View this email in your browser

West Chester Weekly News Roundup

The easiest way to be in the know.

Subscribe | Support | Forward to a Friend

It’s Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Happy 2024! So, what do we think so far? I am currently undecided but feeling cautiously optimistic. We look at the year ahead. Plus, tragic holiday events, impressive performances, and Restaurant Inspection reports are back. One popular market has wracked up a series of concerning violations.  

Who’s ready? Let’s catch up.

Happy New Year!

Spring in December. Photo: Elizabeth Nebel

So, we are here. It is 2024. Last week Cherry Trees were blooming. Now, snow, or at least slush, is pending. Still, 2024 looks promising, 9 Prime, the fancy new steakhouse, should be open in a few weeks, West Chester Restaurant Week is returning and there is lots of fresh new energy (and hopefully new ideas) coming into the Borough.

West Chester Parks will soon launch what will hopefully be a community-driven comprehensive plan. Developments at Mitch’s and Burger King have raised questions about our growth priorities but there is now a pivotal position open in the Borough’s Housing Department. Plus, there are two new council members, a new police chief, and a new fire chief all getting up to speed.

A big thank you to all who sent in donations of support over the holiday. I know there remain “free” news services out there - but I have been heartened by how many people are willing to support quality, in-depth coverage. Plus, the notes, the emails, the story leads - the feeling of community has been overwhelming. It was why I started this and I can’t wait to see where we go in 2024.  

Cheers, to a new year!

West Chester Restaurant Inspection Reports - December

A couple dining at the Westtown Amish Market’s H&L Grill on Thursday evening.

Last year, a few people reached out worried I had discontinued the Restaurant Inspection Reports - well, no worries people, they are not going anywhere. This month we look at Westtown’s Amish Market where all seven stalls visited by the Health Inspector were found out of compliance. Some were cited for lax hair netting practices and lack of labeling and others for things much more dangerous. Also, warranting a second look is the Watermark at Bellingham. The senior living facility faced more than a dozen violations including evidence of rodents throughout the kitchens and cafes.

Westtown Amish Market

Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Co., out, 2 violations including previously prepared crab bowls, lobster mac & cheese and dips without date markings, and prepackaged cookies without ingredient lists and nutritional facts. The cookies were removed during the inspection and future products should have proper labels.

Emma’s Healthy Choices, out, 2 violations including questions over the origin of some freeze-dried fruits. These were removed from shelves during the inspection.

H&L Grill, out, 22 violations - including unauthorized kids in the kitchen, soup cooling to room temperature on the counter, “severely dented, swollen, distressed canned items” intended for use, small cartons of chocolate milk past their expiration dates, cheese, deli meats, and hamburger left unrefrigerated and containers of an unapproved product called “Sure Jelly.” All these items, except for the soup, were removed or discarded during the inspection.

J&R’s Bakery, out, 10 violations including employees handling money and then donuts without washing their hands in between. Then again, the handwash sink had no soap - or paper towels. Also, scoops with visible food residue and floors in need of a wash.

King’s Garden, out, 7 violations including an employee adding strawberries to a smoothie with bare hands, a blender not being adequately cleaned and sanitized between uses, and an ice machine in need of a good cleaning.

Old Barn Candy & Bulk Food, out, 3 violations, including employees with beards handling food without beard covers. This was corrected onsite.

Pretzel & Log House, out, 11 violations, including employees without beard covers, open beverage containers in the food prep area, and pre-prepared foods being stored without date markings. Also, the soda nozzles, milkshake spindles, deli slicers, and ice chute all needed a scrubbing.

Ground Provisions, 1388 Old Wilmington Pike, out, 5 violations including food being stored in open metal cans in the walk-in cooler and “potentially hazardous” ready-to-eat food stored beyond the date-marking. The expired items were discarded during the visit.  

Apex Fitness Bar, LA Fitness, 975 Paoli Pike, out, 9 violations including no soap at any of the handwash sinks leading the inspector to conclude, “Staff is not washing hands when required.” Also, blenders and smoothie equipment are not being cleaned well enough to prevent food allergen cross-contamination.

Watermark at Bellingham - Personal Care Home-Food Facility, 1615 Boot Rd, out, 15 violations including dented cans intended for use and produce observed with mold-like growth. Also, coleslaw was found in the cooler beyond its expiration date, the ice bin had food residue on it, several non-food contact surfaces were visibly dirty - and perhaps, not surprisingly, flies and mouse droppings were noted in the main kitchen, cafe, finishing kitchen, and satellite kitchens.

Welcome to 2024.

You can find all the restaurant inspection reports here. Search by location for more details.

 Daily Local News Fall Sports First Team Selections

Rustin’s Maddie Miller and Sophia Hnetinka after the District Championships. Photo: Rustin.xc on Instagram

Over the break, the Daily Local reporters shared their thoughts on the fall sports season and selected those they felt stood above the rest. As the Rustin Football team put it, “This is one of the most respected lists to be a part of.” And they know a thing or two about lists.

(I like them, but I know some of you don’t. So, for you, I am pulling these out so you can easily scroll down to the next section).

Daily Local News 2023 Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year – Maddie Miller, Rustin.

Probably not a surprise when you beat the next local competitor by more than 10 seconds and take a medal at states, but still an honor. Kudos to Maddie who is collecting her second Athlete of the Year award from the DLN. She was also named the 2022 Girl’s Track Athlete of the Year.

“Maddie has truly earned every bit of her success, and she’s done it the right way: focus, dedication and quiet patience. She’s a tremendous kid and we couldn’t be more proud of what she’s done,” shared Rustin Girls Cross Country Coach Andrew White.

With a winter and spring season still ahead, I am sure this is not the last we have heard from Maddie.  

Daily Local News 2023 Boys Golfer of the Year - Sam Sweeney, Rustin

Sam was named the DLN Boy’s Golfer of the Year after taking first in the District 1 Class 3A Tournament and placing in the top 10 of the PIAA Individual Championship. However, despite those successes, the Rustin junior was left off the All-Ches-Mont Boys’ Golf Team. “I can’t believe it. It doesn’t make sense,” said Rustin head coach Joe Paris. It seems you are never too young to learn about politics.

Here are West Chester First Team selections -

Cross Country - Sophia Hnetinka, So., Rustin – Sophia placed 36th at the PIAA 3A state championships, fifth at the Ches-Mont Championships, and in the top 25 at Districts - and she’s only a sophomore.

Field Hockey - Lydia Bechtel, Sr., East — With 18 goals and 5 assists Lydia was a midfield spark for the Vikings this year.  She is headed to the University of Scranton in the fall.

Football - Chase Hatton, Jr. Rustin - Chase led the Ches-Mont American Division in rushing with 1,210 yards and 25 scores. He will be back next year.

Football - Brock Cummings, Sr., Rustin HS - At six-foot-seven, Brock has a presence on the field to say the least. The DLN described him as “the lynchpin” of Rustin’s run game.Football - Logan Goodwin, Sr., Henderson - A quarterback’s nightmare, Logan was a leader on the Warriors “improved defense.”Football - Jake Bauer, Jr., Malvern Prep - Already garnering D-1 offers, it sounds like we’ll be hearing more from this West Chester native in the future.Golf - Sophia DeSantis, Sr., Rustin – Without a girl’s team available, Sophia competed with the boys and more than held her own. She ended the year as the Ches-Mont girls’ runner-up and a top-20 finisher at districts.Soccer - Jack Pelkowski, Sr., Rustin – Jack was an offensive force for the Golden Knights, scoring 15 goals and 21 points. He finished second in the division MVP race.

Soccer - Danny McGonagle, Jr., Rustin– The junior midfielder was named Ches-Mont American Player of the Year dishing out 11 assists and scoring a matching 11 goals of his own.Soccer - Pat Sinnott, Jr., Henderson – The DLN called the first-team all-league midfielder a “dominant force” for the 17-2 Warrior team.Soccer - Nick Ricciardi, Sr., Henderson – Playing center back for the Warriors, Nick tallied eight goals and five assists and was named the Ches-Mont National MVP. He also made the All-Southeast Pennsylvania and All-State teams.Soccer - Scottie Ely, Sr., Rustin – Playing center back for the Knights, Ely headed a backline that recorded 13 shutouts and conceded just 19 goals in 24 games. His coach called him an “absolute leader” for the team.Tennis - Kaitlyn Evans, Sr., Henderson – Queen of the court, Kaitlyn defended her crown capturing her second consecutive Ches-Mont League National Division singles title before advancing to the second round of Districts. Tennis - Kaitlyn Evans-Kiera Koay, Henderson– Kaitlyn and Kiera finished second at the Ches-Mont National tournament and advanced to the District 1 quarterfinals.Volleyball - Alexa Mork, Sr. East - Alexa was first-team All-Ches-Mont National Division, an all-state selection, and team captain. She will play for Towson University in the fall.Volleyball - Olivia Sladicka, Jr., Henderson – Olivia recorded 454 kills for the Warriors just this year.

She was a first-team All-State and All-ChesMont National selection- and will be back next year.

Congratulations to all those who were selected!

The Warnings.

Tragedy hits Patton Alley. During the early morning hours of Dec. 26, a fire raged through a four-unit apartment building at 51 Patton Alley displacing residents and claiming the life of 65-year-old Alexandra Steele. The victim was evacuated from the building and transferred to the hospital where she later died from injuries sustained during the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Chester County Fire Marshall’s Office.

“Tragedies during this time of the year are especially difficult as it is supposed to be a time of joy and happiness,” said West Chester Fire Chief Steve Pelna who noted first responders entered apartments decorated for Christmas. “Trees still lit, decorations hung, and presents under the tree. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim of this tragedy along with those displaced by the fire,” he told The Daily Local.

You can read more about the incident here.

Murder/Suicide in West Goshen. West Goshen Police are investigating the death of two individuals found unresponsive in a residence on the 400 block of Hightop Road. Officers visited the residence on the afternoon of Jan. 2 after relatives requested a well-being check on 41-year-old Derek Calzadillas. When officers arrived they observed a man lying unresponsive on the floor. The unresponsive man was identified as Kai O’Connor, 22. He was transported to Chester County Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Derek Calzadillas was then found dead in a closet of the home. The incident is being treated as a murder/suicide. Police note, there is no danger to the community.  

Again, if you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or depression, you can call 9-8-8 anytime. Operators available in English and Spanish.

One person’s joy ride is another person’s burglary investigation. West Chester police are looking for information regarding a burglary that took place on the 900 block of Lenape Road between Dec. 29 at 9:30 a.m. and Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. Approximately $35,000 in tools and recreational vehicles were reported missing. If you have any information regarding this incident,  contact the West Chester Police Department at 610-696-2700.

Street park at your own risk.  One resident reported an attempted hit and run early Christmas Eve morning on S. Walnut St.. Fortunately for the victim, he was able to quickly catch up with the culprit who was driving the wrong way up the street. Police were called. Insurance exchanged but the car appears to be totaled. Sometimes even when you find a parking space,  it’s not a win. As the resident shared, “You know......all through the house , not a creature was stirring.........then bang.”

I hope everyone else’s holidays were much less eventful.

The Accolades.

Golden Rams’ 2024 Rose Bowl appearance. Images courtsey of West Chester University.

This week a standing ovation to West Chester University's Incomparable Golden Rams who took to the national stage on New Year’s Day and made history. The Golden Rams are now officially the only school in the Pennsylvania State System of High Education to ever participate in a Rose Bowl Parade. You can check out their performance as described by GMA here.

Also, congratulations to Dr. Steve Werner on his promotion to principal. After serving for the last few months as interim principal of Fugett Middle School, the West Chester Area School District made the move permanent in December. “Dr. Werner’s demonstrated passion, dedication, and positive impact during his tenure as Interim Principal have been truly commendable. We are confident that under his guidance, Fugett Middle School will continue to thrive,” West Chester Superintendent David Christopher said in a statement.

Dr. Werner started his career as a school psychologist before advancing to Assistant Director of Pupil Services, and then assistant principal.

Speaking of new responsibilities, a pat on the back to State Senator Carolyn Comitta on being named to the 11-member West Chester University Council of Trustees. Members of the Council are appointed by the Governor to a six-year term. Senator Comitta is a 1974 graduate of WCU.  

Ones to watch -

• Nyle Ralph-Beyer and the Henderson boy’s basketball team. Last month, Nyle reached 1,000 career points with an exclamation point. Since then, a balanced Warrior team has tacked on four more wins including a convincing victory earlier this week against Rustin - earning themselves a nickname, Dunk Town West Chester. Henderson is 11-1 on the year.

• The East girl’s basketball team. The Vikings enter the new year on a 4-0 conference run, and 6-2 overall. They are currently second in the National division of the Ches-Mont Conference after a slip-up against Bishop Shanahan yesterday.

• West Chester University’s Men’s Basketball Team. This week the Golden Rams handed No. 9 California (PA) its first loss of the season. This is WCU’s first victory over a top-10 team since 2015. During the game junior guard Robert Smith joined the 1000-point club.

• West Chester University Women’s Basketball’s Emily McAteer. Different day, different team. Same 1000-point barrier. Here’s her shot.

• Alex Chen. A senior at East - and student body president, Alex was selected as one of the two delegates to represent the state of Pennsylvania at the upcoming U.S. Senate Youth Program. Alex will head to Washington D.C. in March to experience “national government in action.” Hopefully, 17 is too young to become jaded.

Finally, congratulations to Jess and Justin Minchak at Two Birds Cafe. They are celebrating four years at their Downingtown Pike location.

“When I envisioned it, this is what I wanted it to be,” Jess told me earlier this year (after they were named one of the country’s top places to eat). “I wanted to be a neighbor. We have a community table and I just love when people just sit down there and start talking.”

A sentiment echoed by Justin on the restaurant’s Instagram account last month.

“We wanna send out a big thank you to our customers, new and old, we love being a part of your weekly routine,” he wrote.  

Hello.

A new steakhouse is planned for the First National Bank building on High St.

Mark your calendars for Feb. 25 through Mar. 3  and get ready to say hello, to a night out. Downtown West Chester has announced the return of West Chester Restaurant Week. While details are few at this point, expect a similar set-up of tiered prix-fixe menus.  

Could there be a new option to try? While we were away, 9 Prime, the much-hyped new Italian steakhouse from celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, announced it was nearing its opening date. It is now slated for early February.

“They used to cut checks, now we’re going to cut steaks,” Chef Viviani told Daily Local reporter Bill Rettew.

When complete the restaurant, which is taking shape in the former First National Bank building on N. High St., is expected to encompass 10,000 square feet, hold 300 tables, and employ between 60 and 100 people.

You can read more about this big new initiative here.

Also, this week we say hello, to a new West Chester Borough Council. New members Bryan Travis and Nicole Scimone were sworn in and a new leadership team was selected. For next year’s term, Patrick McCoy will serve as President and, getting right down to business, Nicole as Vice President. Patrick was elected after nominations for Brian McGinnis and Lisa Dorsey both failed to garner a majority of votes. Hopefully, he will be able to keep the various factions together.

Also, hello, to the class of 2037 (ugh). This week Director of Elementary and K-12 Discipline Sara Missett sent an email to parents of prospective students inviting them to the district’s annual Kindergarten 101 informational session - and for the first time since 2021, it will be held in person.

“We are excited to bring the event back in our schools and off of Zoom!!” Sara said via email.

The roughly hour-long meeting walks parents through what they can expect from the full-day kindergarten program and beyond. The meeting is planned for Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m.

Speaking of announcements I hoped were behind us, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting a 25 percent increase in COVID-19 cases heading into the Christmas holiday (the latest week data is available). Flu cases are also on the rise quadrupling statewide since the start of December.

If this news has you feeling achy, the Chester County Health Department still has Flu and COVID shots available by appointment - and at no cost. You can schedule here if you’re interested.  

Finally, let’s end this on a positive note. Hello and happy birthday to Matthew Batista-Rosario, the first baby born at Chester County Hospital in the New Year!  

Goodbye.

Time to say goodbye to the Christmas tree.

Goodbye, to Kevin Gore. West Chester’s Director of Building, Housing, and Code Enforcement reportedly tendered his resignation before the holiday. Kevin has served as the Borough’s top building enforcement officer since 2018 taking over from former director Mike Perrone who was promoted to Borough Manager. In addition to serving as director, Kevin was a member of the Chester County Water Resources Authority, International Code Council, and Association of State Floodplain Managers.  

As Director, Kevin was responsible for managing code enforcement and the building and housing permit program. He served as the Borough’s Zoning Officer, the Borough Floodplain Administrator, and the staff liaison to the Zoning Hearing Board, Planning Commission, Historic and Architectural Review Board, Historic Commission, and Public Arts Commission. He will be leaving at the end of February.

"I think this is probably the most important and influential job in Borough Hall for the preservation/design/development of the town,” said Planning Commission member Thomas Dougherty. “It's so important to find someone who loves the town; someone who will bring fresh ideas and energy to helping us develop in ways that contribute to our town character.”

The Borough faces urgent needs to expand affordable housing options and update its Zoning Code. Recent developments (cough) Burger King (cough) have highlighted the predilection of the current system for favoring massive developments over more measured density growth generally favored by residents. No easy task - but a potentially very rewarding one.

You can find the full job description here.

Goodbye, Christmas tree. Hopefully, yours didn’t topple over mid-week from exhaustion like ours did. Regardless of how it met its end, here is what to do with it.

West Chester Borough will be collecting trees for another week. Remove all lights and decorations and haul the tree over to your normal trash and recycling collection point. Just don’t bag it. “Trees placed out in plastic bags will not be collected,” said West Chester Information Officer Dave March.

West Goshen residents can drop off their trees at West Goshen Park tomorrow or wait for curbside pick-up which will take place on Jan. 13. More details can be found on Facebook.  

East Bradford will hold curbside collections on Jan. 13 and 20. Make sure trees are outside by 6 a.m. to guarantee pick up. If the tree is over 8 feet tall, you’ll need to cut it in two.  

Finally, speaking of things returning to nature, Westtown Township has denied a conditional use application to build 85 single-family homes on the Stokes Estate on Shiloh Road. For now, anyway, it will remain a 65-acre farm.

Pay It Forward.

Safe Harbor Executive Director Jessica Chappell and Assistant Program Manager Twana Newton.

Safe Harbor was serious about getting to know their neighbors. The N. Matlack Homeless Shelter is hosting an open house on Jan. 25 from 3 to 5 p.m. Come out, take a tour, and meet the new team. All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

Also, know a Chester County woman who has gone above and beyond when it comes to making a positive change for women and girls in the county? The Fund for Women and Girls wants to know her name. They are collecting nominees for their 2024 Kitchen Table Award.

They describe it as more than an accolade. “It is a tribute to extraordinary Chester County women whose indomitable spirit has left an indelible mark on the fabric of our community,” the press release reads.

Sound like someone you know?

Nominations are due by Jan. 26. You can find more information and nomination forms here.

The Weekend Marquee by Uptown

A Year with Frog and Toad | Jan. 6 - Jan. 14

Bring the kids! A hit on Broadway, this whimsical show follows two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad – through four fun-filled seasons. Get your tickets today!

The Freakin’ Weekend.

We made it to midnight.

What are you up to this weekend? We will be hitting the basketball courts and taking down the Christmas decorations. Also, there has been a 30-day declutter challenge making its way through the Facebook groups that has me inspired.

If you are around this weekend, Uptown’s A Year of Frog & Toad sounds delightful. West Chester Green Team is hosting a Gifts and Thrifts clothing swap on Saturday at the Unitarian Congregation, and if like me you are looking for just one more night off, Mae’s is bringing back its Sunday Suppers. This week they are serving chicken and dumplings with thyme.  

Finally, a special thank you to this week’s Community Sponsor Lulu’s Casita. Located in the heart of downtown West Chester, Lulu’s is an Indoor Playroom for children ages 0-6 years. Join them for daily open play, award-winning birthday parties, character events, and more. Visit their website to learn more. 

Lulu’s Casita

Happy 2024! Lulu's has a ton of family fun planned for the New Year! Join us for our Royal Fiesta with Elsa and Anna, and more events this month and next. Check out our series of Summer Drop-Off Camps starting this May, with themes including princess, superhero and our Science/S.T.E.A.M. edition. Follow Lulu's Casita on Facebook and Instagram for the latest events and all the fun details! 

View a list of all our amazing Community Sponsors here. Want to get your business out in front of this wonderful community? I don’t blame you. Ad space is open for 2024!! Send me an email if you are interested.

Thank you to everyone who has signed on for a year of West Chester news, events and, who knows what else we will discover. If you have not yet made your yearly contribution you can do that below. ($10 is suggested. That’s like a quarter an issue  - and how else are you going to know Grandma’s assited living facility may be trying to serve her moldy fruit?)  

Yes, I support Hello, West Chester

Mark your calendars:

• Jan. 6 - West Chester Growers' Winter Market, corner of Church & Chestnut Sts, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The market is open rain, snow or shine.

• Jan. 6 - A Year with Frog and Toad, Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m performances. A hit on Broadway, this whimsical show follows the cheerful, popular Frog and grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Tickets: $18/13 and over; $12/12 and under plus $2 service fee.

• Jan. 6 - Gifts and Thrifts, Unitarian Congregation, 501 S. High St., 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Donors, 1:30 - 4 p.m. public. Donate gently used clothing to the West Chester Green Team clothing swap event. Donors will get early access to this no-dollars-exchanged event. The event will include adult items only. Sorry, no kids clothing.

• Jan. 6 - New Year Vendor Market, Melton Center, 12 - 4 p.m. Didn't get everything you wanted on you Christmas list? Well, here's your chance to rectify that.

• Jan. 7 - A Year with Frog and Toad, Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 2 p.m. A hit on Broadway, this whimsical show follows the cheerful, popular Frog and grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Tickets: $18/13 and over; $12/12 and under plus $2 service fee.

• Jan. 8 - $5 Monday Night Movie: Rocky, Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m. Complimentary popcorn provided

• Jan. 11 - Knit 'n Crochet, West Chester Public Library, 4 - 6 p.m. Bring your lastest WIP or just start a new project while you chat with friends and meet new crafters.

• Jan. 13 - A Year with Frog and Toad, Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 1 p.m. A hit on Broadway, this whimsical show follows the cheerful, popular Frog and grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Tickets: $18/13 and over; $12/12 and under plus $2 service fee.

• Jan. 13 - Better Than Bacon, Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m. West Chester's favorite improv comedy troup is back! Tickets: $25 in advance; $30 at the door; plus $5 service fee.

• Jan. 14 - A Year with Frog and Toad, Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m performances. A hit on Broadway, this whimsical show follows the cheerful, popular Frog and grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Tickets: $18/13 and over; $12/12 and under plus $2 service fee.

• Jan. 15  - $5 Monday Night Movie: Selma, Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m. Complimentary popcorn provided.

Oh, one more thing, if you think one or more of your friends would like Hello, West Chester, too, please forward this newsletter and tell them to come and join us.

Hello, West Chester Community Sponsors

Copyright (C) " target="_blank">unsubscribe