Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 158, No. 44
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
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East Marlborough residents express concerns about proposed increase in taxes By Monica Fragale Contributing Writer More than 80 people packed East Marlborough’s municipal garage on Monday, and at least another 30 joined the meeting online, as the township’s supervisors voted to advertise the 2025 preliminary budget. Most of those in attendance were visibly upset about a proposed tax increase, which would see residents pay-
INSIDE
Cecil County Life
The holidays arrive early at the Brandywine Museum of Art...1B
ing more than double what they paid this year to the township. A 392-page petition from East Marlborough residents was also submitted on Monday, asking the supervisors “to seek a more balanced approach to funding our community services,” township Manager Neil Lovekin read. Many who spoke talked about how the tax hike would affect them. “I moved here from a big
Houlahan, other vets blast Trump for lack of respect for U.S. military Calls presidential candidate ‘an eminent threat to the United States’
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amount.” “I’m here representing neighbors on my street who have come to me over the last week-and-a-half,” resident Rob MacPherson said. “They’re dismayed. They’re angry.” The three-hour-plus meeting served as the monthly supervisors’ meeting but also represented the culmination of four previous budget sessions in which the rationale for the tax increase was discussed. “Our goal for this meeting is to clearly communicate to
you the details of the preliminary 2025 budget,” board vice chair Ellen Sosangelis told the crowd, adding that a desired outcome was for the residents to “leave this meeting with a clear understanding of … why the tax increases are necessary, and how your township leadership is controlling costs and using your money in a responsible manner on your behalf.” The 2025 proposed budget is available for the public to review and submit comments on until Dec. 2 – the
date of the next supervisors’ meeting when the budget and tax increases are expected to be formally adopted. Tax rates East Marlborough is proposing increasing three of their township taxes to help offset expenses in next year’s budget. It would be a total increase of 2.7 mills over the current rate, according to Lovekin. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value. Continued on Page 2A
FROM OUR LENS Landenberg’s annual fall fest
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan spoke out about former President Donald Trump six days before the Nov. 5 election, criticizing his comments about the U.S. military and calling him “an eminent threat to the United States.”
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
© 2007 The Chester County Press
house to a small house,” resident Jim Keating told the board. “My taxes are more here in the small house. I don’t understand it one bit.” “I think the conversation should be where can we be as efficient as we can be,” resident Paul Karcher said. “The last four to five years, the aggregate amount of inflation has gone up 27 percent. Now you’re sitting here suggesting to us to raise our taxes in an incredible
In comments that were both candid and accusatory, four U.S. veterans – including U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.’s 6th district) – said last week that if former President Donald Trump’s is elected for a second term that his time in office would pose a threat to the United States
and to democracy, and that his disregard for the armed forces has left a permanent scar on the nation’s military. Joining Houlahan on an Oct. 30 online conference were U.S. House Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts), retired U.S. Army Major General Randy Manner and Vietnam War veteran Nick Molnar, Continued on Page 3A
New apartment complex opens in Kennett Square By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer Berger Communities celebrated the opening of new Kennett Square Apartments on Oct. 30 in a ribboncutting ceremony before the staff of Montrose Environmental and MV+A Architects, community leaders - including members of the Kennett Square Borough Council - and residents of the new building. The complex, located at 600 West State Street, features 166 one- and twobedroom units as well as amenities including an outdoor deck, rooftop lounge, gym, golf simulator, media room, underground parking garage and office workspaces.
“Kennett Square holds a significant place for us,” said Dan Berger, CEO of Berger Communities. “This is now our 12th apartment community in Chester County, and we’re really pleased to be part of such a vibrant and close-knit district as Kennett Square.” Other Berger Communities in Chester County include several locations in West Chester as well as one in Phoenixville. For the Kennett Square location, Director of Development Matt Johnson, shared the intentions to make the property fit into the surrounding Kennett Square Borough. “Our goal for this project from day one was really to deliver a quality Continued on Page 2A
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
From the time the Kennett Middle School first opened in 2002, the maple trees that line the eastern edge of its property along Newark Road in Landenberg have become a yearly postcard that celebrates the rich colors of autumn.
Record number of runners compete at Mushroom Cap Half Marathon On the picture-perfect morning of Nov. 2, nearly 800 runners – a record high – competed at the 9th Mushroom Cap Half Marathon, which through its non-profit agency Run2Shine has distributed close to $80,000 to local charitable partners since it was first formed in 2015 Continued on Page 4A
Members of Crossfit Kennett Square pose just before the start of the race.
The 9th Mushroom Cap Half Marathon saw nearly 800 competitors run throughout Kennett Square on Nov. 2.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
The Harlow family of Downingtown.