Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 158, No. 31
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
$1.50
Planned boardwalk trail to become a future outdoor classroom
Building a new legacy along the Kennett Greenway By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer From the time the mission of the Kennett Greenway was first imagined, the plans were not merely intended to create a permanent marker along a 14-mile stretch of nature, but rather to serve as a commitment to create spaces that would create a sense of empowerment, ownership and inclusion for everyone in the community. Over the past decade, that
INSIDE
original model continues to be reflected, from Auburn Valley State Park at the northern tip of Delaware, through Chandler Mill Preserve and the Parrish Trail and winding through Kennett Square on its way to the Stateline Woods Preserve. In short, the Greenway has become part of a multi-modal network that connects people to wildlife and neighbor to neighbor across five municipalities and two states.
Chester County District Attorney Chris de BarrenaSarobe’s second stop on his county-wide listening tour was held at Coatesville City Hall on Aug. 1, an Brandywine Festival of event that gave community members and the the Arts returns...1B DA a chance to have a dialogue with each other about concerns facing the community. The 90-minute-long conversation was attended by two dozen teachers, faith leaders, parents and other community leaders, including Chief of Detectives David Sassa. The DA hosted his first listening tour event in West Chester on July 10. “What I want to do is listen and talk with you all,” Local girl plays on U.S. de Barrena-Sarobe said. team that just won World “I’m going to walk away Cup Title...1B with your perspective so that I can go back to my legal community and go, ‘This is what they’re worried about. How can we do better?’” In his opening remarks, de Barrena-Sarobe shared that he has been the county’s district attorney since being sworn in on Jan. 1, 2024, and is trying to connect and learn more about what unique problems are facing the different communities that make up
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Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Standing at the foot of the planned Legacy Fields Boardwalk Trail addition to the Kennett Greenway are, from left to right, Kennett Trails Alliance (KTA) executive director Christina Norland, Anita Davidson, KTA director, Trail Development; Kymm Bontrager, Square Roots Collective (SRC) youth development program manager; and SRC NextGen leadership fellows Ingrin Mendez and Ulises Miranda.
Chester Chester DA holds county-wide listening tour By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer
© 2007 The Chester County Press
Now, in partnership with Square Roots Collective (SRC), Kennett Township, Kennett Square Borough and the Kennett Consolidated School District, the Kennett Trails Alliance (KTA) – the developmental wing of the Greenway – is in the conceptual design phase to eventually add one more notch to its achievement, one that will feature redwing blackbirds, marsh land and cat tails.
Chester County. He also set stop those influences. discussed to address these Symposium in April that parameters for the discusGun buy-back programs issues. The DA mentioned offered Chester County sion including that he could and traffic stop training a previous successful Youth youth to meet with local not disclose information or were some of the initiatives and Law Enforcement Continued on Page 3A answer any questions about ongoing cases. Prior to his position as DA, de Barrena-Sarobe served as an assistant district attorney in Chester County and was Deputy in the Drug and Organized Crime Unit before being a federal prosecutor in Delaware. While in this position, he investigated and prosecuted fraud, high-level drug trafficking, illegal gun possession and gun trafficking, kidnapping, and other violent offenses committed by criminal defendants. He shared that the two most important things he has focused on his career has been opioids and gun violence, specifically against young Black men. “I’m here because of that latter point upsets me daily,” he said. “The reality is that we need the communities help to solve crimes.” Community members resonated with de BarrenaSarobe’s chief focus of the event and raised an array of concerns centered on keepPhoto courtesy of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. ing children out of danger On Sept. 6, Oxford Mainstreet will celebrate the ten-year anniversary of its in Coatesville, specifically Motorcycle, Truck and Car Show, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Oxford Borough, as pertaining to the influence part of its First Friday celebration. The event will again feature hundreds of vintage vehicles as well as food, entertainment and fun for the entire family. of drugs and gun violence To learn more, visit www.oxfordmainstreet.com. in the city and how to best to mitigate and ultimately
FROM OUR LENS
All vehicles proceed to Oxford
Oxford Borough takes steps to improve its water operations By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer The Oxford Borough Water Department is responsible for providing potable drinking water to the borough’s residents, which is no small deal these days. Operating a water department is also no small feat for a municipality, as big water companies are trying to snatch up small municipal water departments whenever they can. The borough sources its water from a combination of the Chester Water Authority and local wells and owns a water treatment plant and a transmission, production, storage, and distribution water system
serving Oxford. The borough does also source a small portion of their water supply from Chester Water Authority (CWA). Aqua, a large company, has a desire to buy the Chester Water Authority. Understandably, the Borough of Oxford is concerned how the possible purchase of CWA by Aqua would impact the borough’s residents. Currently, the borough is pursuing new wells which would diversify its water sources. Because of that, the borough has conducted a water rate study and a capital needs assessment. The borough is also soliciting bids for new water meters. To the credit of borough officials, Oxford is
keeping an eye of the cost of water, and taking steps to limit the cost to residents. The cost includes, but is not limited to, the responsibility for operating and managing the water system, which is staffed by three certified public water operators, including the Public Works supervisor. Those employees are responsible for all permitting, testing requirements, and mandated reporting requirements related to the operation. Becoming a certified water operator requires constant testing and knowledge of water treatment. A certified operator is a guardian of public health and the environment. The certified operator must meet the requirements of
the Operator Certification Program. Some of the more important requirements include the following: • Make or implement appropriate process control decisions, or take or direct actions related to process control decisions for specific water or wastewater systems; • Successfully complete the required continuing education; • Make timely application for certification renewal; • Report to the system owner any known violations or system conditions that may be or are causing violations of any DEP regulation or permit condition or requirement; • Provide for the suitable operation and maintenance
of a water or wastewater system utilizing available resources needed to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and permit conditions and requirements; • Approve in writing Standard Operations Plans (SOPs). Billing and other administrative tasks are handled by borough personnel. The Water Fund funds a pro-rated portion of the workforce costs. The Water Department has achieved operating surpluses (before transfers for capital needs) every year since 2018. However, accounting for capital transfers, expenses have exceeded revenues in Continued on Page 2A