West Chester Weekly News Roundup: Feb. 20, 2026

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It’s Friday, Feb. 20, 2026: This week, we are talking about goal setting. Not for me and you, although we did just pass 7,000 subscribers (wow), but for the Borough of West Chester. In a new practice implemented this year, West Chester Borough Council Members were asked to set some goals for the year, and while not all were well-defined, what they could deliver is promising. 

Plus, another series of restaurants is eyeing occupation in West Chester—some are newcomers, some you may have seen before. Also, West Chester moves forward with its ICE Ordinance, a new townhome development is coming to West Goshen, Gay Street closure updates finally begin, and we get the numbers on the January snowstorm. “We just blew the budget up. We just blew it out of the water,” said West Chester Borough Manager Sean Mettrick.

Ok, who’s ready? Let’s catch up.

West Chester Borough Sets Some Goals for the Year

A new racquet center at Hoopes Park, rain gardens at Greenfield Park, an ordinance allowing Accessory Dwelling Units, another updating the trash code, the removal of unused handicap parking spaces, and the addition of new parking kiosks. It’s nice to see changes happening in real time. Measurable improvements checked off a giant quality-of-life checklist, and if not completed, at least placed in the public scope for monitoring and pestering—I mean, follow-up. 

That is precisely what happened this week. In a more proactive manner than in years past Borough Council members stated exactly what they hoped to see accomplished by year's end. Of course, some of this has always been done in the budgeting process, and that was the case again. While not stated in the list below, John O’Green Park will get a new splash pad, and the first round of Gay Street closure improvements should be completed by the end of the summer. This time, however, rather than items coming at the behest of Borough department leaders, these goals are specific to Borough Council’s six subcommittees. 

The list ranges from the ambitious—a new Public Works building—to the brilliantly simple—a searchable list of development projects and their status with the Borough. I don’t know about you, but I love a good checklist. Especially one where I have no assigned tasks.

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**This is a sponsored post.**

The Warnings.

West Chester’s ICE Ordinance gets a hearing. On Tuesday, an ordinance that would require a public meeting and Borough Council approval before the West Chester Police Department could sign a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) moved ever closer to policy. The debate lined up along similar grounds—essentially, whether or not this is a duplication of efforts already in place. Minor distinctions, really, especially when considering the major fault line that has split much of the country on this issue. Here, the debate was not about whether or not the West Chester Police Department should work with ICE officials to help enforce immigration law. The overwhelming agreement is no, but the discussion is about how they should go about stating that fact. 

Some believe it’s best to do this quietly, in practice and policy only, fearing that this ongoing debate only draws more attention to the area when people are already feeling vulnerable. Others believe the ordinance reinforces this position and helps build trust, so concerned citizens know that if they need them, the West Chester Police Department is there. In all cases but one, the arguments were delivered by those unlikely to be impacted by the change—the white men and women of the Borough and neighboring townships—on behalf of neighbors and acquaintances fearful of recent changes in immigration policy enforcement. 

The one exception was a resident across the line in West Goshen. She stated her name and admitted her status as a longstanding immigrant in this community. “When I heard about the ordinance, I was very concerned,” she said. “I am an immigrant. My kids went to school in the Borough. We should not be signing a 287(g) [agreement]. It is important to make a statement that is more permanent. You make sure we do not ever sign a 287(g) agreement,” she said. 

While Council initially appeared split on the issue, community feedback—though it wasn’t immense, four to five speakers each night—fell in favor of the ordinance. It seemed to have sway. In the end, Council voted 7–0 to hold a hearing on the ordinance change. For those wishing that it would be done already and out of the news, they lost on both accounts. A public hearing has been scheduled for Mar. 18 at 6:30 p.m. 

Proceed with caution. PennDOT announced last week that road construction will continue at the intersection of U.S. 202 and Route 926 through at least the end of the month. Crews are installing a new southbound right-turn deceleration lane on 202 and an eastbound left-turn lane on 926. The upgrades are part of a $2.9 million project to improve traffic flow and reduce crashes in the area. Work is scheduled Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a lane closure and flagging. PennDOT is advising drivers to allow extra time when traveling through the area.

Underage drinking arrests are on the rise. According to PA Courts InfoShare, Chester County is responsible for the second-highest number of underage drinking offenses in the state. Over the last five years, Chester County accounted for 8.4 percent of the state’s violations. This is second only to Centre County, home of Penn State, with 10.8 percent of the reported incidents. However, while Centre County saw a drop in violations last year, Chester County’s incident rate has continued to climb from a pandemic low of 295 arrests in 2020 to 654 in 2024, the last year for which data was available.

And the hits just keep on coming. This week, the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that QVC is facing a $30-million wrongful termination lawsuit filed by fashion designer Antthony Mark Hankins. According to court documents, Mr. Hankins, a HSN regular, called his July release “abrupt and unjustified” and accused the shopping network of exhibiting a “pattern of discriminatory treatment, retaliatory conduct, and operational mismanagement.”  You can read more on the charges here.  

The Sunshine Report.

Your inside look at local government at work. 

If you’ve driven past Ellis Lane and East Strasburg Road recently, you’ve probably noticed construction activity and wondered what’s underway. The properties at 20 Ellis Ln. and 1240 E. Strasburg Rd. were approved last fall for redevelopment.

Historically, the 3.2-acre site included:

• Two single-family detached homes

• A traditional bank barn

• Associated parking

Many residents will remember the barn as home to Old Mill Antiques & Interiors, a longtime local business that announced it would be closing effective January 1 of last year. The site is now looking at a second life as the townhome development Ellis Preserve. 

Plans submitted by TRB Ellis LLC and approved by West Goshen Township call for the following: 

• Renovation of the two existing single-family home

• Demolition of the historic barn

• Construction of new townhome units

• A new access drive from Ellis Ln.

• Associated parking

• Landscaping and stormwater management facilities

• A new sidewalk along Ellis Ln. 

In total, 14 townhouses are planned on approximately 3.2 acres.

That's all for this week. From the Sunshine State. —Margie

Hello.

Goodbye.

January’s snowstorm not only buried the Borough, it wiped out its snow removal budget. “We just blew the budget up. We just blew it out of the water,” West Chester Borough Manager Sean Mettrick told Borough Council members on Tuesday. He was there to ask Borough Council to approve a transfer from the General Fund Cash Reserves to cover the overages. 

The Accolades.

West Chester University Men’s swim team is off to a dominating start to the 2025-26 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Swimming Championships. On the first day of competition, which took place on Wednesday, WCU swimmers won all three individual events as well as the day’s only relay race, amassing a 100-point lead over second-place Bloomsburg. By day two, that lead had grown to 256 points even as Gannon surpassed Bloomsburg to move into second.

The blistering start won’t be a surprise to fans of the program. West Chester University's men’s swimming program has taken the conference title 26 out of the last 27 years. Their only loss came in 2020-21 when the school decided to skip the meet as COVID-19 raged.  

The secret to West Chester’s decades of success, according to their coach, is in the training. This year, head coach Steve Mazurek switched up his training approach, opting to forego the traditional mid-season break, and it seems to be paying off. 

"We just completed the best second-half of training we have had,” he told the West Chester University Athletics website,. 

WCU Women’s Swimming is leading after two days of competition as well. The PSAC Championships wrap up today. 

Other things we are celebrating this week: 

Spelling bees. You would think that with the amount of reading and writing I do, I would be a better speller. I am not. Just ask my copy editor. (She says, hello!) So I have a real appreciation for those who make it look easy. This week, high fives to Stetson’s Santosh Kandasamy and Saint Simon and Jude’s Cadel McBee. Not only were both named the top spellers at their respective schools, but they are among the top spellers in the County. Santosh placed second at this year’s Chester County Spelling Bee, and Cadel tied for third. Downingtown’s Yohaan Damani took the win. You can read more about the Bee here.

Double gold. Shout out this week to Rustin swimmer Claire Roussakis, who was one of just two swimmers to bring home two first-place medals from the annual Scott Elliott Invitational, which invites all Ches-Mont League teams and Devon Prep to compete. Claire won the 100 fly and the 100 back. She also helped Rustin take first in the 200 medley and 200 free relays. You can read more about the meet here. 

Miss WCU crowned. Earlier this month, West Chester University held its 27th annual Miss West Chester University competition. Ten contestants participated. After four rounds of competition—interview, casual wear, talent, and formal wear—Communication Sciences and Disorders major and WCU marching band member Lily Kilgore was named the school’s new ambassador. Look for her at a parade near you. Fun fact: Miss WCU started in 1998 as a Killinger Hall residents’ activity and grew from there. To date, Miss WCU has awarded more than $70,000 in scholarships to hundreds of WCU students. 

Safety first. Shoutout to Westtown and East Goshen Townships on being named the third safest area in the state for 2026 by SafeWise, a safety product review website. The rankings were determined by using FBI crime data statistics. In 2024, the last year statistics are available, Westtown-East Goshen had a violent crime rate of .2 incidents per 1,000 people and a property crime rate of 3.5 incidents per 1,000 people. They also reported no rapes and no robberies during this time. They were the only Chester County community to make the list. Rest easy, Westtown-East Goshen, but still, lock your doors.

Snowmelt Day. According to a recent WHYY report, West Chester resident Bob Mina has started a game to help pass the cold, snow-trapped days. It’s called the Snow Melt game and the objective is to guess the day the last bits of snow will melt in Bob’s backyard. The inaugural competition was held over a decade ago, but it’s back with vengeance this year with more than 100 players from around the world. It’s probably optimistic, but put me down for Feb. 25.

Most clicked. Last week’s most-clicked story was the West Chester Restaurant Week Menus, and it looks like I mislinked that to the LaScala’s Fire menu. So, for everyone who has not already made reservations at Lascala’s Fire, here is the correct link.

Pay it Forward.

Give yourselves a pat on the back. I received this note from the Friends Association this week, and I am certain it was meant for all of us. 

“I just wanted to reach out and thank you for the articles and updates you have included about Friends over the last couple of months. I believe it is thanks to your features that we had our Amazon Wish list purchased almost completely in full (at my estimation, that's about $8,000 in supplies provided for our new shelter), and I have seen an increase in social media follows and volunteer requests. 

“Your work has helped to get the word out about Friends and who we are and what we are doing, and that is so significant for the organization and the community we serve,” Friends Director of Marketing and Events Karina Olemda wrote. 

We noticed this on social media, too. So many people are eager to step up. It was inspiring to see. Let’s keep it going. 

Looking for more ideas? I have a few below.

Other ways to give back:

Take in a Black History Month presentation. On Sunday, Westminster Presbyterian Church is hosting a concert based on Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem, “Boy Breaking Glass.” Through music that spans genres and idioms, explore what it might mean to build a future from the fragments. To lift every voice—not in support of the status quo, but in pursuit of justice, belonging, and joy. Tickets are $20/adult or $10/student.

Then on Tuesday, the Chester County History Center is hosting a virtual lecture titled, “A Real and Rare Genius: the Life and Art of Horace Pippin.” Historian Jennifer Green takes an in-depth look at the life and works of the West Chester artist. This is a pay-what-you-wish event. On Friday, the West Chester Film Festival is showing a block of Black History Month films at Uptown. The 11-film show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are required. And finally, next Saturday morning, historian Dave Walter will present an overview of the life and achievements of West Chester’s own Bayard Rustin. The talk, titled “Angelic Troublemaker,” is part of the Westtown Historical Commission’s ongoing public history series. It will take place at 10 a.m. at the Westtown Township building at 1039 Wilmington Pike. The talk is free and open to the public. Questions can be directed to: [email protected].

Take SEPTA. Not only is it better for the environment and road congestion, but it’s free for seniors with a SEPTA Senior Card. If you are 65 or over and don’t have your card yet, you can get one through State Senator Carolyn Comitta’s office. Contact them to schedule your appointment. 

Lend your porch or your musical talents to a good cause. West Chester Porchfest is returning for its 5th year on May 16, and once again it will be pairing local and regional talent with Borough porches. If you live in the southwest quadrant of the Borough and are willing to host a band on your porch, you can sign up here. The call for bands will open on Mar. 1. And last call for Turk’s Head Music Festival performers. Submissions due today.

Help stock a free little pantry. Follow-up question: It was suggested I include a list of these little pantries in a future newsletter. I know there is one at Master’s Baker, East Bradford Elementary School, and outside the Baptist Church on High St. - does anyone know of any others? Let me know. [email protected] 

The Freakin’ Weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? St. Agnes JV Basketball team (of which my fifth grader is a member) has advanced to the quarter-final round of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia basketball tournament. They play on Saturday for a chance to advance to the semis. We will be there cheering them on. Then we are leaning into the (hopefully) end of the snow and going skiing.  

If you are around this weekend, West Chester Parks and Recs is hosting a Father-Daughter Princess Party on Saturday morning. Costumes are encouraged. Then there is a Little Tykes Hot Cocoa Hike at Oakbourne Park on Sunday. Looking for something a little more adult? Stove & Tap is celebrating 5 years in the Borough on Saturday with food and drink specials and Bobby Lamone on drums. Stop by from 6 - 9 p.m.  And don’t forget, West Chester Restaurant Week starts on Sunday.

Finally, this week a very special thank you to our very first Community Sponsor, The Lorgus Company, which has owned and managed rental properties since 1971. Its flagship property is 103 S. High Street, once the home of impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. The company continues that legacy today by working to honor and support local artists and professionals.

View a list of all our amazing Community Sponsors here.

Business leaders: Want exclusive access to this amazing community? Of course, you do. There are only three spots an issue so each one gets a lot of attention, and from what I hear, responses. Placements are filled first come- first served. Send me an email if you are interested.

Mark Your Calendars:

That’s it. Stay safe, stay happy, and thanks to everyone who helped make this week’s issue possible. I’ll see you next week!

This newsletter has been edited by Victoria Rose, Flickering Words: Copy editing. Substantive editing. Proofreading. Content writing. Technical editing. Contact her at [email protected] or @VictoriaRoseEdits to learn more.

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