Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 158, No. 48
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
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Interim superintendent appointed at Avon Grove School District Nicole Harvey, the district’s assistant superintendent for elementary education, has been selected as interim superintendent following the resignation of M. Christopher Marchese By Colleen Cochran Contributing Writer The Avon Grove School Board voted at its Oct. 24 meeting to accept the resignation of Superintendent of Schools M. Christopher Marchese, Ed. D., which will be effective Jan. 3,
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2025. Dr. Marchese has held the superintendent position since 2013. At the meeting held Nov. 21, the board voted to approve Nicole Harvey, Ed.D., as the interim superintendent. She will hold this position for a term commencing on Jan. 4, 2025,
and ending June 30, 2025. Dr. Harvey presently serves as assistant superintendent, elementary education, and she will continue to perform this role as well. Harvey’s appointment roused a round of applause, after which many meeting attendees, including board
members, students, administrators, and community members, directed words of thanks and praise toward Marchese. School board vice president Dorothy Linn, Ed.D., called Marchese a visionary who has brought the Avon Grove School District
well into the 21st century and she said she appreciates his efforts on behalf of students, whose numbers include her grandchildren. Board member Ken Roark said “I’ve already had two students graduate and still have three more to go. Avon Grove School District has
come a long way since my first one started. I thank you for all the effort you have put into the district.” One of the board’s student representatives commented, “The culture at the high school is so incredible; we have so many amazing Continued on Page 3A
Lawrence and Sappey: Heading back to Harrisburg Republican John Lawrence of the 13th District and Democrat Christina Sappey of the 158th District were both reelected as State Representatives in November. As they prepare for their upcoming terms – Lawrence will begin his eighth and Sappey her fourth – the Chester County Press spoke with them about the key issues that face their respective constituencies, the major initiatives they are working on and how they see Chester County moving forward in the years ahead
Kennett Square enjoys the Holiday Light Parade...1B
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
John Lawrence: ‘I will continue to hound Governor Shapiro’s administration on this issue’
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Greenville & Hockessin Life
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Chester County Press: In your estimation, what statement did Presidentelect Trump’s win in Pennsylvania – and across the nation -- make? Lawrence: A far as the national and statewide results in Pennsylvania, I think they show that a
lot of people are beyond frustrated with a government that is not working. They are not happy with the direction things are going on a national level. When I speak to people, many tell me that they see folks in power held to one standard while regular peo-
ple are struggling to pay the bills. Hunter Biden’s pardon – the most sweeping pardon given since President Nixon after being convicted in a court of law by a jury of his peers – exemplifies the anger and frustration people see with government. As far as the presidential race is concerned, the people spoke, and the results speak clearly that people are frustrated. Prices are too high. Government spending is out of control and very few people in Washington seem to care.
FROM OUR LENS Our county seat, illuminated in holiday lights
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Unionville-Chadds Ford community will discuss middle school study findings on Dec. 9 The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (UCFSD) is inviting community members to join the final Community Conversation regarding the recently completed Middle School Feasibility Study. The event is set to take place Monday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Charles F. Patton Middle School.
Guests will be invited to review architectural firm Marotta/Main’s report and, based on the findings, share their feedback on whether to maintain, renovate or replace the district’s current middle school. All are welcome, including staff, students, families, partners and residents. Registration
is encouraged, but not required. “For years, members of our community have called attention to chronic concerns about the Middle School building and campus, ” said UCFSD Superintendent John Sanville. “Given those concerns, we are reviewing all relevant possibilities
Courtesy photo
Voted “Best Local Parade” and “Best FamilyFriendly Event” by readers of Main Line Today, the West Chester Christmas Parade will be held on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. and preceded by West Chester’s Tree Lighting at 6:30 p.m. The annual event will feature live musical performances and marching bands from area high schools.
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ACT Players present A Christmas Carol By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer Get in the Christmas spirit with a holiday classic when the Act Players present performances of Charles Dickens’ ever-popular A Christmas Carol. Barbara Miriello, the director of the shows, explained the appeal of the holiday classic. “It has stood the test of time,” Miriello said. “It’s a story of redemption. It Photo Courtesy Steve Whitney The Spirit of Christmas Past (Maggie Elliott) transports also looks at relationships, Ebenezer Scrooge (Chris Murray) to his boyhood family dynamics, how hurts boarding school in ACT Players’ A Christmas Carol. from the past can impact the Tickets are available at actplayers.org. future—things that are so
relevant now, even though it was written in 1843.” For anyone unfamiliar with A Christmas Carol, Dickens’ story follows miser Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by the spirit of his late business partner Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Looking at his own past, the trials of others today and the possibilities for the future, he comes to see the meaning of Christmas and learns how to celebrate the season with love and generosity. Over the years, the story has been made into movies,
television shows, musicals and even cartoons. This production by ACT Players holds true to the original version in most respects as it was adapted to the stage. “I adapted the script from Dickens primarily, not a musical, but we brought in a musical element. We have four carolers bridge some of our scenes with carols of the time,” Miriello said. Miriello explained that the carolers are also a device to keep the audience’s attention during scene changes. The play is using a Greek stage structure known as a Continued on Page 4A