KENNETT TOWNSHIP: Lisa Moore's preliminary hearing set for April 21

If all goes as planned, you'll be able to watch Lisa Moore's preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, via video feed. Moore is accused of embezzling more than $3.2 million from Kennett Township, where she worked as township manager.

At the April 15 Board of Supervisors video meeting, Moore's replacement, township manager Eden Ratliff, said, "We're working with our team to get the information to make available to our citizens on our website if you wanted to log in and view the proceeding." 
The hearing will be held before Kennett Square District Judge Al Iacocca. Ratliff explained that the hearing will involve "a review of the evidence to determine if there is enough to proceed to trial."
Moore is currently free on $500,000 unsecured bail.

(Just an FYI: in my experience, preliminary hearings are sometimes postponed at the last minute.)

Also at the supervisors' meeting, township zoning officer Diane Hicks asked homeowners to contact the township before proceeding with any home improvements. She said the staff would determine if a permit would be needed for the work. The township is reviewing permits but cannot issue them until the governor lifts the moratorium.

Board of Supervisors chairman Dr. Richard Leff reminded residents that although the township building is closed to the public, residents can still reach the staff via email or phone. He said there have been five reported cases of COVID-19 in the township so far and encouraged residents to contribute to the local PPE drive at Longwood Fire Co. or one of the local nonprofits like the Kennett Area Community Service or the United Way.

Ratliff thanked the township employees and police for their dedication and hard work throughout the pandemic. Thanks to the road crew's efforts, he said, "We're the best-looking township around. But don't tell the others!"

ON THE BORDER: Candid Camera revisited

My friend Charles, who crosses the Pennsylvania/Delaware line daily for work, reminds me that the current border closure is not the first: Allen Funt shut down the border back in 1963 on his TV show "Candid Camera," the original reality show. 
An online description of the segment tells us that: 
Dressed in "an official-looking hat," holding a clipboard and standing at a barricade with a DELAWARE CLOSED TODAY sign, a man from the TV show stopped traffic on Ebright Road leading from Pennsylvania into Delaware and simply told drivers Delaware was closed …. And people fell for it. One woman even asked if New Jersey was open and happily said she'd go there instead. 
(Ebright Road runs from Naamans Creek Road to Beaver Valley Road, parallel to and east of Concord Pike.)
I couldn't track down the video, but here's a still from the episode:

NEWLIN: Oliver didn't go very far

Yesterday I reported the happy news that Oliver, the barn cat who went missing from his Fairview Road home, has been found. 
Here's the full story from a neighbor of the owner's:
"The owner thought the dog may have chased him out of the back yard and up a tree (he likes to climb and gets stuck quite often). However, he somehow followed the owner into her detached garage on Monday afternoon and she didn't realize he had. With the self-isolating, she didn't go anywhere, so no need to go in the garage for the car. Therefore, he was locked in the garage. Her daughter went to get something in the car a few days later and out pops Oliver!
"Everyone was so happy to see him, including his kitten mate, Charlotte, but he was more interested in eating!
"All the support and sharing of him being lost was heartfelt and we are so happy to have such a great community."
She didn't think this would be much of a news story . . . but I beg to differ.

KENNETT: Mushroom Fest cancelled

Some big news dropped Tuesday afternoon: this September's Mushroom Festival has been cancelled. The reasons are the coronavirus (of course) and the financial impact it has had on the local mushroom growers. As Kathi Lafferty explained in her press release: “The mushroom industry has been hurt significantly, so it was very difficult for us to ask for sponsor money from our friends in the industry.” 

The weekend-long fest, which brings throngs of people into Kennett Square, would have celebrated its 35th anniversary this year.

Despite the cancellation, $25,000 in grants raised from the proceeds of last year's fest "will be disbursed throughout the Kennett Square community to help fund the efforts of those individuals and organizations who are assisting with the coronavirus pandemic. Contributions will also be made to local fire companies, first responders and food distribution charities."

As for now, the New Year’s Eve Mushroom Drop is still on the schedule.

Here is a link to the press release:

https://mushroomfestival.org/35th-annual-kennett-square-mushroom-festival-is-canceled-for-2020/?fbclid=IwAR26QFuznre9tA_ZIe2ubxSTVECTrHOLgbF5ewQNsl-H_pjcrnWFtTjNOMk

NEWLIN: Oliver has been found!

Here's some wonderful and unexpected news: the barn cat Oliver is back home!
Oliver, who is less than a year old, went missing on April 6 from his Fairview Road farm and was found three days later. Maybe you saw his photo on Facebook or the posters that his owners put up at Landhope and Foxy Loxy. Our hearts went out to him because he looks a lot like our own fur-child, Tina.

HOLY WEEK: Livestreaming Easter

During Holy Week I enjoyed watching the religious services from our local houses of worship. For me, they were a welcome change from today's noisy, glitzy entertainment. The celebrants were sincere, welcoming and genuine, and it made me smile to see the admixture of human and divine as, for instance, a helper lit the candles, the organist played a warm-up arpeggio, and the clergyman did a sound check and adjusted his robes. 
People from several Kennett-area churches -- St. Patrick's, First Baptist, Kennett Square Presbyterian, St. Rocco and Unionville Presbyterian -- produced a Stations of the Cross service that aired on Good Friday. The narrators extrapolated from the events that occurred at each Station to a modern-day situation. For instance: "At this station, as we stand before Jesus nailed to the cross, we remember and pray for all who suffer from addictions. To be addicted is to be attached. . . .how many in our community, our families and our friends suffer from attachments, are physically attached to drugs, approval, pornography, gambling, drink. The list goes on and on. And so too does the suffering and pain of individuals so attached, and loved ones learning what to do."

KENNETT: Anson B. Nixon Park is open

Anson B. Nixon Park is still open for folks who want some fresh air, although the playground equipment and the basketball, volleyball and tennis courts are roped off. 
We stopped by after supper on Saturday and the place was almost empty: There were a couple of joggers and dog-walkers and lots of geese. I found a big patch of the delicate yellow trout lilies in bloom on the north side of the pond. We felt nostalgic walking past the amphitheater and hoped the place would be full of music lovers and picnickers before too long. 
Some of the raised beds in the community gardens area have already been planted, with herbs, early lettuce, peas and even small tomato plants in evidence. One smart gardener created a greenhouse of sorts by setting a pane of glass atop the garden bed. We spotted three curious deer on the edge of the woods looking into the fenced-in garden area.
By the way: Who was Anson Nixon? According to the park's website, he was (1) a longtime Kennett Township supervisor, (2) chairman of the Regional Landfill Authority (the landfill site was where the Tino Lito soccer fields are now located) and (3) chairman of the Wilmington chemical company Hercules, Inc.  "Mr. Nixon’s dream became a reality when on June 12, 1993 Anson B. Nixon Park was open for use for simple, passive recreation."