West Chester Weekly News Roundup: July 18, 2025

Event announcements, extreme sportsmanship, and housing for all! 🏆🏆

Author

Cara Corridoni
July 18, 2025

The easiest way to be in the know.

It’s Friday, July 18, 2025: I have a fun one for you this week! And, actually, a little sad, and maybe, a little anger-inducing. Ok, we’re going to experience all the emotions, but I promise it will be worth it. We’ll start by looking at housing and how we can make sure all the kids in this district have a roof over their heads. That shouldn’t be hard, right? Plus, a West Chester Little League team that will make you proud, a sad goodbye, and, sorry, line dancers, the Brickette Lounge is introducing a cover charge.

Ok, who’s ready? Let’s catch up.  

P.S. I just got cool new thank you cards. If you don’t have your first referral yet, you’ll want to do that now.

In Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Housing for All  

The Point-In-Time Count provides an annual accounting of those experiencing homelessness in Chester County, but only if they can find you.

Last month, the Chester County Department of Community Development released the results of its annual Point-In-Time Count, a yearly accounting of the area’s homeless population. The count, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), takes place every January on the evening of the 29th. According to the 2025 count, there are 313 people experiencing homelessness in Chester County. That count is below the county’s five and 10-year averages of 376 and 470, respectively. At the same time, it’s 100 more homeless people than were counted in 2024, and almost certainly fewer than the reality. 

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Discuss Amongst Yourselves

To mow or not to mow, that is the question. So, how neighborly is too neighborly? Two weeks ago, I shared a quick story about a bystander so concerned about my neighbor’s active house alarm, she flagged me down and together we confirmed an active robbery was not taking place (via quick text. Don’t think we got all Nancy Drew about the situation.) Anyway, I found the concern comforting. It’s nice to know someone’s looking out when you can’t be. So, I asked for stories of kindness, and I received this one, which I think makes a valid point about the difference between being helpful and overstepping.

“Earlier this Summer, my husband was mowing our lawn on his new electric riding mower when he noticed that our neighbor’s lawn across the street was desperately in need of mowing. Our neighbor, we’ll call him Jack, is in his 90s and keeps to himself, never asks for help, and is surprisingly self-sufficient for his age.

My husband asked me if I thought he should ride the mower across to the street and mow Jack’s lawn. I said he should not without Jack’s permission, and since we couldn’t get a hold of Jack, I thought it best not to overstep.

Well, shocker, my husband ignored my advice and went rogue and mowed Jack’s front and back lawn. Which I scolded him for because he hadn’t gotten permission. But then something great happened, multiple neighbors came to thank my husband for helping Jack and commended him on the act of service….and Jack himself emerged from his house and not only wasn’t upset at the trespassing but told my husband that when he looked out his window and saw my husband mowing his lawn, he thought he’d been sent an angel. Well, if that doesn’t give you the warm fuzzies, nothing will.”

The reader maintains her position, and she’s probably right, that it is still best to get permission before entering a neighbor’s property… but if they give the thumbs up, be a nice neighbor and help them with a chore they might be struggling with.

Ok, who else has a story for me? ([email protected]) 

The Warnings.

Poor planning on the Public Works stormwater management project including $38,750 to redo the rear parking lot. Image: Margie Swart

Over budget, out of time. West Chester Borough Public Works Director and engineering firm Pennoni came under fire this week after a previously approved project came in 30 percent over budget. The project in question was a series of new rain gardens and other stormwater management improvements completed at the Public Works building on Lacey St.  Borough Council’s questions came not just about the overages and the many change orders that caused them, but the timing of their notification. “You knew this back in March,” said Council Member Brian McGinnis. It was a sentiment echoed by West Chester Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste. “I just find giving it to us at the last minute unacceptable,” she said.

Additional curb stops needed to keep employees from crashing into the newly plant rain garden cost another $4,200.

As late as last week, the project was discussed in terms of success, with no indication given to the planning failures that led to a $73,000 overage. Luckily for Borough budgets, the bulk of those costs should be covered by two grants it received to fund the project. Still, changes will be forthcoming. While council eventually approved the change order by a vote of 5 to 2, directions were sent to the Public Works Committee and the Finance Committee to review the Borough’s project design and change order processes. 

Update: Fire at Jake’s. Last week, a fire broke out in the Matlack St. apartment above Jake’s Bar. The early morning flames forced three residents to the roof, one of whom fell while trying to escape through a window. She fell 20 feet and was found unconscious facedown on the ground by police officers just before 6 a.m. on Tuesday. All three victims were taken to Paoli Hospital. As of last Thursday night, one remained hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. 

On Friday, West Chester Police arrested Michael Thompson of Marcus Hook, PA on charges of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated arson, and burglary.

“Through the investigation, it was determined that the fire was intentionally set,” they shared via Facebook.   

According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Thompson is alleged to have spread a flammable liquid in the hallway outside his ex-girlfriend’s second-floor apartment. Mr. Thompson is currently in Chester County Prison after he failed to post bail. You can read all the details of the complaint here. 

Fire calls hold steady. Despite what seems like an influx of fire and rescue calls as of late, Assistant West Chester Fire Chief Justin McClure reported halfway through the year, the department is within nine calls of where it was this time last year. It’s a welcome change after seven straight years of increased call volume. Part of the decrease in volume has been linked to a West Goshen Apartment Complex finally fixing a malfunctioning alarm system. The chief did not name names, but I am guessing if you live there, you know who you are. 

Objects may be closer than they appear. West Chester Police responded to an accident Saturday morning involving a Dodge Ram truck and a building. Fortunately, no people were hurt, the building? That’s another story. 

Go around. PennDOT will continue its milling and paving of Route 3 (West Chester Pike) between Westtown Road and Spring Lane next week. Crews will be working Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Expect flagging and lane closures during this time. 

Start stomping. The Spotted Lanternfly is back.

The Accolades.

West Side Little League U13 Intermediate League has plenty of reasons to smile.

Last weekend, the West Side Little League (WSLL) 13U team did something that has not been done before - we think - they left Hollidaysburg, PA, Little League Intermediate State Champions. 

“We think this is the first State Championship in WSLL history unless your readers say otherwise?” said WSLL parent Nicole Radio in an email. 

After losing their first game of the tournament, the boys were relegated to the losers’ bracket, where they battled back with five straight wins in three days. When they emerged, they were left to face Tri Town, the winners’ bracket winner, twice. With the help of some blistering pitching and well-timed hits, WSLL shut down their opponents 4-1 and 9-0 in back-to-back games.

After a summer of play and heat, it’s not easy to get that close to a championship just to watch it slip away. Even wrapped in the thrill of their comeback victory, it was something the West Side team seemed to understand. The day after the finals, WSLL received a message from a Tri Town parent. 

“I just want to say how amazing the boys were after our loss to them yesterday at the 50/70 state tournament. My son pitched the start of the final game. While it wasn’t his day he was broken. The West Side boys picked him up while he was crying after the loss, hugged him, and made sure that he knew he did great. Your coaches and parents should be so proud. That is what baseball and sportsmanship is all about.” 

The boys are now in Dover, DE, where they are representing Pennsylvania in the East Regional Tournament. So far, they are off to a strong start, beating their first-round opponent, Concord, NH, 13-3. They play again this morning. If they win the East, they head to the Little League Intermediate World Series in Livermore, California. World Series play starts July 27th, and games will be aired on ESPN+. 

Your PA Little League State Champions

However, win or lose, this is already a team (and a program) to be proud of. 

“Not only did the boys come from behind to win the week, they received so many compliments on their sportsmanship—it was a special week,” said Nicole 

That, of course, is not to say we aren’t all rooting for just one more win. GO WEST SIDE!!!   

Since we are (still) talking spring sports, I just wanted to take a quick sec, to shout out West Chester East shortstop Caelyn Rodriguez. Caelyn was the leader in more ways than one (captain, defensive pillar, offensive constant) of an East team that made it to the State Semifinals this year. Caelyn was the only West Chester athlete to be named to the Daily Local News All-Area Softball Team. While her teammates might not be feeling the love, Coach Bobby Swier should be; the longtime Viking Coach was named DLN Softball All-Area Coach of the Year.  

“This season, while not a dominating team by any stretch, [East] did all the little things right, especially when those things mattered the most. The Vikings parlayed good fundamentals, timely hitting, and great defense to… a deep run in the PIAA playoffs before falling in the semifinals,” the sportswriters said of the team’s performance. 

Area coaches were more generous in their praise, including not only Caelyn but also East’s Ava Cross, Rustin’s Ashley Falcone, and Rustin’s Jenna Kraft among their All-Ches-Mont First Team selections. 

Other things we are celebrating this week: 

Best of the Main Line, West Chester edition, part 2. Last week, I included a list of 32 West Chester establishments that were honored as part of Main Line Today’s annual “Best of” list. Well, as it turns out, that was only a partial list. It only included downtown West Chester winners, so this week I have 27 more. Together, it’s a pretty comprehensive list. You really shouldn’t have to leave West Chester to find the best of just about anything including: 

See the downtown West Chester winners here.

High school football previews. Is it ever too early to discuss football? Some would say, no. And this week those people ranked the area’s top football recruits from the Class of 2026. Since most of these athletes have already committed to their future schools, this list seems less about recruitment and more about which high school seniors could be impact makers in the coming year. Shout out to West Chester East Senior Tyler Duell. A three-year starter for the Vikings, Tyler was the only West Chester football player to make the Philadelphia Inquirer list. He will continue his football career in a year at Rutgers, but first, he and new East head coach Dean Owens will look to make an impression here. 

Having something someone wants. And this time it turns out to be a prescription treatment for the common wart. According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, West Chester-based Verrica Pharmaceuticals amended its licensing agreement with Japan’s Torii Pharmaceuticals to the tune of an additional $18 million. The first payment of $8 million is set to come this month, with a second $10 million delivered with Japan’s approval of the drug, which is expected by the end of the year. In total, Torii is committed to covering the first $40 million of the trial budget. If only local news paid so well. 

Hello.

Is it too early to talk Christmas? West Chester Christmas Parade scheduled for Dec. 5

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THE DANCE CENTER: Celebrating 50 Years in Chester County!

Nurturing, Professional Faculty  ~  4 Spacious State-of-the-Art Studios  ~ 
Performing Opportunities with Brandywine Ballet

CHILDREN’S CLASSES ARE OUR SPECIALTY! 

Starting in our PRE-DANCE Program, your child will experience an  appreciation to classical music with age-appropriate beginner lessons that will set the foundation for success. Our 3 to 6 year old program is  carefully designed so the students learn in a fun, but lightly structured  atmosphere where dance studio etiquette is taught from the start. 

Our Levels 1 through 6 follow the same techniques that build from year to year and culminate to our Pre-Professional Division. We are not a  competition school that teaches routine after routine, ignoring the  technique behind the steps. Our studio offers all our students many dance performance opportunities with Brandywine Ballet Company and  Brandywine Contemporary Company as well as a Student Recital at the end of the year. 

Register Now at www.thedancecenter.org 

Donna L. Muzio, Director & Founder ~ [email protected]

Goodbye.

Be the one in the know, not the negative. Leave the Facebook commentary behind and still be the first to know what’s happening. I keep hearing stories of neighbors meeting up and discussing stories they read in the newsletter or giving back after seeing a need listed in Pay It Forward or attending an event found in the Freakin’ Weekend. And I love it! 

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Pay it Forward.

West End Community Garden on W. Gay St.

I don’t know about your garden, but mine seems to be enjoying this mix of blasting sun and torrential downpours, and while I’m not there yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if I was inundated with produce in the coming weeks.. If your garden has already started to produce to excess, know there are lots of folks out there who wouldn’t turn down a sun-ripened tomato or crisp garden cucumber. 

“We get an abundance of fresh produce during the summer,” said West Chester Food Cupboard Vice President Joe Fratinardo. “Many people donate from their gardens, and many organizations plant gardens just for us,” he said.

If you would like to count yourself among them,  you can donate the produce Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the donation door stays open until  6:00 p.m. 

Can’t make it out there yourself? The West Chester Green Team has added itself to a growing list of local pick-up locations. Drop food at 409 W. Union on Tuesdays before 2:30 p.m. Use a reusable insulated bag if you can - it will be returned, or aim to get there near 2:30 p.m. so the produce doesn’t wilt. 

St. Agnes is also accepting fresh produce for their Day Room patrons. Dropoffs are temporarily being accepted at the Saint Agnes School Cafeteria (until August 15). Bring your garden goodies by Monday through Thursday anytime between 10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Donors can enter through the open back door in the parking lot. 

Other ways to give back this week: 

Grab your 2026 calendar now. West Chester Firefighters & Their Pets Calendar is available for pre-order through July 25. Order now, and that calendar will cost just $20, wait, and it’s $25 after. Calendars can be ordered online and picked up at First West Chester Fire Department. You can also get your copy at the next FWCFD Open House on July 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you’re still on the fence, don’t forget the West Chester Department is 100 percent volunteer-run. Last year, firefighters responded to a record 1774 incidents across the Borough, West Goshen, East Bradford, Westtown, Birmingham, and Thornbury Townships. These calendars are not only adorable, but they also go to fund critical firefighting efforts. 

West Chester grant program open through July 31. Know of a local nonprofit organization in need of a little extra cash to tackle a special project? The West Chester Downtown Foundation might be able to help. Each year, the WCDF gives out roughly a dozen grants valued up to $2500 to local organizations working to make a positive impact in and around the Borough. “Through these grants, we aim to empower local organizations to bring ideas to life that enhance the quality of life for all who live, work, and visit downtown West Chester,” shared grants committee chair Tracy Sammarone. 

Find yourself a forever friend. Earlier this month, the Brandywine Valley SPCA accepted 33 cats and dogs rescued from the July 4th Texas floods. While some have been adopted, others remain, including some puppies (if my 7-year-old sources are to be trusted.) Visitors can adopt the recent rescues at either the West Chester or New Castle, DE, location. Piper has been volunteering at the nonprofit all week. So if you need intel on the available pets, let me know. She has opinions. 

The Freakin’ Weekend.

What are you up to this weekend?

What are you up to this weekend? We are going to check out one of Pennsylvania’s “tiny treasures.” The one we are going to happens to be on a lake. I am looking forward to fresh water swimming, paddleboarding, and their much-buzzed-about ice cream shop.  

If you are around this weekend, Uptown is holding its second Pop-up Beer Garden of the summer. This time it’ll be U2-inspired. The garden is free to attend. The beer and snacks, of course, will cost you. Also, Bookmarks is wrapping up their Where’s Waldo competition. It was supposed to end last weekend, but they extended the card submission deadline to today. The prize drawing will be held on Sunday. Looking for something more chill? Turks Head Wines has wine-drinking appropriate, like this violin-led cover of Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club, starting at 6 p.m. tonight 

Finally, a special thank you to this week's Community Sponsor, Andrea Napoli Real Estate. A board member of the West Chester Senior Center and active in numerous local organizations, Andrea understands the role communities play in making a home feel special. Learn more about Andrea Napoli Real Estate here.  

Andrea Napoli Real Estate 

Representing West Chester buyers and sellers, Andrea has built a loyal client base by paying attention to the details and putting their needs first. She brings exceptional knowledge of the industry, the market and the West Chester community and is committed to putting quality service back in the process. Watch and learn how you can experience the difference.

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:

  • July 19 – West Chester Growers Market, corner of Church and Chestnut Streets, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

  • July 19 – Yoga in the Park, Marshall Square Park, 10:15 a.m. Bring a mat, water, and sunscreen. Registration encouraged, but walk-ins welcome. Class: $15. FYI if you’re registering it’s listed under “Be Rooted.”

  • July 19 – Summer Pop-up Beer Garden: The Joshua Tree: A U2 Tribute, Uptown Theater, 5 p.m. Rock the night away with a beer in hand and U2 in your ears!  Beer Garden events precede the main show and are free to attend. 

  • July 20 – West Chester Railroad – Picnic Special, 230 E. Market St. 12 p.m. 90 minute train ride with a mid-trip stop at the Glen Mills station. Picnic optional. Pack a lunch. Tickets: $25/adults; $20/kids

  • July 21 – $5 Monday Night Movie: The Sandlot, Uptown Theater, 7 p.m. Include complimentary popcorn

  • July 22 – Dementia Alzheimer’s Caregivers’ Support Group, Westminster Presbyterian Church,  6 p.m.  Don’t go it alone! This support group gives caregivers and others impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia a place to connect and share with one another. Contact: [email protected] for more information.

  • July 23 – West Chester Taps, downtown, 5 – 7 p.m. Participating locations offer a select list of $5 beers, $6 wines, and $7 cocktails, in addition to appetizer specials. 

  • July 23 – Underground Railroad Walking Tour, Chester County History Center, 6 p.m. Explore the historic sites that served as a backdrop for the stories of the people who helped enslaved people as they passed through West Chester toward freedom. Approx. 90 min. Walking tour; approx. 1.25 miles. Tickets: $16

  • July 26 – West Chester Growers Market, corner of Church and Chestnut Streets, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

  • July 26 – Yoga in the Park, Marshall Square Park, 10:15 a.m. Bring a mat, water, and sunscreen. Registration encouraged, but walk-ins welcome. Class: $15. FYI if you’re registering it’s listed under “Be Rooted.”

  • July 26 – Lafayette Day, Downtown West Chester, 2 p.m. Lafayette memorial parade. It starts at the corner of High and Miner Streets and ends at Marshall Square Park

  • July 26 – Phillies vs. Yankees Bus Trip, West Goshen Township Municipal Complex, 9 a.m. Travel to the Bronx to catch the National League Eastern Division champion Philadelphia Phillies take on the American League Eastern Division champion New York Yankees. $119 per person includes round-trip motorcoach transportation, a ticket to the game, and driver tip.

  • July 27 – West Chester Railroad – Picnic Special, 230 E. Market St. 12 p.m. 90 minute train ride with a mid-trip stop at the Glen Mills station. Picnic optional. Pack a lunch. Tickets: $25/adults; $20/kids

Reader tip: If you have trouble with these emails going to spam or promotions, reply to this email. Nothing particular, even a random letter will do, but that should keep them coming to the inbox.

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!

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