Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 156, No. 50
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
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New Garden board says ‘No’ to sewer rate mitigation By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer By a 3-2 vote at their Dec. 19 meeting, the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors rejected a motion that would investigate ways to create a rate mitigation payment scenario for those township customers who are tied
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into the wastewater system now owned by Aqua Pennsylvania – and seeing their sewer bills skyrocket under the new ownership. Those supervisors voting in favor of the idea of a motion to explore a rate mitigation package for ratepayers were Troy Wildrick and Ted Gallivan, while board member David
Unger, board vice-chairwoman Kristie Brodowski and board chairman Steve Allaband voted against the motion. “While I don’t think the ratepayers have a right to the money – the money belongs to the township – I vote ‘Yes’ because I think the township should help out the ratepayers, because
Kohler announces run for Common Pleas Judge By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Kennett School Board member Don Kohler announced his candidacy for Chester County Court of Common Pleas judgeship at a gathering on the steps of the high school on Sunday. Kohler, 55, of New Garden is the owner of and practices law out of his firm in West Chester. In front of about 30 supporters on a chilly morning, Kohler, with his family behind him, outlined his credentials for the office and named the members of his election committee. The Chester County Court of Common Pleas is a general jurisdiction
trial court located in West Chester, There are 14 full-time judges and three senior judges. The judges hear a wide spectrum of cases, including adult and juvenile criminal prosecutions, lawsuits involving money or property, divorce, custody disputes, child support issues, adoptions and estates, according to the court’s website. Judges are elected to a 10-year term. Following the end of that first 10 years, they are on the ballot for simply “accept” or “reject” continuation of their position Kohler currently serves the school board as a member and chair of the policy committee. He was
bills have gone up,” Gallivan said. “I have spent hours and hours thinking about how we could try to [create a mitigation system for Aqua customers in the township], but there is no easy solution. I am not happy I lost the vote stating my case, but I’m pleased that we have had a good dialogue.”
“For me, the best way forward is to secure the financial security of the entire township,” Unger said. “Everyone here was elected by the entirety of the township. We didn’t have a race just in Somerset Lake. We didn’t have a race just in Harrogate. We were elected by everyone, so we have to take care of
everyone.” For the last several months, the idea of the township creating a rate mitigation package has been generated from those Aqua ratepayers who have shared the alarming increases reflected in the sewer bills they have been receiving from Aqua. Over Continued on Page 2A
FROM OUR LENS A new name in New Garden
Courtesy image
The New Garden Township Board of Supervisors recently approved the name change for Saint Anthony’s in the Hills to New Garden Hills, as part of a rebranding effort that will coincide with the development of the 137-acre property the township owns. The rebranding will be seen on street names, at the park’s entrance and on signage throughout the park. The Chester County Press will provide a detailed summary of the rebranding of the park in an upcoming edition.
Continued on Page 2A
Penn Township awarded $850,000 of American Rescue Plan grant funding from Chester County Commissioners Money will be used to create a Southern Chester County Emergency Services Center to house SCCEMS - Medic 94 On Thursday, Dec. 15, the Chester County Commissioners awarded Penn Township $850,000 for the purpose of creating a Southern Chester County Emergency Services Center to house SCCEMS - Medic 94.
The award was part of $103 million in American Rescue Plan funds approved by the Commissioners in recent months to assist and improve infrastructure, public health response and disproportionately impacted communities affected so grievously by
the COVID-19 public health emergency. Following the announcement of the grant award, Penn Township issued a statement saying that, “On behalf of the Penn Township Supervisors, the Board of Directors and the paramed-
ics of SCCEMS-MEDIC 94, the community of southern Chester County, we express our sincere gratitude to the Chester County Commissioners and the ARP Committee for the recommendation for funding of the Penn Township grant
request.” Victor Mantegna, the chair of the Penn Township Board of Supervisors, said, “Our commitment to the health, safety and welfare of our residents, businesses and visitors is a part of our Continued on Page 2A
A gift for MJ: Community holds drive-by Christmas parade for five-year-old cancer patient By Richard L Gaw Staff Writer When Lincoln University resident Mackenzie Fox, a Lincoln University photographer, first established a social media page for her friend Katyrose Veinot’s five-year-old daughter Maryjane Facer on Nov. 25, she was hoping a few friends and fellow residents would turn out for a Christmas drive-by parade that she was planning for Maryjane on Dec. 16. The parade would be for a very special reason: Maryjane, known as “MJ,” was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney in June, a
diagnosis that has in recent weeks been elevated to the Stage 5 level and been exacerbated by the growth of rare tumors. Over the past several months, MJ’s world – and the world of her family, which includes two three-year-old twin sisters Continued on Page 4A
Photo by Mackenzie Fox
Five-year-old Lincoln University resident Maryjane “MJ” Facer received a 104-vehicle Christmas parade past her home on Dec. 16 that was made up of two fire departments, two police departments, a transportation company, local businesses and community residents.