New book gives unique insight into how Kennett has prospered

KENNETT SQUARE >> Kennett Square.

Time Magazine named it one of the best places to live in America. Businesses thrive there and a developer is building upscale townhouses that are in demand. And the festivals it stages throughout the year, including the Mushroom Festival and Brewfest, attract tens of thousands of people.

Just how the town got to such a happy place is the topic of a new book called “The Story of Kennett, Shaping Our Future One Child At A Time” written by two community activists and longtime residents: Joan Holliday and Bob George. But unlike other books, this one includes insights from past and present mayors, officials at nonprofits, teachers, judges and members of the Latino community.

And unlike other books, all profits from this one will be donated to the Kennett Education Foundation to fund scholarships for Kennett High School students.

“This is not a story in the conventional sense, with a narrative arc and a clear beginning, middle and end, but a collection of reports, testimonials and chronicles that together form a tapestry that presents a vivid portrait of an evolving, compassionate and ambitious town, “Holliday said. “This small town is a microcosm of every American town, struggling to retain its identity and purpose amid the many new patterns in our social fabric.”

One of the passages in the book is from Christina Liu, a student at Kennett High School. She tells about her struggles learning English, and how programs like WIN (Walk In kNowledge) and the Garage Youth Center helped her.

Sarahi Zamores, a Kennett area Latino, tells about living in a small trailer in Toughkenamon as her family earned a meager living in the mushroom industry.

Albert McCarthy, former Kennett Square police chief, relives some of his experiences dating back to the 1970s. Mike Pia, coowner of Kaolin Mushroom Farms who helped bring Victory Brewing Co. to Kennett Square, tells how his family got into the business and how it has prospered.

Leon Spencer, former mayor of Kennett Square who will soon earn the 2017 Citizen of the Year Award, gives his opinion on why he thinks people want to move to Kennett Square. And he said he is thankful he hasn’t been subjected to prejudice during his lifetime despite growing up in a mostly white neighborhood.

Melanie Weiler, executive director of Kennett Area Community Services tells about how generous the Kennett community is in donating items to the Food Cupboard. She tells about a program, Bridges Out of Poverty, that will soon have a direct impact on reducing poverty locally.

Alisa Jones, president and CEO of La Comunidad Hispana, and who comes from a family of 12, tells about new programs being offered for low-income residents. Patti Olenik, past executive director of the Garage Community and Youth Center, tells about the impact the program has on at-risk school students, and how volunteers are driving its success.

Larry Bosley former superintendent at Kennett Consolidated School District and now the owner of a thriving business in town, tells readers that the lack of available lowcost housing is a key issue in the Kennett area.

There’s plenty more, including stories about Camp Dreamcatcher, Kennett Area YMCA, Chester County Futures, United Way of Southern Chester County, Chester County Head Start, Kennett Square Family Center, Kennett Coffee Klatch, Good Neighbors Home Repair, Study Buddies, AfterThe-Bell and Tick Tock Learning Center.

Those contributing with insight into Kennett Square include: Rudy Karkosak, Matt Fetick, Dan Maisano, Cpl. William Holdsworth, Dan Maffei, Mary Hutchins, Carrie Freeman, Loretta Perna, Mike Kelley and many others.

“This book gives the reader a picture of the efforts within Kennett to provide opportunity and foster a strong sense of community,” Mary Ann Picard, local artist, said in the book. “I very much enjoyed learning about Kennett and these efforts that I had not known before; the book is an interesting read.”

The book is also chockfull of facts about Kennett. It houses 6,000 and is located in a county that is the richest in the state with a median income of $100,000. But Kennett Square’s median household income is $63,000, and 42 percent of students attending Kennett schools are disadvantaged and eligible for free or reduced lunches.

“Distinctive as it surely is, the story of Kennett, ‘Mushroom Capital of the World,’ addresses the challenges of immigration that involves the migrant work force and culture integration,” Holliday said. “As the winds of change are upon us, strengths and weaknesses of the current state will be highlighted with reflections about what is needed for the future.”

The book was illustrated by Chris Barber, a longtime Kennett resident, award-winning photographer, and editor of the Avon Grove Sun, a sister paper of the Daily Local News.

The book is available on Amazon for $14.99. To order the book, go to Amazon.com and type in the name of the book.

“This book gives the reader a picture of the efforts within Kennett to provide opportunity and foster a strong sense of community. I very much enjoyed learning about Kennett and these efforts that I had not known before; the book is an interesting read.” — Mary Ann Picard, local artist, said in the book

SUBMITTED PHOTO Joan Holliday and Bob George have authored a book called “The Story of Kennett.”

FRAN MAYE — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Two community activists, Joan Holliday and Bob George, have authored a book titled “The Story of Kennett.”

CHRIS BARBER — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Joan Holliday and Bob George interviewed a large number of Kennett Square service providers for their new book, “The Story of Kennett: Shaping Our Future One Child At a Time.”