped with a panic alarm for use in a school security emergencies including evacuations, lockdowns or active shooter situations.

2. The installation of bullet proof windows in classrooms.

3. Make all emergency drills in schools unannounced, to better assure that teachers and students take the drills more seriously.

4. Identify where each classroom’s “safe zone” is located, with red tape.

“Whatever the administration of our school and district is willing to do, we would like these initiatives to be put in place by the start of the 2018-19 school year,” Gruce said.

In addition to having safety measures firmly in place, the Kennett Consolidated School District has also created programs and events that address school safety, from a preventive standpoint. The Student Assistance Program (SAP) at Kennett Middle School and the Kennett Intervention Program (KIT) at Kennett High School provide additional resources for students and their parents who are in need of support, and is staffed by trained social workers, counselors, teachers, administrators and nurses.

In addition, teachers in the district are trained in suicide prevention, opioid training and mandated reporting which, in accordance with Pa. Act 126 (2013), requires that all school and independent contractors of school entities provide child abuse recognition and reporting training to all employees, including contracted substitute teachers who have direct contact with children.

Several years ago, Dr. Terri Erbacher, an author, school psychologist for 15 years and professor of psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, met with school staff in order to provide the district with a screening instrument that counselors and social workers can use to asses students at risk.

On April 17, the district offered a presentation by Minding Your Mind, an organization that provides mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults, their parents, teachers and school administrators, and the community, in order to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors often associated with mental health issues. Minding Your Mind student presentations help students learn to recognize the warning signs of mental illness in themselves and their friends, and teach students that mental health issues

and illnesses are common and treatable.

Strusowski said that he has gathered 400 signatures of support for the proposed initiatives, which form the basis of a three-student movement that takes its ideology and motivation from the student leaders from Parkland – Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg, most prominent among them – who have emerged as galvanizing voices in the effort to enact tougher gun laws, and eliminate NRA funding for politicians.

“It all kind of came together, and it told me that I don’t have to sit back,” Gruce added. “I am going to be voting in 2020, so there’s no reason for me to feel that I have no part in this.”

The early efforts of this student-led movement has gathered a lot of student supporters, including a student and her father, who are licensed gun owners. In an issue that has drawn strong opinions on both sides, however, they have heard from a few doubters.

“Some [students we’ve spoken with] think that the price of this movement is too high, but the prices are 17 lives, 26 lives, 32 lives and 13 lives – that’s the amount of deaths in each of the school shootings in recent years,” Strusowski said.

Despite the naysayers, Strusowski, Gruce and Goodwin are determined that the first step of their initiative has been accomplished – a series of proposals put forth to the school district. It’s just the beginning of a campaign that will likely continue through their remaining three years of high school. They’re willing to put themselves on the line for the cause.

“We are the first generation who has grown up from kindergarten to the 12th grade in high school, knowing that on the first day that this is where you go and where you hide and how you line up and stay away from windows and from the closest entrance of an active shooter,” Gruce said. “We’re going to be the first generation to really push for school safety. Maybe we won’t be able to change the system as teenagers, but action now will allow us to eventually change it when we get into our early 20s.”

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

improvements related to the parking garage. The borough also has access to a $1.2 million gift fund that was established by an anonymous donor who gifted the funds for the borough to acquire or build a new borough administration building. The administration building is part of the parking garage project.

Garcia-Allen explained that the borough’s revitalization efforts up to this point have played a critical role in convincing funders that the parking garage project is not just viable, but also very much needed in order for the borough to continue its progress.

Garcia-Allen has described the process of obtaining grants as telling Oxford Borough’s story to officials at the state and county level. Telling Oxford’s story gives those officials a better understanding of how the parking garage, as an infrastructure investment, could help the borough’s downtown to reach its potential.

“It’s what this community needs,” Garcia-Allen said.

State Rep. John Lawrence was invited by council president Sue Lombardi to attend the meeting as a scheduled guest. Lawrence thanked borough council for inviting him to talk about the project―he’s been closely involved in numerous meetings and a variety of different activities related to the project over the course of the last four years.

Lawrence noted that while the most recent effort to

were saved with Naloxone, nor where a coroner was not involved in determining cause of death.”

address parking in the borough has been an issue for the last four years, ever since borough council authorized a parking study, the conversation about parking actually dates back to the 1970s―and maybe even earlier than that. He referenced a letter from the local chamber of commerce commenting about the need for more parking nearly 50 years ago.

Lawrence said that, as a state lawmaker, he is always concerned about government―at any level―taking on debt, but in this particular case the borough has secured so much grant funding that it puts the project within the borough’s reach. More than half of the project will be funded through grants, he noted, which is extremely rare. Lawrence added that the borough was able to obtain about $2 million in funding from PennDOT, and typically those funds would have gone for a project in Philadelphia or maybe Pittsburgh―the grant process for these funds is that competitive. He explained that officials at the state, county, and municipal level, have seen the viability of the parking garage project in Oxford Borough, and he encouraged borough council to take that into consideration the rare opportunity to leverage so much state and county funding to upgrade the borough’s infrastructure.

“We’ve been able to attract significant funding,” Lawrence said. “Folks at the state, county, and municipal level have seen value in this proposal, which I

Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Oxford Police (57 N. Fourth St), open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

think speaks very well to the opportunity. In the view of the people who do this for a living, this project is a lay up.”

Lawrence emphasized, however, that it’s not his decision about how the borough addresses the parking issue.

“This is not my decision. This is not my project. It’s my job to work on your behalf,” Lawrence told council. “My job is to facilitate. It’s not up to me to come in here and tell you what to do in Oxford.”

Lawrence credited Garcia-Allen for her work in helping the borough secure more than $4 million in grants.

“She has done a tremendous job,” he said.

Despite the borough’s success in obtaining grants, a small, but vocal group of residents have steadfastly opposed the project because of the possibility that the project could result in higher taxes on borough residents. During public comment, several of the residents reiterated those concerns, saying that the costs of the project could increase beyond what has been estimated, and the borough’s taxes are already too high.

Lombardi noted that it has been the borough council’s intent all along to not have residents pay for the project. Borough officials maintain that revenues generated by the metered lots, the metered parking spaces in the downtown, and the parking garage itself will be sufficient to cover the debtservice payments―so the costs for the parking garage

Live4RJ and Kacie’s Cause, will help to obtain low-cost Naloxone.

will be paid by those people who are parking in the borough’s metered spaces, not residents.

Next, Lombardi prefaced a presentation by council member Robert Ketcham by noting that it was not a borough council presentation, and Ketcham had not been asked by council to conduct a study of parking patterns in the downtown. The message was that the council, as a whole, did not endorse or substantiate the information in the presentation.

Regardless, Ketcham explained how he spent two months between March and May leading the effort to monitor the usage of parking spaces in the BB&T lot and the two smaller parking lots near Broad Street to get a sense of the demand for parking in the commercial district. Ketcham noted that, as of March 1, the spaces in those parking lots were metered, and people now have to pay to park there.

Ketcham created graphs illustrating how many vehicles were parked in the lots at different times of the day each Monday through Saturday.

“I think there are some patterns starting to emerge,” Ketcham said. He explained that most weekdays had fairly consistent usage. The number of vacancies in those parking lots was also fairly consistent during evening hours―except for Friday nights, which stood out as being busier in terms of usage, Ketcham said.

The council member explained that there are 100 spaces in the BB&T lot,

and another 72 spaces in the two parking lots near Broad Street. Combining all the available data that was collected, Ketcham said, there were 42.5 vacancies in the BB&T lot and 57 vacancies, on average, in the two smaller lots. Add those two numbers together and there were 99.5 vacancies, on average, out of a total of 172 spaces. Next, Ketcham talked about the plans for the size of the parking garage. He explained that one option, the larger one, would have a total of 345 spaces―310 lots inside the garage and another 35 surface spaces, while the smaller option would have 301 total spaces―266 inside and another 35 surface spaces. The smaller one would come with a smaller price tag. The borough is accepting bids on both sizes.

Ketcham said that his survey of parking patterns in the metered lots indicated that the borough could expect 58 vehicles that are currently being parked in the lots to be parked in the parking garage. With the borough hall being a part of the garage project, those employees and visitors will also use the parking garage.

Ketcham concluded his presentation by highlighting some of the under-utilized buildings in town where expansion could take place. He noted that the recently closed Rite Aid could be a prime spot for redevelopment. A bed & breakfast is being planned for a building on Locust Street, and the Soap Bucket Skincare and Candles is considering a possible expansion of

its operations. The Oxford Area Sewer Authority building could be sold and redeveloped. The Oxford Hotel was recently sold and could be used in a different capacity in the future.

“People in the borough now have plans to grow, expand, and start new businesses,” Ketcham said.

While the data that Ketcham collected suggests that there are enough vacancies in the metered parking lots to raise concerns that a parking garage might not be fully utilized, the buildings in the downtown that could be successfully redeveloped suggests that there is the potential for significant commercial growth. Once the borough receives bids on the project, and borough council has a better understanding of the actual costs of the project, a decision about the size of the parking garage will need to be made.

Borough manager Brian Hoover reiterated his belief that a project of the size and scope of a parking garage must be viewed as a long-term investment― as an important piece of infrastructure, it could pay dividends for borough residents for decades.

“If we are to attact the businesses―the restaurants, or an employer that would employ 50 people in the downtown―we need to understand that right now we don’t have the parking to do that,” Hoover said. “That’s what this parking garage is about.”

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

Weidenmuller’s presentation goes on to state, “My challenge to all local entities – school districts, townships, churches, libraries -- is for you to examine what you can do to help and to act. I believe that all these entities have three specific resources that can help. One is a list of people in our area. Two is social media sites like websites and Facebook. And three is physical buildings for possible meetings for communication and recovery.

• Southern Chester County Regional Police Force (385 Starr Rd.), open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

be reached by contacting Annalie Korengel at 610952-2992, Jacki Smiro at 484-639-7990, or through their Facebook page. The list of local Narcotics Anonymous meetings can be found at www.na.org/ meetingsearch. Special information for senior citizens: The opioid crisis does not just impact younger people. In 2015, 2.7 million Americans over the age of 50 abused painkillers, taking them for reasons or amounts beyond what their doctors prescribed, and the hospitalization rate due to opioid abuse has quintupled for those 65 and older in the past two decades. Parking

“I have worked with some dedicated leaders in the opioid area to put together a communication package. I ask the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors, as well as the other entities in our community, to issue this package, or one of their choosing, on a periodic basis. Perhaps Franklin Township might communicate with all residents once a year. I also ask Franklin Township, as well as the other entities, to understand and reach out to the various support organizations with the purpose of offering meeting space where it might be needed. Please let me repeat; you already have many resources that can help to confront the opioid crisis. Please use them.”

The report lists several ways to help:

• Help cut the supply of opioids by dropping off unused prescriptions at one of four drop boxes:

• State Police BarracksAvondale (2 Moxley Lane), open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Kennett Square Police (155 N. Broad St), open

Help save lives: Naloxone is the generic name of a drug that can reverse the impact of an opioid overdose and save lives. The drug has no abuse potential and counteracts the life-threatening effects of an overdose. It is also known by the brand name Narcan. This is administered as a nasal spray. The Surgeon General of the United States just recently recommended more people carry Naloxone. Naloxone is available without a prescription in Pennsylvania at CVS and Walgreen’s stores. The cost of a Naloxone dosage can be about $130, although many insurance plans cover some of the costs. Additionally, the local support groups,

Learn more about the opioid crisis: A great source of statistics and information is www.overdosefreepa.pitt. edu. The “View Overdose Death Data” shows information about Chester County. Another source of information is Chester County’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Services site (www.chesco.org/216/ Drug-and-Alcohol). Also learn more at the site for the Chester County chapter of the Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education (NOPE) group (www. nopetaskforce.org/chapterchester.php).

Support and information: There are at least three local support/action organizations in our area as well as chapters of national organizations.

Live4RJ provides Addiction Crisis Response where anyone can call to find access to treatment, regardless of insurance by calling 484-247-4911. They

also provide peer mentoring to help those on the road to recovering. Live4RJ just opened a Recovery Clubhouse called Miracles Off Main at 406 W. First Ave., Parkesburg. They are also actively working on opening an additional Recovery Clubhouse in the Avon Grove area. Live4RJ provides addiction and recovery presentations and information as well as hosting overdose awareness vigils. And they also can help obtain lower-cost Naloxone. Their website is www.live4rj.com.

Kacie’s Cause, as their website states, has a vested interest in providing educational information to a sometimes unsuspecting or unaware community. They

accomplish this by collaborating with the local school districts and Chester County drug programs, and presenting drug awareness information during town hall meetings, community events, parent support groups, art programs for at-risk elementary students, educational activities for intermediate and middle school students, addiction awareness and education assemblies for high school students, and Narcan training and distribution. Their website is www.kaciescause.com.

If Love Was Enough is a new group in the area focused on helping parents who have lost a child of any age to an overdose. If Love Was Enough can

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in addition to his duties as fire police captain.

“I commend your service to the citizens and businesses in Oxford,” Bell said while presenting the award. “The quick response to all calls for help provides a level of safety for all residents.”

The Oxford Area Recreation Authority was commended for improving

the quality of life for borough residents. The Oxford Area Recreation Authority helped make a new community park, the Oxford Area Regional Park, a reality. Bell lauded the volunteer organization for overseeing the operations of the park and for adding community events like the Pitch, Hit and Run competition and the “Haunted Park” to the lineup of activities available to local residents. Most recently, Bell noted, the opening

of a new and eagerly anticipated dog park took place on May 19.

“Your commitment to serving the community and inspiring others has been exemplary and provides a model for everyone to follow,” Bell said.

The two new recipients join a growing number of individuals, businesses, and community organizations that have been honored with the Citizen Recognition Awards since they were

established by former mayor Geoff Henry in 2007. Bell talked about what a privilege it was to be able to recognize the efforts of people who are working to make a difference in the community.

“This year’s Citizen Recognition Award recipients are well deserved,” Bell said. “Fire Police Captain Ray Amy has served tirelessly in our community for many years and answered of 1900 calls for emergencies, that is quite an accomplishment and we are proud to have him be part of our community. I am also grateful to the Oxford Area Recreation Authority for all they have done to improve the lives of our citizens, and now our dogs with the opening of our new dog park. We are a giving community and I am humbled to be able to recognize our deserving citizens.”

Officers fire weapons during car pursuit

Two Pennsylvania State Police Avondale officers fired their weapons during an attempted traffic stop on May 23 at 11:30 p.m., according to a news release from the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. No one was injured in the incident, which began at 11:21 p.m., when police got a call about an erratic driver in the area of routes 1 and 796. Two marked patrol cars

responded and saw a Saturn weaving on the roadway, with an expired registration. They tried to pull the car over, but the driver sped off. The troopers tried to box the car in but the driver turned the car into an open area where mushroom compost is stored on Old Baltimore Pike in Avondale. The troopers got out of their cars, and the driver backed up toward them. The offi-

cers fired their weapons. The pursuit continued, with a third police car joining. The driver eventually drove behind a building and the car became stuck. The driver, Brian Touchton, surrendered to police at the scene. He is charged with fleeing, DUI, and driving with a suspended license. Additional charges may be filed after the investigation is complete.

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

Kennett students take Senior Stroll

On May 31, more than 300 members of Kennett High School’s Class of 2018 will participate in the third annual Senior Stroll.

The stroll is an opportunity for graduating seniors to say farewell and thank you to all of their former teachers while inspiring younger students to work hard for their futures. The class of 2018, clad in caps and gowns, will visit Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center, New Garden Elementary, Greenwood Elementary, Bancroft Elementary, and Kennett Middle School. The hallways will be lined with teachers and students cheering on and wishing good luck to the soon-to-be graduates.

For the first time, members of the graduating class will be wearing name tags that are colorcoded based on the elementary school that they attended, so former students are easily identified as they enter their old school buildings.

Dr. Jeremy Hritz instituted the stroll in his first year as Kennett High School principal.

“The idea actually came from Mrs. Christina Gorman, mother of Aodhan (class of 2016) and Ronan (class of 2020), so I can’t take the credit for it. But it’s a great idea. The kids are really enthusiastic about it,” he said.

Kennett High School’s 127th commencement exercises will be held on June 8.

OAHS honors nine student-athletes who will be playing at the collegiate level

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

If the nine studentathletes honored by Oxford Area High School (OAHS) on May 24 share a common trait—beyond the fact that they are all talented athletes who will graduate from Oxford this Friday—it’s that they are all hard-working leaders on the sports field and in the classroom.

All that hard work paid off as seniors Madeline Williams, John Martelli, Julian Nadachowski, Brandon Holz, Brandon DeShields, Phillip Hurtt, Jared Tweed, Connor McMurrough, and Jake Giles signed letters of intent to play their sports at the collegiate level.

Williams, a standout on the girls’ basketball team, is heading to Washington College. She was a leader on a team that improved greatly over the last four years. The basketball team earned just five wins four years ago, when Williams was a freshman, but within two years the team won the American Division and qualified for districts for the first time in a decade. It was a big step forward for the program. The Oxford squad made two appearances in the ChesMont League Final Four during Williams’ time on the team.

For her part, Williams

was a team MVP, served as team captain, and earned All-Area Honorable Mention during her time at Oxford. As she became one of the team’s leaders, she set an example for other players to follow.

Williams expressed her gratitude to her teammates for all their hard work, and to her parents for all their support along the way.

Martinelli, who will be heading to Rosemont College, plans to pursue a career in medicine. He said that he really enjoyed his time at OAHS.

He was a four-year varsity player on Oxford’s lacrosse team, earning the team MVP Award and picking up an All-Ches-Mont League selection along the way. The lacrosse program is young, and Martinelli said that he was proud of the way the players supported each other and stuck together during difficult times.

Martinelli was also very involved in school activities, ranging from the National Honor Society to the Interact Club to the Allied Health Program.

Giles, who will next play basketball for Neumann University, was a top scorer for the Hornets, as well as being a team leader. He was a center in high school, but will most likely play guard at the collegiate level.

Giles was part of a core group of players on the Hornets’ team that provided

leadership and consistency during a time when the squad had three coaches in four years. Giles said that the new system that was installed during his senior season worked very well, and the team spent a lot more time studying film and expanding the playbook—which produced results on the court. A home win over rival Avon Grove late in the 20172018 season stood out as a highlight for Giles.

Giles said that he really felt welcomed when he toured Neumann University, and he really liked the coach, so he is eager to play at the next level.

Six of the studentathletes who were honored on May 24 were teammates on the 2017 Hornets football team that earned a playoff berth under head coach Mike Means. Last year, the football program had five students go on play at the collegiate level. With the addition of six more students now heading off to play college football, the tremendous success of the football program—which is not just measured in wins and losses—is evident.

The two Brandons— both tremendous offensive weapons for the Hornets— are heading to Albright University. Nadachowski signed with Bloomsburg University. Hurtt is heading to Indiana University of

Pennsylvania. Tweed and McMurrough are both going to Lebanon Valley College.

DeShields, a wide receiver, hauled in 53 catches for 1,058 yards during his stellar senior season for Oxford. He also scored 12 touchdowns. The productivity, DeShields said, could be credited to his willingness to work hard, which is something that the coaching staff has emphasized.

“We had 70 guys who were willing to work hard,” DeShields said.

During his time at Oxford, DeShields demonstrated an ability to not just make the big play, but to make the tough catch, too. One of his favorite individual highlights came in a victory over Twin Valley when he hauled in a catch that moved the chains on a fourthand-eight play. He came down with the catch even though he was covered by two defenders. Later in the game, he sealed the victory with an interception.

DeShields said that his strengths as a receiver include his route running and his consistency.

DeShields and Holz were both dual threats on offense, which made it very difficult for opposing teams to shut down Oxford’s highly productive offensive attack.

Holz said that the arrival of Coach Means and the new coaching staff completely changed the culture of the football team.

“I feel like it turned around the team,” Holz said. “It 100 percent just flipped the program around.”

Holz was a leader on and off the field for the Hornets, and one of the most productive football players. In his senior season he ran for 1,100 yards and was an All-Ches-Mont League selection.

He said that one of the individual highlights of his football career at Oxford was the Homecoming game when he gained 220 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Like Holz, McMurrough credited Coach Means and the coaching staff with helping to transform the Oxford football program. From that point on, there was an emphasis on hard work and playing for each other, McMurrough said.

“He came in with a program and really changed things around,” McMurrough said.

McMurrough was a right tackle and an anchor on the Hornets’ offensive line. While offensive tackles can’t point to statistics to illustrate their productivity, the Hornets’ offensive and

defensive lines have been the foundation that the recent success has been built on.

McMurrough, a team captain, said that the offensive line was an extremely closeknit unit. They would frequently take trips to Texas Roadhouse to build camaraderie and to keep their weight up during the season, he explained.

McMurrough was too valuable to Oxford to move off the offensive line, but at Lebanon Valley College, he may get the opportunity to also play some tight end because of his blocking skills that would be an asset at that position at the collegiate level.

Hurtt was a defensive end on the varsity squad for three seasons. He started playing football in 7th grade. His explosive, playmaking ability was on display in a game against Sun Valley when he sacked the quarterback three times and tallied nine tackles.

Like McMurrough, Hurtt’s productivity can’t be fully measured by statistics—but his defensive performances graded out very well.

If the Hornets’ varsity football team was on the field, Nadachowski was right in the middle of the action—almost always. He played tight end on offense and linebacker on defense, and developed a knack for making big plays for Oxford on both sides of the ball. As a tight end,

was a nightmare for opposing teams to try to defense. He turned in an 80-yard catch-and-run early in the 2017 season against Henderson, helping the

to a victory. He

Nadachowski said that he really enjoyed helping the younger players on the team along the way. He and the other seniors have helped transform

STUDIO ART CLASSES

Invest in a quality mattress: Advice to 2018 graduates

It can be be said that among the hundreds of events that the Chester County Press covers every year, the commencement exercises at Avon Grove, Kennett, Oxford and Unionville high schools remain our favorite stories.

It does not require much insight to understand why. At each ceremony, we get to witness the long march of teenagers, dressed in the regalia of their respective schools, conform to the order of ritual, but the real truth is that while they sit through speeches, hear their names called and collect their diplomas, their lives and their futures have already become a kaleidoscope of a million clashing colors, dreams and directions. In truth, they’re already gone; in their minds, they’ve already left the soft nurturing nests of their childhood, and often, their journey begins at the podium.

During the weeks and months that will follow, there is not a graduating senior from any of these schools who will not be pulled aside and given words of advice, whether it be from a parent, a wise sage of an aunt or an uncle or grandparent, or a friend. Each year at this time, we rummage through some of the best commencement speeches given by celebrities, and in 2018, the speeches we’ve read – some of which we include here – serve as poignant and humorous bookmarks to the future.

Here are some of our favorites for the year:

“Ask for help when you need it, and put your phone away at the dinner table. Just sit on it, really. And know that what you tweet and post and Instagram today might be asked about in a job interview tomorrow or 20 years from tomorrow. Be nice to little kids. Be nice to your elders. Be nice to animals. And know that it’s better to be interested than interesting. Invest in a quality mattress.”

Oprah Winfrey at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism on May 11

“When you are deciding on next steps, next jobs, next careers, further education, you should rather find purpose than a job or a career. Purpose crosses disciplines. Purpose is an essential element of you.”

Actor Chadwick Boseman at Howard University, May 12

“Make a point of reaching out to people whose beliefs and values differ from your own. I would like you to listen – truly listen – and try to understand them and find that common ground...Your teachers will come from every station in life, every education level, every belief system, every lifestyle. I hope you will embrace that.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at New York University, May 17

“The highest form of respect that we can pay to the people who came before us -- the people who sacrificed for us and gave us everything -- is to be better than them. … Living up to your heroes is amazing, but it’s not good enough. The difference between goodness and greatness is going beyond. You have to push forward and surpass their greatness in order to pay homage to their struggle. Don’t be afraid.”

Chance the Rapper at Dillard University, May 12

“You have to take risks. I am going to ask you to take risks whenever you can. Put yourself on the line. Don’t be afraid to look foolish. Make mistakes, take chances. It’s one of the best things you can do.”

Actor Michael Keaton at Kent State University, May 12

Chester County Press

Letter to the Editor

Only HB/SB 76 will save our homes

Letter to the Editor:

Senate Bill 1137 was recently introduced in the Pennsylvania Legislature by state Sen. Mario Scavello. It proposes to eliminate property taxes on owner-occupied homes by levying an additional 1.98 in personal income tax on everyone, raising the personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 5.05 percent.

SB 1137 is not a property tax elimination bill. It actually admits this in its title, the “School Property Tax Exclusion Act.” It is an expansion of the existing homestead exclusion, which a homeowner may apply for every year. The local school board decides if you can have any exclusion up to 100 percent of your home’s assessed value. The only guarantee is that your personal income

tax will increase. Another very disturbing aspect of this bill is it expands the taxing authority of the school boards, permitting them “to inspect the tax returns of any taxpayer of the school district.”

The majority of school board members simply aren’t qualified to conduct a tax audit, so the school board will have to hire someone like a business

manager to conduct these audits against us. The Property Tax Independence Act, HB/SB 76, is the only bill that completely eliminates school property taxes and removes the taxing authority from the school boards, fully funding public schools dollar for dollar.

Silent auction to raise funds for Camp Dreamcatcher

On Saturday, June 2, Camp Dreamcatcher’s summer celebration event, which includes a silent auction, will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Northbrook Marketplace at 1805 Unionville-Wawaset Rd., West Chester. The evening will feature a buffet dinner with wine and beer and delicious desserts. A silent auction will be highlighted by weekend getaways, a week-long stay in

a vacation home in Cannes, France, tickets to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” gift baskets, autographed sports items, and much more. Live music will be provided by Larry Roney & Friends. Unique raffle items will also be available. Brian Mehling generously donated the stay at the villa, which will be part of the live auction. This beautiful villa overlooks Cannes and its bay, offering a splendid pan-

oramic view of the sea and beaches. Many activities are available to you to make sure you enjoy your stay and relax the way you want to. The villa accommodates up to 10 people, and is located at the walking/hiking development and nature reserve Croix des Gardes on the edge of the Esterel Mountains (Massif de l’Esterel). The one-week stay, which has blackout dates between May 1 and Sept. 30, 2018, is valued at

$6,500. For details and many more photos of this beautiful property, visit http://horizonbluevilla.com/.

Other silent auction items include Philadelphia weekend getaway packages, gift baskets, unique jewelry and artwork, summer pool memberships and more. Proceeds from the event support Camp Dreamcatcher. For tickets or more information, visit campdreamcatcher.org.

Committee backs compromise on redistricting bill

After state Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton/ Lehigh) expressed her support for a compromise amendment to her legislation that would create an independent citizens’ commission to re-draw Congressional and state legislative district maps, the Senate State Government Committee today unanimously voted in favor of her bill.

The measure (Senate Bill 22) now goes to the full Senate for a vote.

“When I testified before this committee last month, I said candidly that I was open to changes and compromises because I understood that

not everyone agreed with all the ideas in my proposal,” Boscola told committee members. “But doing nothing was not an option, so finding a compromise became critical to ensure that change happens.”

The amended version of Boscola’s bill retains the 11-member citizens commission while specifying that the commission be comprised of citizens who are registered Democrats, Republicans and independents. The amended bill also requires significant public input, applies sound map-drawing standards and establishes a fair process for final map adoption.

True to her original proposal, Boscola said politicians would still have no role in drawing the maps.

The Northampton County lawmaker thanked volunteer members of Fair Districts PA and Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) for their part in reaching a “good compromise” on redistricting reform.

State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), who serves as Democratic Chair of the State Government Committee noted, “Senator Boscola worked against the grain for years. She directed the ship, and this would not have happened without her

steering it.”

In its statement on the compromise, Fair Districts PA stated, “This is a vast improvement over the current system which cuts the voters out of the process of drawing districts. If it is approved by the full Senate and House, Pennsylvania will rank second only to California in the degree of independence of the body that decides how the lines are redrawn every 10 years.” Boscola said it is imperative that lawmakers act on the bill before the end of June 2018, otherwise redistricting reform will have to wait until after the 2030 census.

Sheriff’s office welcomes terrific trio

Three new deputies joined the Chester County Sheriff’s Office on May 14

During a swearing-in ceremony in Courtroom

One of the Chester County Justice Center, Chester County Sheriff Carolyn Bunny Welsh explained that the positions were highly competitive.

“You should be very proud,” she said, addressing the relatives and friends of Marian “My” Inderelst, Keith Neiswender, and Howard “Larry” Sipple. “I think we have one of the best offices in the country.”

Welsh said the three deputies, who already have their Act 120 police certification, will participate in a rigorous 11-week regimen of orientation and field training. Inderelst and Sipple will then travel to Harrisburg for two weeks of state training, a program that Neiswender has already completed.

For Inderelst, a Chester County native, the job represents an exciting third career. She began her working life in her family’s fourth-generation sandmining business. After her father sold the company, she went back to school to become a licensed veterinary technician and began working at the University of Pennsylvania’s small animal hospital.

During her tenure as a vet tech, she developed interest

in police work through an affiliation with a SWAT team. That fueled her decision to attend the Delaware County Community College’s Police Academy. She graduated in 2017 and accepted a part-time position with the West Brandywine Township Police Department. Part of her attraction of the Sheriff’s Office was its K-9 Unit, she said, adding that it would be a dream to connect two of her passions.

Keith Neiswender, a native of Birdsboro, graduated from the Montgomery County Community College’s Police Academy in 2005 after stints in the Navy and Army National Guard. Neiswender comes to the Chester County Sheriff’s Office with experience from the Berks County Sheriff’s Office, where he

attained the rank of sergeant and worked in a variety of areas, including the civil and warrants divisions, as well as Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Neiswender maintains a strong commitment to fallen law-enforcement officers, participating annually in a bike ride to Washington D.C. to ensure that those who paid the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.

On his bucket list: learning to play the bagpipes.

Howard “Larry” Sipple took a circuitous route to the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. A self-described “military brat,” he lived in numerous states before graduating from high school in Delaware. His post-diploma options – police, military, or college – received inspiration from his father’s military service background

as well as an uncle’s employment as a state trooper. Sipple earned an associate’s degree in arts and sciences from the University of Delaware, joined the Navy, and subsequently attended the Delaware County Community College’s Police Academy, graduating in 2002.

Sipple spent 13 years with the Caln Township Police Department and has worked part time for the police forces in Sadsbury Township and West Grove. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys hunting and hiking.

“I am pleased to welcome these three outstanding deputies to the Sheriff’s Office,” said Welsh. “Each deputy is unique in their skills talents and abilities. They are an outstanding addition to our already high-quality, professional staff.”

A day of remembrance and honor

By John Chambless Staff Writer

With waving flags and solemn speeches, a marching band and somber salutes, the West Grove community marked Memorial Day on May 26 with the annual parade and ceremony.

The parade kicked off at 9 a.m. at Avon Grove High School and slowly made its way to the Avon Grove Veterans Memorial in the center of town. Families lined the streets by 8:30 a.m. to get the best view of the parade, which included vintage cars, military vehicles, the Avon Grove High School Marching Band, local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and a long line of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles with lights and sirens blazing.

At the memorial, retired Lt. Col. Hank Detering, in his Marine Corps uniform, greeted the crowd and introduced the marching band, which performed the National Anthem. “Memorial Day honors those who died in the service of our country, a remembrance of more than 1 million casualties of our wars.

Some of those names are listed here,” he said of the memorial stones near him. “They were local boys who went off to war and never came home.”

Guests seated near the small stage included West Grove Mayor Steve Black, Sen. Andy Dinniman and State Rep. John Lawrence.

“Memorial Day is a day when we can unite with all Americans of every generation,” Dinniman said. “That’s what we celebrate today. We give honor to those who have sacrificed, and we honor our past.”

Guest speaker Vicki DashSlesinski, an Army veteran and a West Grove resident, spoke about William W. Fahey, the namesake of American Legion Post 491 in Kennett Square; and Roy W. Gibson, the namesake of American Legion Post 535 in Oxford. She gave the backgrounds of the two men and outlined their military service during World War I.

When she joined Post 491 more than 22 years ago, she said, “A large number of the veterans were from the World War II era, a few from World

In West Grove, the community thanks all veterans

War I, and the rest from Korea and Vietnam.… Most of our older members are gone now, and we are beginning to lose our Korean and Vietnam era members. We have a few young members from the current times, but we need to keep this organization alive and ongoing. I encourage all veterans to become part of brotherhood and sisterhood of this fine organization, and to continue to support the memories of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

She assisted Domenico Ruffini in the laying of a memorial wreath before Charlotte Condliffe and Daniel May of the Avon Grove Marching Band performed “Taps.” Members of the Roy W. Gibson American Legion Post 535 of Oxford then fired three volleys in the Rendering of Honor.

Detering, in his closing remarks, said, “As you go home this weekend, help your friends treat this Memorial Day as more than a time for pools to open, to go to the beach or have a barbeque. Take time to remember the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. For too many American families, every day is Memorial Day. Perhaps on this day of remembrance, Americans can unite around the men and women who risked their lives to defend our freedom.”

Rev. Jim Mundell of the West Grove United Methodist Church closed with a benediction, saying, “Stand in honor of our veterans. Walk in their path of duty. Remember the cost, and hold in your hearts the cause of freedom. It is our civic duty to continue to carry the burden of their sacrifice, lest we lose sight of what true freedom is. God bless America.”

Bagpiper Andrew McIntyre performed “Amazing Grace” before the crowd dispersed to enjoy snacks and music at the West Grove Presbyterian Church, and thank the veterans who had taken part in the morning of remembrance and patriotism.

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

L. HERBERT LANGILLE

L. Herbert Langille (Herb), 88, of West Grove, passed away on May 20 at home.

He was the husband of Elvira Luce Langille, with whom he spent 57 years of marriage. Born in Waukegan, Ill., he was the son of the late Burton and Myrtle Murphy Langille. Both parents were Canadians. Herb was a member of the Canadian Seamen’s Union and joined the Union in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1944, when he was 14 years old, to help support his mother and five younger siblings after his father passed away in May 1944. He served at sea for nearly two years, and he was in a convoy on the Canadian Merchant Marines when Normandy was invaded. Herb was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. He also sailed for Atlantic Richfield Refinery for many years, and Sun Oil Company. As a skilled carpenter, he liked working with wood and splitting wood. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and he especially enjoyed the outdoors. He was a fan of the Philadelphia Flyers and later in life he became huge fan of WWE wrestling.

He is survived by his wife; one stepson, David Gartside (Connie) of Brookhaven, Pa.; two stepdaughters, Teresa Griego (James) of Grants, N.M., and Diane Kuhn (late Charles) of West Grove; eight grandchildren; 18 greatgrandchildren; two brothers, Gary Langille of Newark, Del., and Bert Langille (Beatrice) of Newfoundland, Pa.; and one sister, Laurel Saint Germain (Dennis) of Rehoboth, Del.; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his step-great-grandchild, Jeremy Caron (infant); one stepson, Michael Gartside; four brothers, Frank Langille, Clyde Langille, Douglas Langille and Glenn Langille; and four sisters, Audrey Langille, Evelyn Willa, Glenda Langille (infant) and Joan Hardy.

A celebration of life service will be held on a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517; or Willow Tree Hospice, 2470, 616 E. Cypress St., Kennett Square, PA 19348. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

ANGELINE E. SOUDERS

Angeline E. Souders, 62, of Peach Bottom, passed away on May 22 at the Union Hospital in Elkton, Md.

She was the wife of John L. Souders, with who she shared 27 years of marriage. Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of Arturo Burgos, Sr., of Puerto Rico, and the late Margaret Criddle. Angeline enjoyed playing slot machines, her dogs, all animals, and being with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and father, she is survived by two sons, Daniel L. Reburn, Jr. of Elkton, Md., and David A. Reburn of York, Pa.; two brothers, Antonio Burgos of Dover, Del., and Pedro Burgos of Penns Grove, N.J.; and two grandchildren. She was predeceased by one brother, Arturo Burgos, Jr.

A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. May 29 at the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home (200 Rose Hill Rd., West Grove). Her service and burial are private. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

ANNA M. MARRONGELLI

Anna M. Marrongelli, 86, of West Grove, passed away on May 26 at her residence.

She was the wife of Dominic Marrongelli, who passed away in 2013, and with whom she shared 60 years of marriage. Born in Mountain City, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late Stacy Proffitt and the late Emma Pearl South Proffitt. Anna had worked at various area greenhouses. She enjoyed playing cards, games, bingo, and being with her family and friends.

She is survived by two brothers, Larry Proffitt and Clifton “Tip” Proffitt, both of Mountain City; and  her niece, Kay Zunino and her husband Anthony, who were her caregivers. Anna’s service and burial will be held privately. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

NICHOLAS J. VINCENTI

Nicholas J. Vincenti, 97, of Glen Mills, passed away on May 24 at his residence.

He was the husband of Teresa Catena Vincenti, who passed away in 2015, and with whom he share 65 years of marriage. Born in Wet Grove, he was the son of the late Armando Vincenti and the late Ginevra DiAlfonso Vincenti. He was a purchasing agent at Hercules in Wilmington, Del., retiring in 1986 after 40 years of service. Nicholas served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kennett Square. He was an avid golfer.

He is survived by several nieces and nephews, and was preceased by ten brothers and sisters.

A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. May 30 at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (250 W. State St., Kennett Square). His service will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church (212 Meredith St., Kennett Square). Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to St. Patrick Church, 205 Lafayette Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www. griecocares.com.

VELMA R. WILSON

Velma R. Wilson, 98, of Landenberg, passed away on May 25 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford. She was the wife of the late Col. Edwin C. Wilson. Born in Lincoln University, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Ella Crowl Nieweg. Velma graduated from Oxford High and West Chester Teachers College. After one year of teaching, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and served two years. She married while in the service and accompanied her husband on most of his assignments during his 22 years of service. Her hobbies were stone masonry, gardening and quilting. She is survived by two daughters, Lorna D. Wilson of Newark, Del., and Rebecca K. Lewis of Landenberg; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ella Luff. She was preceded in death by one son, Terrence E. Wilson; and one grandson, Zechariah Wilson.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. June 2 at the New London Presbyterian Church (1986 Newark Rd., New London), where friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be in New London Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Charitable donations may be made to the New London Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 125 Saginaw Rd., New London, PA 19352. Online condolences may be made at www. elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

EDWIN M. COX

Edwin Morris Cox, 82 of West Grove, passed on May 21 at home. He was the husband of Carol Sue Baugus Cox, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. Born in Mouth of Wilson, Va., he was the son of the late Troy, Jr., and Marilyn Osborne Cox. He was a member of the New London United Methodist Church. Edwin was selfemployed as a farmer, truck driver and mushroom grower. Edwin loved his grandchildren. He enjoyed taking his dog, Diesel, to his house in Virginia and loved riding on the New River. He enjoyed gardening and was a hard worker.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Sue Baugus Cox; one brother, Joseph Samuel Cox (Debbie) of Landenberg; two daughters, Sharon Susanne Shan of West Grove, and Theresa Louise Riale (Paul) of West Grove; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A funeral was held May 26. Interment was in the New London United Methodist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Miracle League of the Triangle, P.O. Box 4193, Cary, NC 27519; or the Autism Society of North Carolina, Attn: Donations Coordinator, 5121 Kingdom Way, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27607. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

June 9

Pancake breakfast On June 9, West Grove

Methodist Church (300 N. Guernsey

by calling 610-869-9334, and will be available at the door.

TheChesterCountyPressfeaturesadedicatedchurch/religious pagethatcanhelpyouadvertiseyourhouseofworshipand/or business.Thepageisupdatedweeklywithnewscripture.Only$10 Weeklyforthisspace. Weareofferingaspecialdiscountof25%offeachandeveryhelp wanted/classifiedadvertisementtoanybusinessthatadvertiseson thePRESSchurchpage. For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10

Handbell class A beginners handbell ringing instruction class is being held at Landenberg United Methodist Church (205 Penn Gr5een Rd., Landenberg) on Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The ability to read music helpful, but not required. The lessons are free and all equipment is provided. For more information, contact Barbara Hoffman, coordinator, at hoffmanbarbemily@gmail. com.

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.

June 8 and 9

‘Pets in the Park’ Concord Pet Foods & Supplies is teaming up with New Castle County to bring an outdoor family pet event to Glasgow Park in Newark, Del. On June 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and June 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., families can visit with their pets at the event, which brings together more than 50 manufacturers like Purina, Blue Buffalo, Merrick and Nutro, as well as non-profit organizations such as the Brandywine Valley SPCA, Faithful Friends, Canine Partners for Life and more. DockDogs competitions will take place each day. DiscConnected K9’s Frisbee Dogs will also have performances throughout the weekend. Food trucks, a large kid’s area with inflatables and face painting, petting zoo and pet psychic Emerald DuCouer are all part of the event. The Second Annual Pets in the Park 5K will benefit Friends of County K9, New Castle County, Del. The run takes place June 9 before the event opens. All pre-registered participants will receive a race T-Shirt and bag. To register, or for more information, cvisit www.petsintheparkde.

com.

June 23

‘50s dance party fundraiser

The Oxford Arts Alliance Annual Fundraiser will be a ‘50s Dance Party on June 23 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at Rockey Hill Farm (1140 Chrome Rd., Oxford). There will be a themed table decorating contest, a live auction, dinner, beer and wine, and dancing to a DJ. Tickets are $75, with options for groups. For ticket information,

visit www.oxfordart.org/ dance-party-tickets.

July 13

Heather Pierson Trio

The Heather Pierson Trio will perform on July 13 at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church (116 Lancaster Pike, Oxford) as part of the Friends Folk Club concert series. Pierson is an award-winning pianist, singer/songwriter, arranger, bandleader and performer. She plays New Orleans-style jazz and blues, Americana and folk music with piano, tenor banjo, melodica, and acoustic guitar. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the door (children 12 and younger free). Doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Bring non-perishable food items which will be given to area food cupboards. For more information, call 610-869-8076, email friendsfolkclub@aol.com, or visit www.heatherpierson. com.

July 14

Book signing “PassionTide,” a novel by author Jim DiLuzio from New Garden Township, will be for sale ($15) at the Hockessin Book Shelf (7179 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin) on July 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. DiLuzio will sign books and talk to readers about the book, which follows Father Michael, whose journey mimics that of his church and country, rolling on a tide of love and redemption.

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.

June 16

There will be acres of family fun inside and out at Winterthur during “Enchanted Summer Day” on June 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Outside activities take place in Enchanted Woods. These include performances by musicians Slyte of Hand, tales by storyteller Terry Colonna, and entertainment by magician Magic Tad. Throughout the day, children can make a woodland wand for casting spells, enjoy ice cream for sale by the Creamery at Woodside Farm, and get their faces painted. In addition, children can try their hands at games such as chasing the hoop, a ring toss, giant egg races, or the Game of Graces. Families will also enjoy the exhibition “Follies: Architectural Whimsy in the Garden.” From the 22-foot Needle’s Eye floating in the front pond to the Chinese Pavilion to the pagoda-topped Latimeria Summerhouse to the castle-like Gothic Tower, the 13 structures located throughout the estate will delight visitors of all ages.

More fun awaits in the museum, where kids can make a variety of creative creatures, step back in time on a tour of the du Pont’s home (complete with sticker book), and exercise

their imaginations in the Touch-It Room. “Enchanted Summer Day” takes place rain or shine, with activities taking place both inside and outdoors. Enchanted Woods is a threeacre garden that encourages children and their families to engage in imaginative play and creativity. Designed to look as though it were created by fairies, the area has several places to climb in, on, and over, including a Faerie Cottage with a thatched roof, a giant Bird’s Nest, and an Acorn Tearoom for make-believe tea parties.

“Enchanted Summer Day” activities are included with all tickets. Admission is $20 for adults; $18 for students and seniors; and $6 for ages 2 to 11.

Winterthur offers a variety of tours, exhibitions, programs, and activities throughout the year. General admission includes a tour of some of the most notable spaces in the 175-room house, as well as access to the Winterthur Garden and Galleries, special exhibitions, a narrated tram tour (weather permitting), the Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens, and the Enchanted Woods children’s garden. For details, visit www.winterthur. org or call 800-448-3883.

Area attractions offer free admission to active military families

Winterthur, the Brandywine River Museum of Art, the Delaware Art Museum, the Delaware Museum of Natural History, Hagley Museum & Library, Mt. Cuba Center, Rockwood Park & Museum, the Delaware Historical Society’s Museum, Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, and Read House & Gardens will participate in the ninth annual Blue Star Museums to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

A list of participating museums nationwide is available at arts.gov/ bluestarmuseums.

“Visiting a museum is a great way to get to know a community, whether it’s in your hometown or a stop on a road trip,” said NEA chairman Jane Chu. “We appreciate the enthusiasm of museums all across the country who open their doors for military and their families to spend time together and have new arts experiences.”

This year’s participating Blue Star Museums represent fine arts museums, science museums, history museums, zoos, nature centers, and children’s museums.

“As many military families spend the summer months moving from one duty station to another, or reconnecting with a parent who has returned from deployment, Blue Star Museums helps service members and their families create memories,” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Blue Star Families has great appreciation for the generosity of the museums across the country who roll out the red carpet for the families who serve alongside their service members. We are thrilled with the continued growth of the program and the unparalleled opportunities it offers.” The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as Active Duty and Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

Through June 2

‘Wyeth to Warhol: Modern Masters’

Somerville Manning Gallery (101 Stone Block Row, Greenville, Del.) will present the exhibition “Wyeth to Warhol: Modern Masters From Past and Present” through June 2. The show juxtaposes the artworks of N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth with the artists of their respective eras, including current. Along with paintings by N.C. Wyeth will be works by Maurice Prendergast and Childe Hassam, William Merrit Chase, Edward Redfield and Hugh H. Breckenridge, Jane Peterson, Arthur Dove, Milton Avery, Andrew Wyeth, Hans Hofmann, Robert Motherwell, David Hockney, Wolf Kahn, Jamie Wyeth and Andy Warhol, along with Bo Bartlett and Robert Cottingham. Visit www.somervillemanning. com for more information.

Sculptures by Stan Smokler will be featured at the Square Pear Fine Art Gallery in Kennett Square (see listing).

June 1 to 30

‘Opposite Visions’ Square Pear Fine Art Gallery (200 E. State St., Kennett Square) opens “Opposite Visions,” featuring sculptures by Stan Smokler and Helen Mason, and paintings by Alexi Natchev, with a reception on June 1 during the First Friday Art Stroll from 6 to 9 p.m. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

June 1 to 29

Sunset Hill Gallery in West Chester

Sunset Hill Fine Arts Gallery (23 N. High St., West Chester) hosts the opening of an exhibit by Marie Wolfington Jones and Steven J. White on June 1 from 4 to 9 p.m. Jones paints floral still lifes and pleinair landscapes, and White’s paintings are primarily landscapes. The show continues through June 29. Call 610-692-0374 or visit www.sunsethilljewelers.

com.

June 1 to 30

Group show

The Station Gallery (3922 Kennett Pike, Greenville, Del.) presents new works by Rachel Altschuler, Jim Barwick and Mary Ann Weselyk from June 1 to 30. There will be an opening reception with the artists on June 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. Call 302-654-8638 or visit www. stationgallery.net.

A weekend of awareness and family fun for the Octorara Angels Rainbow Run

June 2 is the date for the annual Octorara Angels Rainbow Run, a 5K Color Run/Fun Walk at Octorara Intermediate School in Atglen.

The run is multi-purpose –not only to help raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning that took the lives of Carly Imbierowicz and Daulton Pointek on Nov. 22, 2014, but also to help fund projects at the school.

This year’s funds will go towards an upgraded sound system at the stadium, as well as help school sport boosters and education scholarships.

This year’s theme is “Breathe Easy!” This event is a noncompetitive color run. The course is 3.1 miles long, and

At a meeting earlier in May, the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors approved a resolution introduced by supervisor Richard Leff that establishes a goal of transitioning the township to 100 percent clean and renewable energy communitywide. The resolution states the township will completely transition to clean renewable electricity by 2035, and heat and transportation by 2050.

The township becomes the first township and fourth municipality in Pennsylvania to make this commitment, joining Phoenixville, West Chester and Downingtown in committing to using

participants can run or walk it while being showered by a rainbow of colored corn starch.

The course is on the Octorara School District campus.

New this year will be a free Fun Run for kids -- toddlers to second graders -- prior to the start of the run. Foxy, the CO Awareness Mastiff puppy, will meet visitors.

Registration for teens ages 13 to 18 is $25; ages 18 and older are $35; and ages 12 and younger are $15.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on race day, followed by an 8:40 a.m. Fun Run; an 8:50 a.m. pre-race rainbow shower; and a 9 a.m. run start. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/cmiawareness.

org. Contact Donna Imbierowicz (cmiawareness@ icloud.com) with any questions. The Color Run is immediately followed by the OA Best Expo at the Octorara High School, across the street from the run. This community fair goes until 1:30 p.m. and showcases what Octorara students have achieved and promotes careers in agriculture, engineering, industrial technology, human services, science and the arts. Student demonstrations, gardening tips, science fair exhibits, a K-12 art show, first responder demonstrations, fire trucks, a petting zoo, live music, games, hayrides, food and other activities are slated, along with a tractor show.

renewable sources like solar and wind.

The resolution also establishes that the Board of Supervisors will provide guidance for an energy transition plan to achieve these goals by the next Earth Day, April 22, 2019. This plan will include interim milestones, financial impacts, equity metrics, potential financing mechanisms, and establish a percentage of clean energy that is locally produced.

Across the United States, 67 cities have committed to 100 percent clean energy. Other communities across the U.S. are looking to make this commitment, including

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

“Moving to sustainable energy sources will reduce global heating, and open doors to a good future for our children,” said Owen Owens, Kennett Township resident, who also gave testimony at the supervisors meeting.

“Kennett Township Supervisors are committed to doing their share in becoming 100 percent clean and utilizing renewable energy for the future,” said Richard Leff, Kennett Township Supervisor. For additional information about renewable energy advocacy in Chester County, visit www.ReadyFor100.org/ chescopa.

Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania. Notice is hereby given that, in the estate of the decedent set forth below, the Register of Wills has granted Letters of Administration to the persons named. All persons having claims against said estate are requested to make known the same to them or their attorney and all persons indebted to said decedent is requested to make payment without delay to the executors named below.

EXECUTOR: John Miluzzo, 265 Landons Way, Guilford, CT 06437 C/O ATTORNEY: Robert J. Reilley, Jr., Esquire, BELLO, REILLEY, MCGRORY & DiPIPPO, P.C., 144

Late of

Flagship raises over $20,000 to benefit community youth center

At an event that raised over $20,000 for The Garage Community and Youth Center, a spring fling sponsored by Flagship Credit Acceptance at Hartefeld National on May 20 saw Janet Syphan, a human resources specialist at Flagship, selected as the winner of the $10,000 first prize raffle drawing.

When asked how she would spend the prize, Syphan said, “I’m not sure yet, but I know I’m donating the first thousand to The Garage. They do such incredible work.”

The second prize of $1,500 went to Jeffrey Perez, loan servicing representative at Flagship. Lincoln University resident Mary Teresa Maule Alft won the $500 third place prize.

The Garage plans to use the funds for after school programming, which serves

over 500 students and includes homework help and tutoring, a daily academic STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activity, mentor program, boys and girls programs, community service opportunities, Nutrition Kitchen, career exploration, post-secondary counseling and internships.

“We could not do the essential work that we do with at-risk teens without the support of volunteers and financial partners like Flagship, who give selflessly of their time and money to invest in our youth,” said Kristin Proto, Executive Director of The Garage.

The Spring Fling included games for kids, a bouncy house and vendors, like Cristina Tlaseca from Alliance Realty & Associates, who is an alum of The Garage’s program.

“The Garage opened up

opportunities for me,” said Tlaseca. “As a minority, I was faced with restricted opportunities, but The Garage gave me these great opportunities I never thought were possible. It was a safe haven. I wanted to come out and support this event because The Garage was so beneficial to me. I want to make sure other kids have that same opportunity.”

“Events like this exemplify Flagship’s emphasis on serving the communities our customers live and work in,” said Chris Keiser, Flagship’s executive vice president and general counsel. “We are so happy to be able to contribute to The Garage’s mission, and we’re looking forward to our continued partnership and making this an annual event.”

Headquartered in Chadds Ford, Flagship Credit

Acceptance helps credit challenged auto shoppers secure financing through partnerships with primarily franchised auto dealers and through its direct lending

platform, CarFinance.com.

Flagship Credit has successfully grown its portfolio to $2.9 billion in managed receivables. The Company currently purchases indi-

DEBT $397,568.33

610-696-8500

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM.

PROPERTY situate in the Elk Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania BLR# 7002 00212700

thereon: residential dwelling

states.

July 23rd, 2018. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 18-1-20 Writ of Execution No. 2017-04817 DEBT $151,454.46

ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of

BEING Tax Parcel No.

BEING the same premises which the Tax Claim Bureau of Chester County granted and conveyed to CJD Group, LLC by virtue of Upset Sale Deed dated January 15, 2016 and recorded January 29, 2016 in the Chester County Recorder of Deeds Office in Book 9255 at Page 2201.

PLAINTIFF: Landis & Setzler, P.C. VS DEFENDANT: CJD GROUP, LLC and JEFFERY BOOTH

SALE ADDRESS: ES N. Five Points Road, Lot 1, Highland Township,

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES FOX & ROACH, REALTORS HONORS PATRICK CURRAN TEAM WITH CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE PLATINUM AWARD JENNERSVILLE,PA —BerkshireHathaway HomeServices(BHHS)Fox&Roach,REALTORS recentlyhonoredthePatrickCurranTeam,Jennersville HomeMarketingCenterSalesAssociates,witha Chairman’sCirclePlatinumAwardfortheirexcellentsales performancefor2017,placingtheminthetop1percent ofallBHHSagentsnationwide.&Iamsohonoredtobe listedinthetop1%andIthankallofmyloyalcustomers andfriendsfortheirsupportoverthelast29years,& remarksPatrickCurran.Teammembers,leadbyPatrick Curran,includeLisaBlevinsandMelissaBishop. BerkshireHathawayHomeServicesFox&Roach, REALTORS®isapartofHomeServicesofAmerica, thenation’ssecondlargestprovideroftotalhome services.Thecompanyhasmorethan4,600Sales Associatesinover65salesofficesacrosstheTri-State area.Throughitsaffiliate,theTridentGroup,the companyprovidesone-stopshoppingandfacilitated servicestoitsclientsincludingmortgagefinancingand title,propertyandcasualtyinsurance.Ourcompanysponsoredcharitablefoundation,Fox&RoachCharities, iscommittedtoaddressingtheneedsofchildrenand familiesinstressfullifecircumstancesandhas contributedover$6milliontomorethan250local organizationssinceitsinceptionin1995.VisitPatrick’s Websiteatwww.JPatrickCurran.com.

CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 5p-30-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Carolyn B. Welsh, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, June 21st, 2018 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, July 23rd, 2018. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 18-1-23

Writ of Execution No. 2016-01816 DEBT $75,319.03

PROPERTY situate in Township of Pennsbury

TAX ID/UPI Parcel No. 64-04J0072.0000/64-4J-72

IMPROVEMENTS: a residential dwelling.

PLAINTIFF: Keybank National Association S/B/M First Niagara Bank, N.A. S/B/M to First Financial Bank VS DEFENDANT: BARRY J. HEATON a/k/a BARRY JOSEPH HEATON and NEILL W. HEATON a/k/a NEILL WILLIAM HEATON

SALE ADDRESS: 21 Constitution Drive, Chadds Ford, PA 19317

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C., 215-627-1322

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 5p-30-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Carolyn B. Welsh, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, June 21st, 2018 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, July 23rd, 2018. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 18-1-24

Writ of Execution No. 2017-00275

PLAINTIFF: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. VS DEFENDANT: JOHN C. SACCOMANDI, JR. and DONNA M. SACCOMANDI a/k/a DONNA M. BROWNSACCOMANDI

SALE ADDRESS: 206 Victoria Lane, Oxford, PA 19363-2638

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP, 215-563-7000

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 2PM. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 5p-30-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Carolyn B. Welsh, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, June 21st, 2018 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, July 23rd, 2018. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 18-1-35 Writ of Execution No. 2016-05906 DEBT $89,819.38

ALL THAT CERTAIN, message, lot or piece of land situate on, in the Township of Highland, County of Chester, State of Pennsylvania, bounded and described, as follows, to wit:

ALL THAT CERTAIN tract or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situated in the Township of Highland, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and described according to a Plan of Property of Elmer Toth, etux, to be conveyed unto Richard Bodtke, said Plan made by George E. Regester, Jr. & Sons, Inc., Registered Land Surveyors, dated November 20, 1970, as follows, to wit: BEGINNING at a spike on the title line of L.R. 15138, said point of beginning being measured the two following courses and distances from a

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Much like the emotions that the name Bucky Dent still elicits in Boston or most recently, the prickly feelings that Nick Foles now stirs in the very same city, the name Tommy Hammett became a permanent memory thorn in the side of the Avon Grove baseball program late in the afternoon of May 25.

Hammett’s seventhinning, walk-off single to left center drove in teammates Austin Taylor and Will Vincent with the winning runs in a 5-4, comeback victory for Downingtown East in a Class 6A quarterfinal game played at Downingtown East in front of a large crowd.

The game’s result seemed like a far-off notion as early as the top of the second inning, when Avon Grove chased Cougar starter Scott Jewett with a fourrun outburst that staked Red Devil starter Ryan Gerenser to a comfortable lead. Singles by Andrew Nole and Jack Lincoln

soon put them in scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Bailey Smith, and a single to center by Shane Kelleher brought in Nole and sent pinch-runner Dan Luettgen to third. Lead-off batter Pat Campbell walked, setting up a bases-loaded opportunity for Andrew Brady, who crushed an opposite-field single down the left-field line to score Luettgen and Kelleher.

With Campbell on third after a stolen base, pitcher Grant Umberger replaced Jewett, and then bobbled a bunt attempt by Riley Davis that scored Campbell for Avon Grove’s fourth run.

Despite a two-hit scoring threat in Avon Grove’s third, Umberger shut the Red Devils down for the next four innings, surrendering just two more hits. While Umberger breezed, Gerenser did as well, giving up only one run, on a leadoff double by Albert Choi and a single by Connor Munnelly to right center in the third inning. Avon Grove coach Dave Whitcraft replaced Gerenser with lefty Carl

Schmidt in the fifth. The lefthander then surrendered Downingtown East’s second and third runs in the sixth. Matt Szepanski reached on an infield error and scored on Choi’s double to left center. Hammett, who had walked, then came in on a sacrifice fly by Mike Rodriguez, to narrow Avon Grove’s lead to 4-3.

In the top of the seventh, Umberger was replaced by eventual winning pitcher Michael Defant, who held Avon Grove scoreless.

The Cougars’ comeback inning began when lead-off batter Joe Cestare was hit by a pitch, and was replaced by pinch-runner Vincent, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Zack Burton. Taylor then walked, and Joe Janick stroked a single to right to load the bases with two outs. Whitcraft then brought in shortstop Davis to replace Schmidt, who then surrendered Hammett’s game-winning hit.

The loss did not end Avon Grove’s post-season life; it merely made it more difficult. The Red Devils, 15th-seeded in the 6A playoff rankings, traveled to Downingtown West on May 29, needing two wins to advance to the state playoffs. Meanwhile, 7th-seed Downingtown East advanced to the district semifinals, with a home game against Council Rock North on May 29.

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