December 4, 2018 - ChaddsFordLive.com

School board OKs proposed prelim budget

Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board directors voted to approve a proposed preliminary budget during a special meeting Monday night. That session came after a brief re-organization meeting in which Jeff Hellrung was voted in to serve another term as president and Steve Simonson as vice president.

The proposed preliminary budget currently calls for more than $91 million in spending and revenue with tax increases in both Chester and Delaware counties. Business Manager Bon Cochran said the proposed increases are 3.86 percent for Chester County property owners and 3.82 percent for property owners in Delaware County.

“The budget reflects an all-in request, a wish list,” adding that he expects the numbers for the increases to drop by the time the final budget is approved in June.

Cochran explained that timing for budget talks made it important to have the proposed preliminary budget approved now so that a final preliminary can be voted on in February. There will be further conversations after that and budget hearings will be scheduled if needed.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Decade to Doorways honors those ending homelessness

Along the Ford

Decade-to-Doorways-Hometown-Heroes — Some of the “Hometown Heroes” honored at the recent Decade to Doorways appreciation event for their dedication to preventing and ending homelessness in Chester County

Administrators and staff of Decade to Doorways, Chester County’s initiative to end homelessness, honored a number of organizations recently that are working to prevent – and eventually eradicate – chronic homelessness in the county.

Representatives from nearly 40 groups attended the event and ten “hometown heroes” were nominated by their peers for their dedication to pursuing an end to homelessness within Chester County.

Julia Orlando (left), Director of the Bergen County, NJ Housing, Health and Human Service Center and keynote speaker at the Decade to Doorways event, with Lauren Campbell, administrator for Decade to Doorways.

Lauren Campbell, Decade to Doorways Administrator, said: “Chester County’s efforts to end homelessness have been – and will continue to be – extremely effective because of the commitment of so many agencies, non-profits, healthcare professionals, faith communities and compassionate volunteers who have come together to address the issues and collaborate on positive actions.

“This appreciation event allowed us to share some impressive statistics on the collective years of service, and, importantly, the impact that their actions have made to help end homelessness in Chester County.”

The event included words from keynote speaker Julia Orlando, who, as Director of Bergen County, New Jersey Housing, Health and Human Service Center, led that county to be the first in the nation to successfully reach and maintain “functional zero’ for chronic homelessness.

Since the inception of Decade to Doorways in 2012, Chester County has served more than 6,200 clients experiencing homelessness, of which over 1,300 were children. Nearly 225,000 nights of emergency shelter were made available to the most vulnerable in Chester County, and 1,451 people found permanent housing.

Earlier this year, Decade to Doorways published its most recent operational plan to ensure the program continues to divert, prevent and quickly re-house those experiencing homelessness, rather than just manage homelessness. The updated plan will guide the approximately 35 organizations who diligently work every day to see the Chester County community is healthy, housed and stable.

“The causes and situations of homelessness are vast and often deep-rooted but in Chester County, we recognize that homeless does not define anyone. We truly believe that it is a temporary situation to which an end is achievable,” added Lauren Campbell.

“We are on track and remain committed to focusing our resources on ending chronic homelessness within the next two years in Chester County.”

About Press Release

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Catherine Schilling of Kennett Square

Obituaries

Catherine Schilling, 96, of Kennett Square, formerly of Wilmington, and Naples, Fla., died Friday, Nov. 30, at Kendal-Crosslands Communities in Kennett Square. She was the wife of William Schilling who died in 2000, and with whom she shared 53 years of marriage.

Born in Plainfield, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Jane Mackenzie Rothery and the late Claude Rothery.

She was a graduate of Skidmore College and Columbia University.

Catherine enjoyed and performed music throughout her life. She was a member of numerous bands, orchestras and ensembles including the Kennett Symphony and the Naples Concert Band through which she made many lasting friendships.

Catherine will be remembered for her infectious laugh, her sweet and cheerful disposition and her love of the Chester County countryside, dogs, old movies, coffee ice cream and the British royal family.

She is survived by her three children, Christine (Eric) Siegel of Ann Arbor, Mich., William Schilling of Philadelphia, and Catherine Schilling of Chicago, Ill.; grandchildren, Jayme (Brian) Fisher of Lancaster, and Rebecca Siegel of Denver, Colo.; and great-granddaughter, Jocelyn Fisher.

Catherine was predeceased by her daughter Jane Catherine and her husband, William.

A private burial ceremony will take place at Union Hill Cemetery, Route 82, Kennett Square.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Philadelphia Orchestra (philorch.org), One South Broad Street, 14th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 or Kendal-Crosslands Communities, Staff Support Fund, PO Box 100, Kennett Square, PA 19348

To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecocares.com

Arrangements by the Kuzo & Griecco Funeral Home, Kennett Square.