West Chester Weekly News Roundup: Mar. 6, 2026

Editorial services provided by Flickering Words.

The easiest way to be in the know.

New to the newsletter? Sign up here.

It’s Friday, Mar. 6, 2026: This was not a good week for West Chester. An illicit discharge of chemicals into Goose Creek left fish and wildlife dead, and residents with questions. On Monday, the PA Department of Environmental Protection confirmed West Goshen firm ATMOS was responsible for the incident. We have new information on the spill, but also lots of questions about a company that has had repeated violations of the EPA. (I’m pretty sure the PA DEP comms team hates us right now.) Plus, a West Chester restaurant was closed due to rodents, a measles case was confirmed in the county, West Chester University’s new brand initiative gets skewered, and we have the history of the now-demolished Bird in Hand barn. On the upside, it’s Friday and it’s my birthday.

Grab something strong (I know I’m going to), and let’s catch up.

Concerns Around Goose Creek Continue

On Saturday morning, West Chester resident Alison Maguire was walking along Goose Creek when she noticed a disturbing sight: dead fish floating in the stream surrounded by bubbles and a milky white substance. Since the discovery nearly a week ago, a variety of officials from West Chester and West Goshen Townships, AQUA, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have been out to the creek to investigate. 

Earlier this week, PA DEP put out a statement identifying ATMOS, an environmental solutions company located at 216 Garfield Ave, as the source of the leak. The company told PA DEP that a process tank failure caused a mixture of chlorine and a proprietary material called Long Duration Foam AC-645 to leak into the stream. The regulatory agency’s statement also said that the water was clear on Monday. However, that is not how it looked to us.

We followed up with several questions on the continuing situation, including whether the drinking water has been affected. Below are our questions and their responses. (Responses provided Wed. evening at 8:30 p.m.)

With reporting by Margie Swart. 

HWC: We were at the site on Monday morning and the water did not appear clear. Can you explain what is causing the discoloration?

PADEP: DEP also observed this area on Monday, 3/2. The coloration was the result of material depositing down onto the streambed. ATMOS removed the deposited material through their cleanup contractor in this area. The work was performed on Monday evening. DEP visited this area on Tuesday, 3/3. The coloration was no longer present. 

HWC: Has the drinking water been contaminated? 

PADEP: No. The closest drinking water intake is approximately 8.5 river miles downstream on Chester Creek for the Aqua PA Ridley Creek Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which serves the Aqua PA Main System. Upon notification of the incident on Saturday, Aqua closed its intake on the Chester Creek, and it remains closed at this time. The Aqua PA Ridley Creek WTP can utilize the Ridley Creek or Chester Creek as a source, so there have been no issues to date with production at the plant or drinking water concerns. Aqua continues to monitor the situation.

HWC: Is Long Duration Foam AC-645 and the chlorine leaked into the waterways toxic to wildlife? 

PADEP: Individual ingredients that make up the finished material product show toxicity to aquatic life in the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on hazardous materials. The release is known to have caused a fish kill, as well as worms and other aquatic life, such as eels, in Goose Creek.

HWC: What caused the leak and how long was ATMOS aware of the leak before it was reported?

PADEP: ATMOS is still looking into the cause of the process tank failure. ATMOS was made aware of the leak when DEP contacted them after determining where the discharge originated. 

HWC: Has PA DEP been called out to the ATMOS property on any previous occasions? 

PADEP: Rusmar Inc., a division of Atmos Technologies, holds a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for the discharge of stormwater associated with the industrial activity at the facility located at 216 Garfield Avenue, West Chester, PA 19380. The permit was last issued on May 1, 2024, and is still valid. DEP has conducted routine inspections of the facility in the past related to the permit requirements.

Other notes on the current Goose Creek situation:

What we know about ATMOS Technologies and Rusmar Inc, the division that operates at 216 Garfield Ave.  

Our reporting shows that while the property has been inspected, it has routinely failed these inspections. We have directed additional questions to DEP regarding the current status of the company’s compliance and what, if anything, has been done to correct past failures. Below is more on what Margie found digging through the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online database.

In reviewing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance records related to the company responsible for the recent Goose Creek illicit discharge, a clear pattern emerges. 

In 2023, the facility was listed in Significant/Category 1 Noncompliance for all four quarters. Included in that designation: Failure to Report DMR - Not Received. Under the Clean Water Act, DMRs (Discharge Monitoring Reports) are required filings that disclose what pollutants were released and whether permit limits were exceeded. When a DMR is not filed, regulators and the public are left without critical information about what entered the water.

Beginning in 2024, and continuing each quarter since, the record reflects ongoing “Violations Identified” and “Other Violations.”

Under delegated authority from the EPA, enforcement responsibility in Pennsylvania rests primarily with PA DEP. We have raised these concerns with our PA DEP contact and are currently awaiting a response. We have also reached out to ATMOS directly but have not recieved a response. Read the full facility report here.

What exactly is Long Duration Foam AC-645? We get a scientist to weigh in. 

Perhaps you, too, did a Google search for Long Duration Foam AC-645? West Chester University Assistant Biology Professor, and Goose Creek regular, Dr. Megan Fork tellsl us, why that won’t tell nearly enough.

“As an environmental scientist, my first stop when evaluating a chemical is the Safety Data Sheet, or SDS, the international standard for communicating risks to people and ecosystems. But when I located the SDS for Long Duration Foam AC-645, I was met with line after line of information ‘not available,’” she shared in a statement.

“This is not an oversight. It is the predictable outcome of how chemical safety regulations work in the United States. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), companies are not required to disclose the full contents of proprietary chemical mixtures. They are also not required to provide comprehensive safety data for new products before those products enter commerce. In practice, this means chemicals are often used widely for decades before we understand their risks, and we only test them when something goes wrong over and over.”

You can read Dr. Fork’s full statement here. 

Understanding the full extent of the damage. Spoiler. It’s going to be a while. 

“We won’t know until next year,” said Goose Creek Alliance President Mike Dunn. 

In the meantime, they are seeking resident help in documenting ongoing conditions in the waterway, particularly the presence of dead or distressed fish, milky conditions, or bubbles and/or foam in the water. But for now, do your observing from the stream banks.

“At this point, I would stay out of the water and keep your pets out of the water,” said Mike. 

If you see anything of concern, please document and send your findings to [email protected]. 

Hearts You Hold Changing Lives One Request at a Time: See What’s Needed This Month!

Hearts You Hold supports migrants, immigrants, refugees, and asylees in a concrete material way, by taking the time to ask them what they need. HYH, a Vermont-based nonprofit, has many requests from people all over the USA. Please consider funding one (or more!) of these life-changing requests. 

You can help by funding critical things like blankets for Pedro in NY, a jacket for Marito in Ohio, or a mattress for Ara in Chicago. These are examples of requests waiting to be funded on our request page.

Due to the generosity of donors like you, we have funded 3,466 requests since we founded this nonprofit! 

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a difference!

**This is a sponsored post.**

Restaurant Inspection Reports out for February: Local Taqueria Closed by Health Department

The Warnings.

Measles case confirmed in Chester County. While measles cases have been rising nationwide, Pennsylvania has (thankfully) yet to experience a large-scale outbreak. That doesn’t, however, mean cases aren’t on the rise. Already this year, the state has confirmed 12 cases in three counties, including Chester County. Last year, the state recorded a total of 16 cases. Measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases in the world, with serious complications like pneumonia, brain infections, or death. It is also readily controlled with early vaccination. Read more about measles in Chester County here.

Inspect those chimneys annually. This week, West Chester Fire Department responded to a chimney fire on the 1100 block of N. New St. They left at 8:20 p.m. and cleared the scene roughly 30 minutes later. Fortunately, no further hazards were found, but in a post to Instagram, the department reminded residents that chimneys should be inspected and cleaned annually to prevent creosote buildup.

Have that alternate at the ready. Roadway construction continues next week at the U.S. 202 (Wilmington Pike) and Route 926 (Street Road) intersection and will continue at least through the end of the month. Work will take place Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During this time, expect lane closures, flagging, and additional delays at the already tight corner. The improvements are part of a $2.9 million project to improve traffic flow and reduce crashes in the area.

The Sunshine Report.

Update on the Ellis Lane Redevelopment and Demolition of a Historic Barn 

Two weeks ago, the Sunshine Report shared limited preliminary details about the approved redevelopment of a 3.2 acre merged property at 20 Ellis Lane and 1240 E. Strasburg Road in West Goshen. With additional information now available, this update provides a fuller picture of the project and its history.

The combined parcels, formerly home to Old Mill Antiques & Interiors, included two single-family homes and a historic stone bank barn. According to the 2013 West Goshen Township Historic Resources Atlas, the property contained two Class 2 historic resources:

• The Bird in Hand Tavern, a stucco/stone building built around 1780 that is now used as an Airbnb. 

• The Bird in Hand Barn, a stone structure built around 1775 that most recently housed an antiques business and has now been demolished.

Before approval of the project, the Chester County Planning Commission reviewed the proposal and recommended that the applicant and the township consider revising the site plan to allow for the preservation and adaptive reuse of the barn, suggesting that stormwater design changes could potentially accommodate its retention.

The County's Planning review letter noted that protecting historic resources is identified as a priority in both the township’s and the county’s comprehensive planning efforts. Despite the recommendation, demolition has now taken place. 

For generations, the stone barn stood along Ellis Lane as a visible reminder of the area’s agricultural past.

The real estate listing for the property highlighted the barn’s unique architectural features, describing original chestnut hand-hewn beams, thick stone walls, wide plank floors, and an expansive interior space that could continue to be used for retail or social events.

Construction activity will continue as the property transitions into the planned Ellis Preserve townhome development. The historic Bird in Hand Tavern and a second home on the combined parcel are expected to remain, the loss of the barn, however, marks the end of a structure that had been a recognizable part of the Ellis Lane landscape for generations.

That's all for this week. Keep shining! —Margie

Hello.

Goodbye.

The Accolades.

Chef Evan Schoettle of West Chester won first place at this year’s Sweet Charity Fundraiser event. Hosted annually by the Chester County Community Foundation, the dessert competition features some of the area’s top pastry chefs. In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, all entries were to have an Americana focus.

The judging panel awarded Chef Schoettle, of Northbrook Marketplace, most creative dessert, if not the most creatively titled, for his “Banana Split” featuring sliced fresh banana, a kataifi shredded phyllo nest drizzled with chocolate, and topped with either a white mascarpone mousse or a chocolate mousse with a cherry.

Chef Schoettle wasn’t the only West Chester winner this year: John Serock Catering grabbed a portion of the three-way tie for tastiest dessert. He wowed with his Star Spangled Swirl, a mix of blueberry and lemon jam, layered with Greek yogurt and cheese cream, cherry pomegranate, on a thyme pie crust crumble.

Over 300 guests attended this year’s event. “There’s a unique spirit at Sweet Charity—one that brings people together in celebration, compassion, and commitment to the community,” shared CCCF CEO Karen Simmons.

Other things we are celebrating this week.

When the beat goes on. A standing ovation to the Rustin band, orchestra, and choir students who represented the school at this year’s regional festivities. Students Suryan Chakravorty, Desmond Saito, and Ian Zimmer represented band; Suryan, Aine Harner, and Nicholas Washburn, orchestra, and Ella Lavaseur, choir. Ella was also named a member of the All-State Choir.

The peak before the fall. The West Chester University Men’s Basketball team finished the regular season ranked 10th in the Atlantic Region. Unfortunately, the momentum was not enough to carry them through the postseason. They lost 71–70 to sixth-ranked Indiana University (PA) on Wednesday in the first round of the PSAC Tournament. Without a single win in the conference tournament, it is unlikely the Golden Rams will qualify for this year’s NCAA Division II Tournament. 

Those who serve and protect. Congratulations to West Chester Police officers Corporal John DiBattista, Corporal Robert M. Kuehn, Sgt. Brendon McGeehan, and Sgt. Jerry Ferriola. The four officers each received a promotion last week. Officers DiBattista and Kuehn were promoted to corporal, and McGeehan and Ferriola from corporal to sergeant. You can read more about the swearing-in ceremonies here.

Paying it forward. Shoutout this week to the students of Westtown-Thornbury Elementary School. In just 10 days, they collected more than 500 lbs of food and essential items for the Chester County Food Bank.

Most clicked. Last week’s most-clicked link led to a picture of the winner of Westtown's impromptu snowman competition. If you missed it, that’s too bad. He was a cutie, but honestly, not sad to see him go.

Pay it Forward.

Ten years ago, West Chester First Presbyterian Church began a Lenten mission to raise money to support urgent housing needs in this community. It started as a collection and has since grown into something more. This week, we catch up with First Presbyterian pastor Caroline Cup on the yearly initiative that does so much by providing just a little something extra.

HWC: Where did the idea for this initiative come from?

CC: At the risk of sounding overly pious or preacher-y, the idea for this program is one of the few moments in my life where it felt like God was boldly calling the shots. First Pres is a congregation full of volunteers. We’d built up longstanding financial partnerships with great local nonprofits. But it felt like there was some important piece missing. A bunch of church leaders were sitting in a meeting, and one of them said, “I think where we’re supposed to focus our energy is family homelessness.” And that was it. Everyone agreed—it was like it had already been decided for us and we were just catching up. 

HWC: How do you identify the individuals being helped? 

CC: We get referrals through word of mouth—someone knows someone else who got help when they needed it. We also get a lot of referrals through local nonprofits. Part of the joy of doing this work is seeing all these different organizations come together when a family needs support.

HWC: Can you give an example of how the money is used?

CC: One woman, a domestic violence survivor, was homeless and struggling with addiction. We got to know her over the course of a year and were eventually able to pay a security deposit for her first apartment. She’s now working full-time, sober, has a stable living situation, and is thriving. Another woman is a local waitress; she called us because with all the restaurant closures due to the recent snowstorms she couldn’t make her rent this month. She didn’t need much, just enough to keep her on track financially.

HWC: How can people help? 

CC: All gifts are tax deductible and 100 percent of the funds will directly support those in need. To participate, please email [me] at [email protected].

Last year the church gave out over $65,000 in emergency assistance to 154 households, and the need is even greater this year. “We’re seeing a huge uptick in requests for assistance, and I know other organizations are [as well],” said Caroline.

“A lot of the people we support are hourly workers: home health aides, school bus drivers, restaurant servers. If their kid has the flu, or the school is closed for a snow day, or the person they’re caring for goes to the hospital, they don’t get paid at all. If you’re making $14/hr, one car issue, a high electric bill, or a snow day can mess up your finances for a month. Once you’re late on one bill, it’s really hard to dig out of the hole,” she added. 

Other ways to give back:

Get a free book for a preschooler. All Chester County children under the age of five can get free books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. High-quality, age-appropriate books are mailed from birth to five, and all you have to do is sign up. Currently, there are around 11,000 kids in Chester County receiving books. Know of another who should? Have them sign up here. 

Help stock a little free pantry. I got word that the pantry outside of Master’s Baker is low. If you are in the area and can help top it off, it would be appreciated. As Caroline shared above, the little things make a big difference. 

• Master’s Baker, 319 W. Gay St.

• East Bradford Elementary School, 820 Frank Rd. 

• Baptist Church of West Chester, 221 S. High St. 

• West Chester Community Center, 501 E. Miner St.

• Calvary Lutheran Church, 730 S. New St. 

Share your musical talents (or your porch). Porchfest is now accepting bands for its 2026 event. If you are interested in performing, sign up here.

The Freakin’ Weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? Tonight, I am celebrating my birthday with some friends, and then on Saturday, I hope to finish a bathroom reno project we started, oh, too long ago now. While that may not sound like a lot of fun, checking this project off the to-do list may be the best gift I could give myself.

If you are around this weekend, Bobbles and Lace is an album release party for the new Harry Styles album. There will be themed drinks, giveaways, special treats from Dia Doce, and, of course, the album played at full volume. Party begins at 4 p.m. and runs until 7 p.m. Also tonight, Windish Studios is hosting a comedy jam. Tomorrow morning, the Silent Book Club is meeting at Oola Bowls and then that evening, Chester County Hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary is hosting a trivia fundraiser at the Hershey Mill Golf Club. Tickets are $50 and are going to support an expanded cancer care program at the hospital. And you’ll have to wait until Monday for this one, but Rose’s Little Donuts has $1 ice coffees on weekdays all month long.

And finally, thank you to this week’s Community Sponsor the Kit Anstey Real Estate Team. The “#1 team to know,” Kit Anstey’s team makes it their mission to provide the ultimate in personal service and sales results. They are proud once again this year to be the recipient of Best of Chester County Readers Choice Award 2025 for the category of Best Realtors of Chester County. We thank all our clients and friends for their votes. It is an honor and a privilege to be called " The Best."

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:

Mar. 6 - Puzzle Palooza Junior, Oakbourne Mansion, 6 - 8 p.m. Teams of 3 or 4 race to complete a 300-piece puzzle. Teams must include at least 2 players under 12. $15/team to play. I believe the puzzle is provided but you’ll want to confirm.

Mar. 6 - Comedy Jam, Windish Studios, 4 W Prescott Alley, 7:30 p.m. Get ready for a night packed with punchlines with Steve Bickle, Kirsten Michelle Cills, Paul Carson, Dave Terruso and host Dana Charitonchick. Tickets: $20

Mar. 7 - West Chester Growers Market, corner of Church and Chestnut, 10 a.m. - noon.

Mar. 7 - Silent Book Club, Oola Bowls, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. An hour of silent reading begins at 10:30 a.m.

Mar. 7 - Trivia Night, Hershey’s Mill Golf Club, 401 Chandler Dr., 5 - 8 p.m. Enjoy a taco bar buffet, cash bar, and then trivia with the funniest master of ceremonies. Tickets: $50/person  Proceeds go to support the Women’s Auxiliary’s $2 million pledge toward an expanded cancer care program at Chester County Hospital.

Mar. 9 - All About AI Family Workshop, Peirce Middle School, 6:30-8 p.m. This family workshop, hosted by the WCASD and West Chester Communities that Care, is designed to bridge the gap between AI awareness and AI action. Topics include latest trends in AI toys and tools.

Mar. 11 - Cheers for Change, Teca, 38 E. Gay St, 6-7:30 pm. Help Safe Harbor celebrate its 30th birthday with a butter dinner and an open bar. Dress is business casual. Tickets required.

Mar. 14 - Chester County Ancient Order of Hibernians 48th annual Irish Program, Elks Lodge, 401 W. Washington St., 1-5 p.m. Live entertainment, Irish dance, face painting. Admission: $15/adults; children are free. This is West Chester’s longest-running St. Patrick’s Day event.

Mar. 17 - Science on Tap - Kinesiology, Barnaby’s Restaurant, 6 p.m. Each session will feature a different WCU expert sharing interesting ideas and new research. The program invites audience participation, and of course, food and drink will be available for purchase. Cheers to science!

Mar. 19 - West Chester Multi-Employer Job Fair, West Chester Community Center, 501 E. Miner St., 2 - 4 p..m. Looking for a new opportunity? This is a great place to start. It’s especially helpful for neighbors who are changing careers, reentering the workforce, or trying to bounce back after unemployment.

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.

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.

Hello, West Chester Community Sponsors