Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 156, No. 47
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
$1.00
Ratepayers hold Aqua, New Garden accountable for skyrocketing wastewater bills By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer For more than four hours at the New Garden Elementary School auditorium on Nov. 21, three factions sorted through the smoldering mass of information that lay at the creation of an agreement of sale that has been on the front burner of controversy in the township for the past several years. In one corner of the room, the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors sat at a table facing another table occupied by three
INSIDE BLACK FRIDAY AND
Small Business S ATURDAY SHOPPERS’ GUIDE
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Guide
To Subscribe Call 610.869.5553
Kennett Square Life
© 2007 The Chester County Press
executives from Aqua Pennsylvania (Aqua), including its president Marc Lucca. The most dominant presence at the meeting, however, were the more than 200 township residents who sat and stood in protest of the reason that drew them there: the massive increases they are seeing in their wastewater bills from Aqua – as much as a 140 percent increase over the past year – that are arriving in their mailboxes as part of the residue from the township’s sale of its wastewater system to the Big Water giant for $29.5
million in 2020. Moderated by Ryan Jennings of the West Chester firm of Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees, the purpose of the meeting was to provide information regarding the sale of the system, a historical backdrop dating back to 2013, dispel rumors and misinformation, and field questions from the ratepayers. The forum was inspired by the Keep Water Affordable (KWA) group, made up mainly of residents from Photos by Richard L. Gaw the Northgate communi- An audience of more than 200 New Garden Township residents attended a Nov. 21 ties in Landenberg, who forum to voice their outrage at their escalating sewer bills that stem from the sale Continued on page 2A
Friends of Kennett Library & Resource Center receive preview tour
of the township’s wastewater system to Aqua Pennsylvania.
FROM OUR LENS In the spirit of giving
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer In the same fashion a new Broadway show holds an initial reading, and in the mold of a future Cy Young award-winner developing a new pitch before a watchful coach in an empty ballpark, so too do major structures deserve a sneak peek before their grand unveiling. On Nov. 16, more than one dozen stakeholders of the new Kennett Library & Resource Center received a preview tour of what will become a 31,485-squarefoot gateway to education, technology and community when it opens next May. Conducted by Kennett Library director Christopher Manna and construction project manager Mike Buck, the tour covered the entire breadth of the twostory building, much of which will be bathed in natural sunlight from twostory glass windows that will face north. The first floor, whose walls will be accented by Avondale
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
Kennett Library Director Christopher Manna conducted the tour.
brownstone, will feature a circulation desk; an audio and video recording area that can be converted into a podcast studio; a room for quiet study that will feature a fireplace, classic furniture and provide visitors with an historical overview of Kennett Square; rows of shelving for books; a group study room and classroom; a rotating art gallery that will feature the work of local artists and students; and a 110-seat, five-row
Photo by Rick Huneke
Over the last few weeks, members of St. Michael Lutheran Church in Unionville have been dropping off their filled Thanksgiving bags at the church, as well as raising money for the Food Cupboard at Kennett Area Community Service (KACS). In all, over 200 bags were collected and $6,200 was raised, and distribution was made to KACS on Nov. 13. The project was made possible by the work of the church’s Social Ministry, especially Annette Bowers. KACS board president Lynn Majarian – who is also a member of the church – expressed her deep gratitude for the church’s contribution.
The venue will also Night screenings. In the auditorium that will be used for performances, include a 16’ x 12’ foot future, it will also include lectures and other public screen that will be used for four cameras that will Continued on page 3A presentations. film festivals and Friday
Community remembers fallen officers with a ceremony on 50th anniversary By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Kennett Square police officers William Davis and Richard Posey were returning from their rounds during the early morning hours of Nov. 15, 1972 when they were shot down in the parking lot of the police station. Last Tuesday, exactly one-half century since the tragedy, community members gathered to remember those two victims and dedicate a plaque in their honor. The memorial service, which had been scheduled weeks ahead to take place outside at the site of the killings on East Linden at Broad Street, was moved inside the American Legion building due to cold, wet
weather. Ironically, the chilly temperatures and damp atmosphere mirrored what it was like that morning all those years ago when people woke up to the news that two of their own cops had been murdered. The seating at the American Legion Hall was filled – more than 150 people were in attendance. A color guard group, a bagpiper and team of police officers were stationed around the room. Many who came while braving the darkness and cold were elderly, having been young adults at the time of the shooting. They were visibly aged, but to an individual Photo by Chris Barber were saying, “I remember Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick, left, and Police Chief William Holdsworth display like it was yesterday.” the plaque honoring police officers Posey and Davis. The plaque will be placed in Continued on page 4A
the borough parking garage.