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West Chester Weekly Roundup - Feb. 16, 2024

West Chester Weekly Roundup - Feb. 16, 2024

West Chester Weekly News Roundup

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It’s Friday, Feb. 16, 2024: It’s easy to blame COVID for learning losses but data shows West Chester students have been on a downward slide since well before that. Plus, updates on all the new developments in works in West Chester - if you haven’t been following, it’s kind of a lot, and I share my impressions of 9 Prime. If you are not ready for dinner, I suggest you at least stop in for a drink.

Who’s ready? Let’s catch up.

The Education Slide: A look at WCASD’s 8-year tumble to average

This week West Chester School District introduced “flexible instruction days,” in lieu of a snow day. The resemblence to remote learning days was strong. Picture 2020.

Last month, researchers from Stanford and Harvard shared the results of a study that helps to illustrate how U.S. schools are recovering from the pandemic. To look at national trends, they compiled math test data from public school districts across 41 states including Pennsylvania. While overall researchers found students are recovering from learning losses suffered during COVID-19 shutdowns, they also noted results vary widely across the country. A few schools are doing better than in 2019 but many more are still worse off, the report shows.

Graphic: New York Times

The data for West Chester tells a third story and may help validate the frustration of “not living up to our potential” Superintendent Dr. David Christopher noted during our discussion earlier this month. According to test scores, West Chester elementary and middle schoolers have been in a decline since 2016 - well before most of us even knew the meaning of “pandemic” or “remote learning.”

Graphic: New York Times

West Chester students were once more than two years ahead of the PA average. Now they can claim little more than a year's advantage. More disheartening still is our decline compared to neighboring districts. In 2016, West Chester Area School District was outperforming Downingtown and less than a year behind the always well-ranked Unionville-Chadds Ford school district. By 2019, West Chester had fallen behind Downingtown and lost another half-year to Unionville.

Graphic: New York Times

The pandemic brought similar declines across each of the three districts but, since lows hit in 2022, all three have seen positive rebounds. In West Chester, however, the shutdowns seemed to hit just a smidge harder and the recovery not quite as strong as in other county districts.

This week, as a result of Tuesday’s snowstorm, WCASD called its first-ever Flexible Instruction Day - a rebranded “virtual learning” experience. I am guessing the return to remote learning sent shudders down the spines of parents the district over. I know it did mine. While to be fair, the day ended nothing like virtual days of yore - at least not in our house, it still amounted to another day out of the classroom. Another day, when full instruction would not be met. Another step, down a worrying path to average.

You can see the full data and how West Chester compares against other districts in the state here.

Status Report: Development Project Updates

Site work has started at 611 E. Nields St. Final construction approvals are exptect soon.

This week, in an attempt to bring the new members of Borough Council’s Smart Growth Committee up to speed, Borough Manager Sean Mettrick provided a helpful overview of the major developments currently in the works in the Borough. If you haven’t been paying attention, it’s a lot.

“If these all get built, almost 530 new living units will be added in the Borough. With 2.2 residents per unit that’s a little over 1000 new residents coming to the Borough. That’s a 5 percent population growth,” Mr. Mettrick shared. “Changes are afoot.”

Where exactly? Here’s your brief.

Property: 611 E Nields St, aka “The Wyeth Property”

What is planned: Warehouses and a distribution center in West Chester’s industrial center. With two buildings totaling 523,653 sq. ft. on 27 acres, this is the largest project being undertaken in the Borough.

Current status: Borough Council approved preliminary plans for the project in October of 2022. Since then developers have been performing pre-construction and stormwater site work. Last month, they sent final plans to West Chester’s Planning Commission for review.

What’s next: The Planning Commission is expected to review the final plans later this month with recommendations due to the Smart Growth Committee in March or April.

Property: 330 W Market St, aka “Mitch’s Gym”

What is planned: A 181-unit multifamily apartment complex. The five-story building will sit on 1.74 acres in the Town Center. There will be 209 off-street spaces provided for parking.

Current status: Borough Council approved preliminary plans in September of last year. The applicant submitted final plans in December and then revised those plans and resubmitted them earlier this month.

Next steps: The Planning Commission plans to review final land development plans at their March meeting. The Borough is still waiting on clarification from the developer on how it plans to meet its recreation/open space requirements for the property.

Property: 250 E. Market St., aka “Rubenstein’s”

What is planned: A five-story, 219-unit multifamily apartment complex on 2.5 acres in the Town Center. 231 off-street parking spaces will be provided for resident use.

Current status: Borough Council approved preliminary plans in March of 2022. Since then it was discovered that the additional demand created by the apartments would breach the Borough’s sewer capacity. For the last nine months, the Borough and the developer have been working to devise a plan to extend sewer capacity to the area. Those plans have been submitted to the PA Department of Environmental Protection for approval.

Next steps: The DEP is reviewing the submitted solution, a process that can take up to five months. “It will be a while before you see final plans,” Sean told the committee.

Property: 410 S. High St., aka “Burger King”

What is planned: Another five-story, multifamily apartment complex - this time with 128 units. The development will sit on 1.3 acres in the Town Center. There will be 149 off-street parking spots.

Current status: Borough Council approved preliminary plans in December. Developers are currently in the process of seeking permits from utilities, DEP, PennDOT, and other outside agencies.

Next steps: A legal case has been filed challenging Borough Council’s approval of the project. No action is expected on this project anytime soon.

The Warnings.

Ground contamination found beneath the Gay Street lot often used by St. Agnes parishiners.

Another Borough property is under the watchful eye of the DEP. This week, Borough Manager Sean Mettrick notified Borough Council members that a new Borough property is being put under development restrictions by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. The property, 301 W. Gay Street, currently a parking lot, is located directly east of 319 W. Gay Street (current home of the Master Baker). The ground beneath 319 W. Gay was already known to be contaminated with oil due to a tank once buried on the property. While the tank has long since been removed, the contamination remains.

To determine the extent of the contamination, the DEP took six samples at various locations on the Borough property. One of the samples near the property line came back positive for contaminants (1,2,4-trimethylbenzene; 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene; benzene; ethylbenzene; and naphthalene were found above recommended levels). Due to the rather limited extent of the contamination and the current paved state of the property, the Borough is not required to do anything at this time. However, should anyone ever wish to develop the lot, remediation would be required. Here is a summary of the environmental investigation and its findings. Borough Council will be discussing the situation further next week.

Your data is safe with us. This week West Chester CIO William Mann presented to Borough Council his annual report including a review of cyber-security attacks and potential data breaches made against the Borough throughout the year. While there were hundreds of phishing or other email threats thwarted there was only one account takeover - or an attempt to log into one of the Borough accounts. Since successful account takeovers can be serious, I reached out to Mr. Mann for details.

“An “account takeover” is simply a report that someone (bad actor) attempted to log into one of our user’s accounts but was unsuccessful. We require multi-factor authentication which goes a long way in preventing this from being successful, in addition to other security mechanisms. At no time was an account compromised as a result of this,” he assured me.

You can read the full report here if you are interested.

Nothing to see here. West Chester Police reported a relatively quiet January. During the month, they recorded 16 Part 1 crimes, the most serious of which were two burglaries in the southeast. Both remain unsolved but according to West Chester Chief of Police Josh Lee, they are ”actively investigating and have some good leads.”

You can run and climb, but cameras are everywhere. Recognize any of these individuals? They are wanted for questioning in regards to a fight that resulted in a victim being struck and falling into a glass door. The altercation took place on Feb. 10 on the 50 block of W. Gay Street. If you know anything, contact the WCPD at 610-696-2700.

Take care of yourself. Last year, Good Fellowship Ambulance responded to a record number of calls, according to Director of Operations Chaz Brogan. In 2023, EMTs responded to a total of 7662 calls. “That is our busiest year ever in our over 70-year history,” he said. A little over a third of all calls occurred in the Borough - and Fridays were found to be the most dangerous day of the week. Fortunately, 2024 is off to a slower start.

The food may be extra smoky tonight. West Chester Fire Department was dispatched to King Wok on E. Street Road on Wednesday for a report of a building fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the incident quickly cleared.

Warning parental discretion is advised. New QVC’s Easter decor has an R-rated bent.

Beware vintage buyers. Jawn Supply has a warning for you.

The Accolades.

Henderson Girls Basketball won the Chest-Mont League tournament with a 51-44 victory over East.

It was a Ches-Mont basketball final that was three-quarters West Chester. Tuesday night, three West Chester teams took to the court at WCU’s Hollinger Field House hoping to bring home a league championship. By night’s end, only one would stand victorious.

In the girls' division, it was a battle of evenly matched West Chester programs. Both Henderson and East ended the season 16-6 overall, 9 -3 in the Division. East came in with a slight edge earning a #1 seed in the tournament to Henderson’s two seed.

To get to the finals, first had to beat Kennett on Saturday. After leading for most of the game, the Vikings found themselves down by three with time running out. Annalise Kubasko hit a clutch three with just seven seconds left to send the game to overtime. Once there, the strong play of sophomore Carly Bickle sealed the win for East.

Henderson too had to fight for their place in the finals. In their semi-final match, they found themselves trailing top-seeded Unionville by ten at halftime. The Warriors, however, never gave up and came out of the locker room ready to change destiny. A 17-0 run to start the second half would give them the lead and the game.

A solid second half would come to the Warriors’ aid again this time against a resilient East team. The Vikings, while down the entirety of the second half, were not out until two successful free throws by Henderson senior Whitney Evans pushed the lead back to six with time running out.

Whitney ended the game with 16 points. Fellow senior Jackie Shea added another 18 for the Warriors. East was led by Sofia Keith with 12.

Both teams will now play in the District Tournament. Henderson will be a 10th seed in the 6A District 1 playoffs. They will face 23-seed Central Bucks at home on Friday. East will have a first-round bye in the 5A playoffs. Their first game will be on Tuesday at home.

On the boys’ side, Henderson notched wins over Rustin and Unionville to set up a rematch against a tough Coatesville team. Unfortunately for the Warriors, the Red Raiders’ team was just as tough as the first time around. Henderson took a six-point lead into halftime, but a 25-9 third-quarter run by the Red Raiders all but sealed the deal. Henderson fought back to within six with 35 seconds to go but that was as close as they would come.

Henderson was led by Nyle Ralph-Beyer with 21 points. Connor Fleet added 15 more while center Nelson Lamizana grabbed 13 rebounds.

Also, this week a round of applause to:

Ground Provisions and Steaks West Chester. Both were included among Main Line Today’s selection of best new restaurants in Philly’s western suburbs. Ground Provisions came in at #8 with its “superb seasonal menu” and Steaks at #18 thanks to the “simple magic” of shaved ribeye, fried onions, and a little Cooper Sharp. And kudos to MLT for taking a stand and not simply listing nearly every restaurant to open in the last year under the heading of “Best.”

Cookie Dope. The edible cookie dough and ice cream shop just celebrated their sixth year on High St. While I am too late to get you an anniversary discount, I can share that they now have Girl Scout Cookie-inspired dough. Raw Thin Mints anyone?

Henderson JV Boys Basketball team. Last week I congratulated the Warrior girl’s JV basketball team for an undefeated season - well, it turns out the boys’ team deserves some praise as well. They finished their season last week with an impressive 21 - 0 tally. As one X-formerly-known-as-Twitter commenter summed it up, “The future is bright at Henderson.” Here’s a closer look at that future for those who are interested.

Tyler Wileczek. The West Chester East senior was named a PA Mini Max Award Winner by the Maxwell Football Club. Honorees are selected based on football performance, academics, and community service.

Leah Johnson. Last week, the WCU senior guard broke the school scoring record on a 28-point performance against Shepherd. The points brought her career total up to 1,626 and counting and earned her a third PSAC East Athlete of the Week distinction in a row.

May 23. The Gay Street retailer is celebrating 11 years of keeping you in West Chester-centric graphic Ts.

Chaz McCormick and the Mrs. The Houston Astro outfielder and West Chester-native married Courtney Zadinski in a Philadelphia ceremony. You can see pictures in People Magazine (!).

Hello.

Whether you are ready for a full meal or not, I do suggest you pop in some random night, walk up to the bar, order a cocktail, and see for just a minute what all the fuss is about.

This week it’s finally, a “hello, there,” to 9 Prime on N. High Street. The much-hyped West Chester steak house officially opened on Saturday night. We attended the night before for a media preview that included a tour of the building - although, they wouldn’t let us visit the “speakeasy” planned for a downstairs vault. As you can imagine the spaces are all high-end with gorgeous light fixtures, rich wallcoverings, and metallic accents. Where they could, they have incorporated elements of the original bank. One dining area is accessed through the circular vault door. On the inside, there is a wall completely lined with bank vaults.

Historic bank documents found in the bank prior to demolition are being framed, I was told during the tour. They will be added to the walls. It is a nice touch and one that will be welcomed. A few finishing touches will hopefully personalize the space and lessen the posh hotel boardroom feel.

If you were not one of the lucky few to gain access during the preview or opening week, the full reservation calendar is now open. A quick search shows several mid-week openings available. For a Friday or Saturday, however, you will have to wait until the end of March unless new seatings are added. The restaurant is currently seating about 300 with capabilities to serve up to 500 in the future.

Also, now available is the menu and more importantly, the prices. They range from $20 for a starter to $159 for the Wet Aged 40 oz. Tomahawk Ribeye - more if you want an “opulent addition” and/or a dipping sauce to go with that. Pasta can be enjoyed for around $30 a plate and seafood a bit more. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, this is average for today’s high-end restaurants. Looking to get the 9 Prime experience without totally breaking the bank? The Prime Burger is $23 and I am told it is quite good (of course, if you want to add truffle fries that will cost you another $14).

That said, 9 Prime is not the kind of place you go if you are worried about the budget, and for most of us, it will probably not be a weekly event. That’s ok. Individual diners are just one piece of the financial puzzle. The goal here is to cater to the region’s every event need.

As I learned during my tour, the whole place is designed with modularity in mind. The space can be rented in pieces - or if it’s available to you - in its entirety. Upholstered sound dampening panels have been installed to hush traveling voices and allow the facility to host multiple events simultaneously.

Perhaps, the West Chester Wedding Guide was a bit hasty in its relocation to Chester Springs?

(Want to see pictures of the food? There are some good ones here.)

Also, opening last week, Momo and Sushi Cafe on Market St. The passion project of chef Phuri Lama, a Napali native, Momo seeks to bring a bit of the Himalayan culture to the Borough.

“The concept behind Momo and Sushi Cafe goes beyond selling momo and sushi,” Phuri shared on social media. “It’s about educating the coming generation about Nepal, a land of Everest and the Himalayas.”

Momo are traditional steamed-filled dumplings popular in Tibetan and Nepali cuisine. Momo also serves a variety of sushi rolls. They are now open at 209 E. Market St. and holding an impressive 5-star review on Google. Check them out!

Speaking of things to celebrate, rebounds in QVC sales mean everyone’s favorite shopping network is staying put in West Chester - or so Qurate CEO David Rawlinson recently assured the Philadelphia Business Journal.

“The magic that happens in the studios is when a merchandiser touches a blouse and makes sure that the quality is what our customers would expect. So I think we’re going to continue to have a very robust physical presence in that campus in West Chester,” he told PBJ.

Of course, keeping that magic on air is contingent on the company’s continued turnaround. You can read the full article here.

Goodbye.

Hoopes Park is getting ready for warmer weather with a little spring cleaning prep. Starting with the removal and replacement of the dugouts at Hoopes Park’s Farley Field.

“It’s time to demolish and rebuild,” West Chester Baseball League Director Charlie Cooper told Borough Council members on Tuesday night. The new dugouts will be similar in size to the existing ones except the home team dugout along the first base line will be extended to add a small storage unit at the end.

“It will look a lot better,” agreed Councilman Bernie Flynn. In addition to dugouts, the group is also ready to install its promised netting system as soon as the weather warms. The netting will extend behind home plate and catch foul balls before they hit the parking lot.

“Currently, we are slated to have the poles go up in March. The netting will go up in April on a pulley system so It can come down during the winter,” said Charlie. While the winter weather has delayed the project well past the promised November completion date, the league knows its completion is crucial.

“The onus is on us,” he said. “It’s in our agreement. We can’t play without that.”

Also, preparing to eventually make their exit - the Hoopes Park tennis courts. In their place, will be a new and improved Hoopes Park Racquet Center - although, not just yet. 2024 is expected to be a planning and design year, with court construction slated for 2025. So far the Borough has been awarded $237,300 in grants to help fund construction of the new Racquet Center. A third grant is still outstanding.

Finally, some sad news. Last month, Chester County Hospital mourned the loss of its first black doctor. Dr. Robert Howard Hanna, or “Doc” as he was commonly known, passed away on January 27 at the age of 96. Doc started at CCH in 1958 as an intern before setting up a practice in his home on W. Bernard St.

In 1968, Doc and his wife moved to Coatesville where they started a family while they continued to be active members of the West Chester community. “He was considered a community statesman,” West Chester resident Rodney Matthews told the Daily Local. “Everybody knew Doctor Hanna.”

Doc was an active member of the Second Presbyterian Church of West Chester - and the first Black Eagle Scout in Chester County. According to a series of interviews conducted by reporter Bill Rettew for a DLN obituary - he was an all-around good guy.

Read the full article here.

Pay It Forward.

Sweet Charity returns Mar. 5

Didn’t get enough sweets this week? Chester County Community Foundation (CCFC) is back with its annual Sweet Charity fundraiser. I know this one technically takes place outside of West Chester, but have you been? Some of the county’s best pastry chefs compete to be named the night’s best and you get to taste all the efforts for yourself. It’s decadent. It’s indulgent. It’s a whole lot of fun and yes, it is in Exton but proceeds go to support the Chester County Community Foundation (CCFC) which is located right down on Market St. so I am making an exception.

"Sweet Charity brings people together to promote philanthropy all while tasting amazing desserts from some of the area's best chefs in Chester County,” said Paige Marsden, CCFC Marketing & Analytics Associate.

This marks the fundraiser’s 18th year and it’s going to be a big one - a really big one. This year there are 16 different chefs and restaurants competing. To put that in perspective, the year I went I think there were maybe half that – and I couldn’t make it through them all. I guess all you can do is try.Want to give it a go? The event is being held on Mar. 5 from 4-7 p.m. at the Whitford Country Club. Tickets are $125/each and you can get yours here. The CCFC helps manage more than 425 individual philanthropic funds representing over $100 million in trust.

The Weekend Marquee by Uptown

Feb. 21: Oscar Shorts

Feb. 24: Fooz Fighters

On Wednesday, get Oscar-ready with a preview of the year’s best short films. Then on Saturday, rock out to the high-energy songs of the Foo Fighters. What a week! Get your tickets now. Click on the images above to preview the shows.

The Freakin’ Weekend.

Who doesn’t love a brioche roll as big as their head?

What are you up to this weekend? We have a quiet one for a change. I think I might finally get back to the Grower’s Market - maybe followed by a pit stop by the newly reopened La Baguette Magique for some fresh-baked croissants? I don’t know, I think I have my Saturday morning planned.

If you would like to join me at the Grower’s Market, they have Catherine’s Restaurant’s Wild Mushroom and Crab soup which recently placed third in the Preston and Steve Soup Bowl. Also, Kaly has 50 percent off all winter clothing or if you are over sweater weather, Bobbles and Lace has debuted its “resort” collection.

Speaking of spring, Rita’s opens next Friday. There will be 5-layer gelati and a selection of “retro” flavors. Can’t wait to see what that means.

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. Follow them on Facebook for the latest news and insider tips!

Nationally-ranked, The Kit Anstey Real Estate Team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors is proud to announce that they are winners once again for the 2023 West Chester Lifestyle Magazine Best Realtors and 2023 Best Realtors of Chester County Readers’ Choice by Daily Local Newspaper. Specializing in Residential Real Estate in West Chester and surrounding areas. Kit Anstey and his partner Debbie West, Associate Brokers at Berkshire Hathaway, live in the downtown and enjoying being a part of the bustling Borough. Watch their West Chester video!

View a list of all our amazing Community Sponsors here.

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Mark your calendars:

Feb. 16 - 17 - 2024 International Trumpet Festival, WCU Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. Concert events planned for both Friday and Saturday night. Tickets are not required for Friday's event but will be needed for Sat. Visit WCU Events for details.
Feb. 17 - West Chester Growers' Winter Market, corner of Church & Chestnut Sts, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The market is open rain, snow or shine.
Feb. 17 - Verses of Change: A Black History Month Poetry Competition, West Chester Public Library, 2-5 p.m. Present a favorite poem by a Black poet (or read one of your own poems related to Black History.) Snacks and drinks will be provided. Winners will receive Wawa gift cards! This is a young adult event. Registration required.
Feb. 17- Light Up the Night Gala, Uptown Theater, 5:30 - 10 p.m. Join Uptown for a fun and festive evening celebrating the performing arts. This celebration raises necessary funds that support Uptown’s programs and theatre school.
Feb. 18 - Magic: The Gathering, Artillery Brewing, 333 Granite Alley, 12 - 4 p.m. Learn the magic of magic. Bring your own deck or play with one of their basic starter decks. All experience levels welcome. Every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Must be 21.
Feb. 18 - Modern Calligraphy Class, Pine + Quill, 23 N. Walnut, 1 - 2:30 p.m. This intimate workshop will include 90 minutes of instruction, a complete calligraphy kit, and an assortment of stationery for practice. Tickets: $80/includes all materials.
Feb. 19 - Love 4 Sarah, Brickette Lounge, 4 -7 p.m. Fundraiser for former Split Rail Tavern bartender Sarah Macey who is fighting cancer. There will be music, a 50/50 raffle and a devil egg eating contest? Who knows, but I am sure it will be fun.
Feb. 19 - DIY Bird Feeders, West Chester Public Library, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. February is National Bird Feeding Month. Drop into the community room to create a bird feeder to take home. No registration required. First-come, first-served, while supplies last.
Feb. 19 - $5 Movie Monday: The Color Purple, Uptown Theater, 7:00 p.m. Includes complimentary popcorn.
Feb. 21 - 3rd Wednesday Book Discussion, West Chester Public Library, 1 - 2 p.m. This month's book is: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark.
Feb. 21 - 2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films - Animated and Live Action, Uptown Theater, 7 p.m. Tickets: $15 plus $2 service fee.
Feb. 22 - ChatGPT - What Is It Good For? 6- 8 p.m. Learn about ChatGPT and how to sample its capabilities. This is a virtual class presented by the West Chester Public Library.
Feb. 22 - The Laugh Lounge, Uptown Theater, 7:30 p.m. Jake Mattera is a Philadelphia-based stand up known for his loveable brand of wholesome self-deprecation. Tickets: $25/advance; $30/at the door plus $5 service fee.
Feb. 23 - WCPL's Trivia Night, 7 - 8 p.m. This is a virtual event presented by the West Chester Public Library. Registration required.
Feb. 23 - Porter Carroll, Jr., Uptown Theater, 7:30 p.m. An innovative cabaret/nightclub act that puts a new exciting spin on popular classics. Tickets: $35/in advance; $40/at the door - plus a $5 service fee.
Feb. 24 - The Red Show, The Corner Art Gallery, 341 S. Matlack St. Get ready to be captivated by a vibrant selection of work that explores the spectrum of emotions and creativity tied to the color Red.
Feb. 24 - The Fooz Fighters, Uptown Theater, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a night out with the most sought-after Foo Fighters tribute band in the nation. Tickets: $35/advance; $40/at the door plus $5 service fee.

That’s it. Stay safe, stay healthy, and I'll see you next week!

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.