West Chester Weekly Roundup: May 3, 2024

West Chester Weekly News Roundup

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It’s Friday, May 3, 2024: This week we look back at 10 years of trying to return a commuter train to West Chester. The progress we’ve made and the plan’s constant foil. Plus, East’s “Coolest Teacher”, Aqua’s digging up the streets again, a new children’s boutique, Gay Street’s closing, and Restaurant Inspection reports for April. Maybe pack your lunch this week?

Who’s ready? Let’s catch up.

West Chester Rail Restoration Gets a $6 Million Donation and a Sliver of Hope

From the outside, not much has changed in the last 10 years.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the West Chester Rail Service Restoration Committee, an ad hoc (aka temporary) advisory committee to Borough Council. While at this point temporary has become a relative term, the group has made significant progress in their Herculean task to return a functioning commuter rail service to West Chester. However, while some things have advanced, some haven’t.

In describing the situation in an article two years ago, I wrote this:

“Promising and popular stuff that always seems to get snagged in the same spots – the estimated $380M price tag to restore the service and a SEPTA’s seeming lack of interest in making such an investment.”

Today significant progress has been made on the former, while the latter remains a frustrating drag on the process.

Last summer the Rail Restoration Committee and partners at Pop-Up Metro, demonstrated a completely electric train set-up that could carry 190 passengers from West Chester to Center City in 64 minutes - at a fraction of the original cost. According to the committee’s 2023 annual report presented in March, the new model is looking at a startup capital investment more in the $20-30 million range.

That capital will be used to bring the track and infrastructure up to code. It doesn’t include the trains or the operating expenses. However, Pop-Up Metro has agreed to donate the train and two years of its operating costs to get the West Chester Metro up and running. That donation, worth an estimated $6 million, brings the bonus of being able to be used as the “grantee match” when applying for state or Federal grants. Having this collateral available as a match, will save the Borough from having to find extra cash in the budget.

Why is Pop-up Metro being so generous? It’s not just because they love the West Chester community. Pop-up Metro is a subsidiary of global train operator Railroad Development Corporation. While RDC has significant ridership in Europe, it‘s looking to grow its presence in automobile-centric America.

“The gift is to prove the concept of battery-operated trains in the United States,” said Jordan Norley, a longtime member of the Rail Restoration Committee - and the West Chester Mayor who launched the initiative a decade ago. The offer, however, is conditional.

What’s the condition? you ask. Well, it’s a circle right back to the start, and the seemingly constant foil to all the committee’s best-laid plans. You guessed it; it’s SEPTA. The term sheet marks the donation conditional on “SEPTA contributions and goodwill.” From a contribution standpoint, the group is looking for access to the portion of the track currently being used by the West Chester Railroad, as well as the SEPTA track connecting into the WAWA station, and the land surrounding the tracks to build a modular platform, pedestrian bridge, and other features.

The bigger ask seems to be for goodwill.

The SEPTA standoff

What the committee is hoping the future of rail will look like in West Chester.

For a committee eager for face-time and discussion, 2023 proved frustrating. Scheduled meetings with SEPTA were routinely delayed and detailed responses to the regional rail provider’s concerns seemed to fall on deaf ears. Then, the committee received the following message in September:

“At this time, the Pop-up Metro concept does not align with SEPTA’s priorities, and SEPTA does not have the time or resources to dedicate to this proposal from Pop-Up Metro, LLC.”

Ouch.

While I might have cried mercy by now, the committee remains surprisingly optimistic seeing tiny little linings of silver among all those clouds. In February, Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz was elected vice chair of the SEPTA board. Members are hopeful, that her new position will give them greater access.

SEPTA is of course not the only obstacle. There’s also the start-up capital, ongoing questions about post-pandemic ridership levels, Federal Railroad Administration approvals, and of course, the fact the track is already occupied by the West Chester Railroad. All of which the committee believes they can overcome if they are just given the chance.

“What we are trying to get to is a road map to yes,” said Jordan. “It can be lengthy. We’ll get there, but we need a path.” And soon.

“The thing is this is not going to last forever,” he said. “If [Pop-up Metro] meets another township that can meet their needs this opportunity is gone for West Chester.”

Up next for the committee:

Set up a nonprofit entity that can hold assets, apply for funding, and advocate on behalf of the Borough.
Quantify resident support. The group is exploring adding a ballot question for November.
Develop a funding strategy. If SEPTA doesn’t have the resources - who might?

Want more? The West Chester Metro now has a website.

Restaurant Inspection Reports: April

I can’t this month. 17 local restaurants, gas stations, hotels - and an orchard were out of compliance this month. While some had it coming -- Saucey’s, I’m looking at you -- others just seemed to catch the inspectors in a bad mood.

King’s Garden, 308 S. High St, out, 24 violations including food being stored in grocery bags, raw meat stored incorrectly, raw chicken left out on the counter, dirty rags air drying in the kitchen, an employee rinsing and reusing a bowl without washing it and several cleaning tasks.

Carlino’s, 128 W. Market St., out, 24 violations including a tomato pie with mozzarella stored at room temperature; a deli case not keeping items cold enough (the items were discarded); ready-to-eat foods without a date indicating when they were made; and carts, walk-in coolers, and a table-top can opener in need of a good cleaning.

Fellini Cafe, 2 Waterview Rd, out, 19 violations including employees not wearing proper hair restraints, vegetables cooked inside plastic wrap with the plastic twist tie still on, raw foods stored above prepared foods in the kitchen coolers, open items stored uncovered, cooked vegetables left out at room temperature, and the tabletop can opener covered in food residue that was washed, rinsed, and sanitized during inspection.

Saucey’s Pizza, 12 E. Market St, out, 18 violations including a horror movie-esq situation in the basement. “Live and pupated large flies observed in back room of basement, apparently growing in grease that had spilled from the grease interceptor,” the report reads. Also, found in the basement, an air conditioner “observed to be growing a mold-like substance” and grain moths. “Flour building up in basement in dough prep area, contributing to grain moth harborage.” Bleh. I don’t envy the employees that have to go down there. Also, it’s where they prep the dough and store the pizza boxes.

Highland Orchards, 1000 Marshallton Thorndale Rd, out, 18 violations including potted flowers in the prep sink, cut melons not kept cool enough, bagged greens not labeled with use instructions, and several dairy bomb sprays found in the facility. These items were removed.

Penn’s Table, 100 W. Gay St, out, 15 violations including the main kitchen worktop not keeping ready-to-eat foods cold enough - hard-boiled eggs, tuna salad, and some dressing all had to be discarded. Also, prepared foods were found without labels or preparation dates, and mold was noticed around the ice maker and bin.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites, out, 11 violations including raw eggs stored above prepared foods, cleaned equipment was put away wet, and canned goods stored directly on the floor.

Sabatino’s Grille, 901 E. Boot Rd, out, 11 violations including ketchup being stored in an open metal can, an employee handling pizza with bare hands, and uncooked chicken and bacon stored at unsafe temps. Both were discarded during the inspection.

Primo Hoagies, 1149 West Chester Pike, out, 10 violations including a glass-front refrigerator not keeping things nearly cold enough; open packages of meats and cheeses without date markings; and an order to clean the can opener, spice shakers, baking sheets, food prep sinks, table top oven, bain maries, and all the floors in the food service areas.

Spence Cafe, 131 N. High St, out, 8 violations, including an employee washing his hands in the 3-compartment sink rather than the handwash sink, multiple sauce bottles without labels identifying the food, and a buildup of mold on the food storage racks in the walk-in refrigerator. “Clean immediately,” the report reads.

7-Eleven, 1165 West Chester Pike, out, 7 violations mostly for being dirty and not knowing why it’s important for the store not to be dirty. Among the areas needing cleaning were the hot dog tongs, caddy, and roller unit, pizza area, all beverage dispensers, sinks, countertops, and floors.

Qdoba Mexican Eats, 1107 West Chester Pike, out, 7 violations including bags of chicken thawing at room temperature and lots of cleaning infractions. Staff was directed to clean and sanitize tortilla presses, bulk ingredient containers, range, fryer, charbroilers, thermometers, floors, ceiling, and “soiled walls in the food service areas.”

Mike’s Pizza, 1502 West Chester Pike, out, 7 violations including first aid and personal belongings stored near food items, ice accumulation in the walk-in freezer, and cases of food stored directly on the floor. A no-no, in the food safety world.

Giant, 1375 Boot Rd, out, 5 violations, including a spot case not keeping the kale and spinach cool enough and the hot food holding area not keeping the fried chicken hot enough.

Taco Maya 2, 66 E. Street Rd, out 4 violations including raw beef stored above the shredded cheese, unlabeled squeeze bottles, and utensils stored in sanitizing solution.

BP, 1594 West Chester Pike, out, 3 violations including not cleaning the back storage area and holding on to unused equipment from the previous Dunkin’ Donuts.

D-K Diner, 609 E. Gay St., out, 3 violations including the coffee station cooler not staying cold enough, and a paper towel holder and some wire shelves in need of cleaning.

From last month, Lopiccolo’s Farmers Market and Grill, Mercato, Taco Mar, Jersey Mike’s, McDonald’s, Jumbo Pizza, Twin Valley Coffee, Hershey Mill Golf Club, and Lukoil are all back in the inspector’s good graces.

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

Hearts You Hold Changes Lives One Request at a Time

Hearts You Hold supports migrants, immigrants, refugees and asylees in a concrete material way, by taking the time to ask them what they need or want. 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 a mattress for Ana in NJ, a stroller for Maryam in NY, or a laptop for Luz in VA. These are examples of requests waiting to be funded on our request page.

Due to the generosity of donors like you, we have funded 2,603 requests since we founded this nonprofit!

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a difference!

Eloise Ginty, FounderHearts You Hold

***This is a sponsored post.***

The Warnings.

Aqua is coming back. According to an announcement shared on the Borough website, Aqua is back in the area replacing galvanized service lines to more than 400 homes (yay.) The project is expected to last two years and will affect areas of the Borough, West Goshen, and other unnamed townships. Details about which areas were not given. If you are one of the lucky homes with galvanized lead pipes, Aqua is updating the pipes for free but you can expect water disruptions and you will need to sample your water both before and after the upgrade.

Wait, if I have to test my water should I be paying closer attention to this?

No, of course not. According to the Aqua website, “Results of our laboratory testing program shows our drinking water meets the current requirements through careful water treatment which minimizes the potential for corrosion of lead and copper into our customer’s drinking water.” Aqua will, however, be providing you with a National Sanitation Foundation water filter and six months of complimentary replacement filters. Not that you need to worry.

Read all the answers to their frequently asked questions here.

West Chester University Athletic Director responds. Last week the WCU Quad, West Chester University’s student newspaper, published an expose sharing the stories of more than a half dozen athletes who described a hostile team environment under head softball coach Diane Lokey. This week, Athletic Director Terry Beattie issued a response, “My wish would be that every student who puts on the Golden Ram uniform, has a positive experience… But I am also realistic and recognize that being a student-athlete is hard. It is not for everyone, and that is ok.”

Here’s a link to his complete response.

It’s a split decision. Since the story broke, the paper received 14 additional emails from players sharing their experiences under Coach Lokey - 11 felt the article represented their experiences, and three did not. In addition, former player Bri Garber penned a separate op-ed on the topic. That article included the experiences of nine current and former players who had a positive experience.

It’s time to get those HVAC units cleaned and checked. This week, the West Chester Fire Department and several others responded to the report of a house fire in the 700 block of Apricot Ln. A problem was located in the HVAC system and the situation cleared.

Beware, this news is old. This week Vista Today shared a story (on May 1, 2024, to be exact), suggesting two of the area’s best hoagies are from right here in Chester County. Always looking for fodder for a good debate, I clicked to find out who was the latest to claim the honor. However, when I clicked to the source material I learned the story was originally posted nearly a year ago. This is not the first time this has happened to me. If the news is important to you, I would suggest verifying completely.

The Accolades.

Image: @wc_east_aca_team

This week a big shout out to the East High School Academic Team on capturing the state championship. Last year, the team placed third, the year before that, fourth. This year, they went back to the state capital and claimed victory.

“2023-2024 State Champs!!!!” the team’s Instagram page declared on Saturday.

“We are so proud of this team, their accomplishments, poise, sportsmanship, teamwork, cohesiveness, and hard work,” the post continued. “Shoutout to our seniors who played JV as freshmen over Zoom because of Covid, then took over the Varsity team as 10th-graders finishing 2nd in the county and 4th at States. As juniors, they won the county championship and finished 3rd at States. This year they set the single-season county points record, and single match points record, won the county championship, and capped it off by winning the State Championship.”

The 2024 Pennsylvania State Academic Competition took place last Friday with 19 teams vying for the title. In addition to an impressive trophy, the team also picked up a $2000 scholarship for the school.

Here are a few other things we are celebrating this week:

Senior night victories. The Rustin girl’s softball team secured cross-town bragging rights with a 7-3 victory over East on Wednesday night. Photo: @rustin_softball

Gold medal Chocolate. West Chester’s Eclat Chocolate was recently named the “Best Chocolatier/Chocolate Shop” in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s “Philly Favorites” competition. Winners on this list are community-nominated and voted on. According to the website, this year, a staggering 586,000 votes were cast for 7,725 businesses across 280 categories. Eclat wasn’t the only West Chester business recognized. General RV was named the area’s best RV Dealership, Automotive Metal Works on Westtown Rd was the silver Auto Collision Center, and Green Pest Solutions on Saunders Ln claimed bronze in Pest Control.

West Chester Film Festival. Last weekend, the West Chester Film Festival hosted its 18th festival - and it was a big one. According to film festival officials, 2024 set attendance records at all events throughout the weekend, including multiple sold-out events.

Tearjerkers. Speaking of the WCFF, director Timothy Blackwood flew in from California to accept the Chester Award for his film, Infraction, a drama telling the story of Terrance Lewis, a man who spent 21 years in the Philadelphia prison system for a murder he did not commit. Terrance was also in attendance for the film’s viewing. West Chester Film Festival returns next year. Save the dates for April 25 through 27, 2025.

West Chester University Baseball. This week the Golden Rams moved into the top 20 of the American Baseball Coaches Association Division II national poll. The team first entered the rankings two weeks ago at #30. They broke into the teens this week after taking three games from No. 10 East Stroudsburg over the weekend. West Chester finishes the conference season this afternoon with a double-header against #7 Millersville.

The Kentucky Derby. While as far as I can tell, there are no West Chester connections, that is not stopping the Borough from celebrating. Bierhaul, Slow Hand, and Greystone are all hosting Derby day events including hat competitions, prizes for correctly picking the winners, and, of course, Mint Julep specials. The race is Saturday around 6:45 p.m. Most events start at 5 p.m.

East’s “coolest” teacher. Well, we will be. Spread the word, East High School was selected as the latest school to have their “coolest” teacher honored by WMMR’s Preston and Steve Morning Show. The winning teacher will be announced and interviewed on Monday’s show. Students have until tomorrow at 6:15 a.m. to vote. They can do that here.

Hello.

Ten years ago, mother of two Kimberly Wardell found herself unexpectedly widowed. From grief and uncertainty, a new business grew from the middle of her living room.

“It was something that I could pour my heart and soul into, could smile and cry into, could fill those insane sleepless nights with,” Kim said.

During those early morning hours, she built relationships and carefully crafted a curated selection of furniture, fashion, decor, and toys. Over time her online children’s boutique, DLK - Design, Life, Kids - developed a following among families seeking a modern aesthetic.

Owner Kimberly Wardell and her daughters at the brand’s flagship location.

The store’s playroom gives kids a place to try the toys for themselves.

While moms may have been impressed, kids were often left out. Kids are tactile they need a space to test, touch, and explore. Now Kimberly has just that. Last month, she opened the DLK Flagship Store and PlaySpace at 1502 West Chester Pike next to the Giant.

The store not only features the team’s carefully selected online merchandise IRL, there is also room for the kids to play and experience the toys firsthand.

“I certainly thought it could be something one day, but I never imagined it would grow to this today," she said in a statement.

DLK Is open now - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, until 6 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Speaking of openings, Is it possible for a college town to have too many pizza places? I would say yes, but clearly, I am in the minority. According to a sign tacked up in a window at 316 E. Gay St., we are getting another one. Pizza 316 promises to bring the “family recipe back to West Chester.” What family? I am not sure but they appear to have some relationship with Lorenzo’s Steaks on E. Market.

Also, say hello, to Dr. Conley and Mrs. Knight. During its April meeting, the West Chester Area School Board approved two new members to the WCASD’s leadership team. Dr. James Conley joins as the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education. Under this newly created position, he will have responsibility for all secondary administrators. This includes all middle and high school principals and athletic directors. Dr. Conley previously served as the Assistant Superintendent for the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District and before that as the principal of Unionville-Chadds Ford High School. Also, joining the team is Mrs. Shante’ Knight, the new Director of Teaching and Learning and Equity. Under this newly created position Mrs. Knight will assume responsibility for curriculum - as well as equity - across the District. She comes from Virginia where she has had curriculum-building experience in both a nonprofit and public school setting.

You can read the full new hire press release here.

Batters up! East Bradford Park has a new batting cage thanks to West Side Little League and Finnerty Landscape and construction.

Finally, this one is for moms and dads of little ones - West Chester has a new fitness option for you. This spring the Borough is introducing Stroller Strides, a 60-minute total body workout you can do while keeping the kiddos engaged in their stroller. If they say so. The class starts on May 14 and will be held twice a week for six weeks from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Everhart Park. Cost is $139 and registration is open now.

Goodbye.

The corner of Church and Gay is already feeling the void.

Fairman’s Skate Shop closed this week after 47 years of service.

Also, it’s goodbye, American Automobile Association. A member of the West Chester Chamber of Commerce since 1979, the West Chester branch of AAA recently closed its Gay Street doors for good.

I thought it might be part of a membership decline for the nearly 125-year-old company, I mean really when was the last time you saw a TripTik? Well, I was wrong. According to its website, AAA still claims more than 50 million members and 1,000 branch offices across North America. Just no longer in West Chester.

For services you can’t access online, Downingtown will be your new branch location. “Our AAA Downingtown location is ready to serve you,” read a sign on the door.

Also, it’s goodbye, Gay Street traffic - at least until Monday morning. The 2024 Gay Street Closure starts tonight. By now I’m sure you know the drill, but the street will close Friday morning to Monday morning from Matlack Street to Darlington Street each weekend from now through the end of September.

In honor of the occassion or purely coincidentally, tonight Jitters is holding its first annual hot dog eating contest. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. In addition to a lot of food-gorging action, there will also be $3 Miller Lites to get you in that hot-dog-cheering spirit.

Finally, if you get a chance, stop in and say goodbye to Jesus. I didn’t get a last name but I did get a note. “He has worked at the Gay St. branch of the Post Office for as long as I can remember. He is a kind, gentle soul, always a smile on his face and always lending a helping hand,” Carol Bilek wrote. “I am sure many, many folks in the Borough know him and would want to wish him well.”

I am sure they would too - but do it now. His last day is today.

Pay It Forward.

Time to get clean. This weekend the West Chester Community Clean Up returns for its third year. Launched as a way to promote volunteerism and civic engagement during the pandemic, the event, a joint effort of Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste and West Chester Chief of Police Joshua Lee, has also proven a successful way to improve the aesthetics of the Borough.

Want to participate? Sign up as a team or an individual and select the area of the Borough you would like to help clean up. You can choose between Town Center, North East, North West, South West, South East, or Parks from there you will be asked to select a street. That’s it. Then on Saturday morning stop by Borough Hall between 8 - 9 a.m. to pick up your cleanup kit including trash bags, gloves, and a map of trash bag drop-off locations. There will also be light refreshments and a thank-you gift from the mayor.

As they say, many hands make light work.

The Weekend Marquee by Uptown

May 10 - 12: Finding Nemo JR.

Next week, Dory, Crush, Bubbles, Bruce, and all your Finding Nemo favorites are swimming on stage in a musical adaptation of Disney’s beloved classic. You’re not going to want to miss this. Get your tickets today!

The Freakin’ Weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? The family doesn’t know yet, but I signed us up to clean a street. We’ll be out on Dean St. Saturday morning with gloves and bags. If you see us, give us a honk.

If you’re around this weekend, Downtown West Chester is holding its bi-annual gallery walk tonight. The walk starts at 4 and runs through 8 p.m. There are 18 stops on this year’s walk with many offering free drinks and hors d'oeuvre in addition to beautiful art for viewing. Also, Sunday is Cinco de Mayo. Jaco has a two-taco lunch special with chips, salsa, and a smoothie. Looking for something a little more festive? Slow Hand has Bloody Marias (nice) and Saloon 151 has two new margarita flavors for you to try.

Also, on Sunday, Align.Space is hosting a Pop-up Art Mart (perfect for Mother’s Day gifts) and Sugars Bridge Alpaca Farm has its spring carnival with animal demonstrations, crafting tables, and a performance by children’s performer Two of a Kind. Proceeds are going to support their summer camp - as such, tickets are required.

A special thank you to this week’s Community Sponsor the Look Around Music & Arts Festival. This all-day festival was started in 2022 by West Chester musician Nikki DiGiorgio of onyx&honey. She began it as a way to raise awareness of the local arts scene while also hanging outside enjoying a lot of really great music. Want to be a part of this amazing event? Sponsorship opportunities are now open! Email them today for details.

Look Around Music & Arts Festival - Aug. 24, 2024

Mark your calendars - the Look Around Festival is returning for its third year! The Look Around Music & Arts Festival is an all-day grassroots event benefiting the West Chester music and arts community. Their primary focus is to give local creatives a platform to raise the consciousness of the community. You can always expect live music, vendors, culture, networking + more!

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.

Readers: Get your annual subscription now! If you haven’t yet paid for your annual subscription (you know who you are) please do so now. Subscribe either through the link below or use Venmo. ($12 gets you a year of fun, excitement and restaurant inspection reports. Your stomach will thank me.)

Just $12/Year. Pay Now!

Mark your calendars:

May 3 - 4 - First Pig Roast & Chicken BBQ of the Year, Westtown Amish Market, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. while supplies last
May 3 - Gay Street Closure begins, Downtown West Chester. It will continue each weekend, Friday through Sunday, until the end of September.
May 3 - Wool Needle Felted Owl Class, Nightingale Materials, 118 N. High St, 2 p.m. Learn the art of needle felting. Transform wool into a whimsical project. 2.5 hour class. $60.
May 3 - Ramboree, 3 - 8 p.m. Enjoy food, games, live music and so much more! Ramboree takes place at Ram Park, the large open area next to Sykes Student Union, 117 Norfolk Ave. This event is free and open to the Campus Community.
May 3 - Spring Gallery Walk, Downtown West Chester, 4 p.m. Celebrate West Chester’sthriving art community with this self-guided art tour. This is a free event.
May 3 - West Chester's First Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, Jitters, 6:30 p.m.
May 3 - WCU Criterions Jazz Concert, WCU Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, 7:30 - 9 p.m. This is a free event. Tickets are not required.
May 3 - Bacon Gives Back, Uptown Theater, 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from this improv comedy performance will go to support the West Chester Food Co-op. Tickets: $25.
May 3 - East Senior Prom, East High School
May 3 - First Friday Jazz featuring Dave Mattock & Funktap, 4 West Prescott Alley, 7:30 - 9 p.m., FUNKTAP is early jazz borrowing from funk, fusion, rock & hip hop. Tickets: $15/adult; $10/student.
May 4 - Yoga in the Park, Everhart Park, 9 a.m. Join Triple Threat Fitness for an outdoor yoga session. $10/class. Bring a mat!
May 4 - West Chester Grower’s Market Summer Session begins, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
May 4 - West Chester Community Clean-up 2024, Borough Hall, 401 E. Gay St, 8 - 9 a.m. Tired of looking at trash? Join Mayor Lillian Debaptise and WCPD Chief Joshua Lee to clean up the Borough. Sign up for a 2 to 5 block cleanup here.
May 4 - West Goshen Community Yard Sale, West Goshen Township, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Township residents looking to participate are asked to register by Apr. 28.
May 4 - Taste of WC- Sip & Savor Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser, Safe Habor, 20 N. Matlack St., 3 - 8 p.m. Enjoy a fun-filled day at the Taste of West Chester - Sip & Savor Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser. Tickets: $20 - All proceeds benefit Safe Harbor.
May 4 - 90s Rockfest, Uptown, 7:30 p.m. Lounge Fly is the premier tribute to Stone Temple Pilots. Tickets: $35/advance; $40/door; Plus, $5/service fee
May 4 - Intro to Cyanotypography, Nightingale Materials, 118 N. High St, 10:30 a.m. Learn how to use organic materials to create your own cyanotype prints using photo chemistry techniques from the 1840s. $65
May 5 - Spring Pop-up Art Mart, Align.Space, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Live music, food and beer tastings by Artillery Brewing and more than 20 vendors to browse.
May 5 - Sugar Bridge Farm Spring Festival, Sugars Bridge Farm, 839 Sugar Bridge Rd, 1 - 4 p.m. Come out to the farm for an afternoon of fun activities from farm tours to alpaca demonstrations, craft tables, and a musical performance by Two of a Kind. Proceeds go to support Camp Barnyard. Tickets: $25/each or 4/$75.
May 5 - Celebrations: Spring Concert by Chester County Concert Band, Fugett Middle School, 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $10/adults; $7/students/seniors
May 5 - WCU Opera: Candide, WCU Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, 3 - 4:30 p.m. Leonard Bernstein’s comic operetta is based on Voltaire’s satire of innocence, optimism and the unexpected lessons of life. With a legendary score, Candide is funny, philosophical and deeply moving. Tickets: $12/adults; WCU Students/staff free with ID
May 6 - Open House: Boy Scout Troop 14, United Methodist Church, 129 S. High St, 7:30 p.m. Prospective scouts and their parents/guardians are invited to learn more about the troop. Rather dive right in? join Troop 14 for a weekend of boating and/or camping on May 18th. More information and registration at westchestertroop14.org
May 9 - 12 - West Chester University Graduation, 14 ceremonies are planned at varying locations over the course of the weekend.
May 10 - Midlife Cafe, 225 E. Market St, 11 a.m. Supportive community for women embracing life's Second Spring. Dive into discussions about well-being, share wisdom, and grow together. This a free event to connect with others going through a similar experience.
May 10 - Mother & Child Painting Class, Nightingale Materials, 118 N. High St, 4:30 p.m. In this playful workshop, mother and child collaborate on a single piece of art. Work together using drawing, painting, and collage to create your joint masterpiece. $25
May 11 - Yoga in the Park, Everhart Park, 9 a.m. Join Triple Threat Fitness for an outdoor yoga session. $10/class. Bring a mat!
May 11 - West Chester Grower’s Market Summer Session, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. every Saturday.
May 11 - Polinator Garden Planting, 1 E Chestnut St., 9 a.m. Help the West Chester Green Team and Oscar Lasko YMCA transform the strip of land between the street and the sidewalk from the Chester County History Center and the Y into a polinator garden. Garden tools and gloves requested. RSVP now if you can make it.
May 11 - Mission to Mars Workshop, American Helicopter Museum, 1 - 3 p.m. In this workshop, learn what is needed to get to Mars and what we would need to do to live there once we got there. Tickets: $30 - ages 6 - 11
May 11 - Fierce Women of West Chester Walking Tour, Chester County History Center, 1:30 p.m. Tour covers approximately 1.5 miles and lasts 90 minutes. Tickets: $15
May 12 - Mother's Day Express, West Chester Railroad, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Mom rides for $5! Tickets: $25/adults; $20/kids 2-12; 2 and under ride free.
May 12 - Fierce Women of West Chester Walking Tour, Chester County History Center, 12:30 p.m. Tour covers approximately 1.5 miles and lasts 90 minutes. Tickets: $15

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.