Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 157, No. 41
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
$1.50
Neidigh selected to fill Oxford Borough Council seat By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer At the recent Oxford Borough Council meeting, Luke Neidigh was approved to fill the council vacancy created by the resignation of council member Amanda Woolston. His term will end in January 2025. Council acknowledged two applications to fill the
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Newark Life Magazine
vacancy were received— from Neidigh and Mary Higgins. Council heard from each of the applicants during the meeting. Higgins served on council previously. She said that she would like to serve on council again to work on finishing some of the things that she had been involved in. Higgins chaired the
Borough Planning Commission, and also served on the Regional Planning Commission. “I worked with other council members to learn issues facing borough finances,” she said. “At that time, council wanted to prepare for upcoming needs. They are moving in that direction now, and I’d like to be a part of that.” Higgins explained that
being on council is a big job. “We need to deepen our understanding of what the residents want. Conversation is important. The more voices the better,” she said. Ironically, Neidigh and Higgins are next door neighbors. Neidigh has lived in the borough all his life. His grandfather was a guidance counselor at Oxford Area
Paving, streambank restoration priced at $2.7 million
Kennett Township awards Chandler Mill Greenway project By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
After several years of discussions, cost considerations and design concepts and both public support and criticism, the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors gave approval at their Oct. 4 meeting to the development of the Chandler Mill Greenway Project by JVI Group, Inc., a York, Pa.-based construction company, at a price of Open door artists in the $2,774,385. 19350...1B The township received another cost estimation for the project from Road-Con,
Inc., who provided a bid in the amount of $3,906,178. JVI Group, Inc. will construct two asphalt trails from Hillendale Road to Oriole Road, and from Round Hill Road to the parking lot across the road from the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, which will include the construction of a scenic overlook. The width of the paved trail will vary between six and eight feet, and its pathway will vary between being immediately adjacent to the Chandler Mill Road to four feet from the road.
High School and his grandmother an English teacher. He just recently moved into the home his grandparents used to live in. “I’m interested in filling the seat, especially after the fire. I have seen the decisions that council makes have long-lasting effects,” he said. Council member Peggy Ann Russell asked Neidigh what his efforts have been
over the period after the fire. “I have gone to every fundraising event they have held so I would know what people need, and what I could contribute,” he explained. Neidigh was also asked what the main concern of taxpayers is. “They don’t want their tax dollars wasted,” he said. “We have to rebuild after Continued on Page 2A
FROM OUR LENS Laughter and lager
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
This contingent of friends struck a pose at the Kennett Brewfest, held on Oct. 7 on Broad Steet in Kennett Square. The always-popular fundraiser drew 80 breweries and over 175 different beers for the sold-out crowd to enjoy.
Continued on Page 6A
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Unionville Homecoming celebrates Centennial as well
© 2007 The Chester County Press
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Unionville High School pulled out all the stops for a combined centennial birthday party and Homecoming event on Oct. 6. When they said “Homecoming” they especially meant it this year for hundreds of graduates who returned to mark the school district’s 100-year anniversary and cheer on their home team against traditional cross-town rival Kennett in football. Unionville School was founded in 1923, drawing from 19 one-room school Photos by Chris Barber houses that had served the Class of 1948 graduate Charles Brosius brings up the rear of parade participants in area in previous years. The red stone building that now his Model T Ford, plus the calliope.
is Unionville Elementary became the center of education with a capacity of 635 students. The school, like Kennett High School down the pike, benefitted early on from support by Wilmington industrialist Pierre S. DuPont. Friday’s celebration kicked off with a parade from the elementary school, down the access road from Doe Run Road and into the Patton Middle School parking lot. Participating in the parade were numerous Unionville High School clubs and organizations as well as alumni, elementary school classes, cheerleaders, dancers, the high school band and school administrators. Continued on Page 2A
Six new inductees heading into Oxford Sports Wall of Fame A new group of sports standouts will be welcomed into the Oxford Sports Wall of Fame during the 21st annual ceremony to honor the inductees at Oxford Area High School on Monday, Oct. 16. Hornet Pride will be be on full display during the event—and for good reason. This year’s inductees are a particularly accomplished
group, and each honoree excelled in a wide variety of sports and activities. The 2023 class of six inductees includes Ken Woodward, Carol Hershey (Class of 1981), Rebekah Hostetter (Class of 1997), Dan Bakken (Class of 1997), James Wilson (Class of 2011), and Sarah Johnson (Class of 2017). Johnson is the most recent
graduate of Oxford Area High School to be honored this year. She has been a leader and a highly decorated athlete everywhere she has competed. At Oxford Area High School, Johnson was on the varsity field hockey team and the track and field team for four years, from 2013 to 2017. She served as the
captain of both teams. She was a field hockey First Team All-Ches-Mont selection several times during her scholastic career. She was also a First Team All-Area selection for the 2016-17 season. She was also an Honorable Mention Team All-Area (2013-14 and 2015-16). Additionally, she was a Max Field Hockey Top 50 National Player for
the Class of 2017. Johnson also earned the Team MVP and Team Coach’s Award for the high school field hockey team. For Oxford’s track and field team, she was a district qualifier in the 4x100m relay during the 2015-16 season. Johnson completed on the WC Eagles Field Continued on Page 3A