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  • Get ready for an artsy new restaurant and cocktail bar | Inquirer Chester County

    Get ready for an artsy new restaurant and cocktail bar | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    The group helping to revitalize Kennett Square’s Birch Street has two new projects in the works, including a restaurant and cocktail lounge. Also this week, a vacant office building in Exton has been converted to a new use, a Coatesville native is appearing on the new season of a reality TV show alongside Donna Kelce, plus why The Inquirer’s Craig LaBan says this West Chester restaurant is one to watch.

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    A new restaurant and cocktail lounge is opening in Kennett Square

    A rendering depicts the proposed exterior of Opus, a new restaurant and cocktail lounge slated to open in the summer.

    A new restaurant and cocktail lounge is coming to Kennett Square this summer. Opus will take over the two-story space at 201 Birch St., which is adjoined to 14-room boutique hotel Artelo. The restaurant space was most recently occupied by Hank’s Place while the Chadds Ford institution rebuilt its longtime home, which was flooded by Hurricane Ida in 2021.

    The 6,000-square-foot building will have a two-story terrace with outdoor dining and serve New American cuisine.

    Opus is the latest development from Square Roots Collective, which has been helping to revitalize Birch Street for the past decade, including through projects like The Creamery, the former dairy turned family-friendly beer garden. Another of its nearby projects, The Francis, is set to open this year. The boutique hotel at 205 S. Union St., also in Kennett Square, will have eight rooms in a reimagined 18th-century home.

    Read more about Opus and The Francis.

    📍 Countywide News

    • Scores of demonstrators protesting the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer gathered across the region over the weekend, including a rally in West Chester on Sunday that drew about 1,000 attendees. (Daily Local News)
    • County officials are reviewing findings from an investigation into an error that excluded independent voters from poll books during the November election. Officials said they will develop a plan following their review so that similar errors don’t happen again. The county will present findings and its response at the Board of Elections meeting on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
    • PennDot is hosting two public meetings in the next week regarding plans for what it’s dubbed the U.S. 30 Eastern Project Area, which includes alternative routes for the Route 30 mainline and the Reeceville Road, Route 340, and Route 322 interchanges, as well as revised alternatives for the Norwood Road and Route 113 interchanges. The construction is part of a larger project to upgrade 14.5 miles of the Coatesville-Downingtown Bypass to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, and accommodate future development. The first meeting will be held virtually tomorrow at 6 p.m. There’s a second in-person meeting on Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School in West Brandywine Township.
    • Good news for Regional Rail riders: SEPTA last week restored 24 express trips, including on the Paoli/Thorndale line, which had previously been operating as local services.

    💡 Community News

    • Four police officers were injured last week when responding to a call on the 400 block of Main Street in Atglen Borough. The officers detained Jon Marcos Muniz, who allegedly fired a handgun into two occupied apartments and barricaded his front door. No other injuries were reported. Muniz is facing a number of felony and misdemeanor charges.
    • M. Patricia Muller was selected as chair of Kennett Township’s Board of Supervisors last week, making her the first woman in the township’s history to hold the role.
    • West Vincent Township’s Board of Supervisors voted last week to pass an ordinance increasing membership on its Open Space Review Board from five to seven members. It also added a trails subcommittee.
    • Heads up for drivers: Newark Road in West Marlborough Township will be closed Monday through Friday next week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tree removal. Norwood Road in East Caln Township will be operating as a single lane with flaggers next Monday through Friday for sewer line work. Peco will be doing electrical work along Happy Creek Lane and Copeland School Road in West Bradford Township as part of a $450,000 infrastructure project to improve reliability and reduce outages, including from storms. Work is scheduled to take place January through April and will impact both roads and some residential yards.
    • A vacant office building at 319 N. Pottstown Pike in Exton has been transformed into “hotel-apartments” with 24 studio and eight one-bedroom units. The group behind it plans to market The Flats On 100 to consultants and visitors of nearby employers, such as Vanguard and QVC, and sees it as a potential model for the region’s empty office buildings.
    • Also in Exton, retailer Nordstrom Rack plans to open a 30,000-square-foot shop at Main Street at Exton this fall.
    • Could popular HBO series Mare of Easttown return for a second season? Kate Winslet seems to be ready for the Delaware County-set show, created by Berwyn native Brad Ingelsby, to return, and recently indicated filming could start as early as 2027. While the award-winning actor is on board, nothing official has been announced yet.
    • Coatesville native and figure skating icon Johnny Weir made his debut on the fourth season of Peacock reality TV show The Traitors last week. Weir is joined on this season of challenge-meets-eliminations-style show — hosted by Alan Cumming at his castle in Scotland — by Donna Kelce, Tara Lipinski, and a slew of reality TV personalities. The first three episodes dropped last week. Catch up on what happened here. (Warning: Spoilers!)
    • Phoenixville residents may have recently spotted an unusual sight on phone poles: Fliers that read “Seeking: Experienced Witch to Curse My Ex.” The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz delves into how they came to be.
    • The GameStop at 1115 West Chester Pike in West Chester shuttered last week as part of a mass closure by the gaming retailer.

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • Reminder for families: There are no classes Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
    • Avon Grove School District is considering adopting a new textbook, myPerspectives, from Savvas Learning Company for sixth through eighth grade English Language Arts students next school year. The public can review the textbook, which was put to the school’s education committee for consideration earlier this month, and provide feedback during a 30-day period through early February. The proposed change comes as part of the district’s regular curriculum review cycle, said Jason Kotch, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.
    • Tredyffrin/Easttown School District has released its 2026-27 preliminary budget proposal, which includes a $14.9 million operational deficit. The district’s board and administration say they plan to close the gap through “a combination of increases in the property tax rate, expenditure reductions, or the use of existing reserves.” It will host budget workshops on March 9 and April 13, with plans to adopt the budget in June. The board will not vote on a tax rate before June 8. See the preliminary budget here. The district is also hosting a special school board meeting tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Conestoga High School to discuss the school board director vacancy. And from Jan. 20 to 26, there will be an open registration period for all new kindergarten and first grade students planning to start school in September.
    • Octorara Area School District is hosting a “kindergarten readiness” event tomorrow from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Octorara Primary Learning Center in Atglen for families with children eligible for kindergarten next school year.
    • West Chester Area School District student registration for the 2026-27 school year is open.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    👭 Steel Magnolias: Tickets are going fast for this adaptation of the popular 1989 film taking center stage for its monthlong run at People’s Light. ⏰ Wednesday, Jan. 14-Sunday, Feb. 15, days and times vary đŸ’” Prices vary 📍 People’s Light, Malvern

    🍔 Taste of Phoenixville: Now in its 24th year, the annual fundraiser will bring together over 20 food and drink vendors. There will also be live music and a silent auction. ⏰ Thursday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m. đŸ’” $150 📍 Franklin Commons, Phoenixville

    🌿 Winter Wonder: While Christmas may get most of the attention, Longwood Gardens’ conservatories will be filled with colorful plants throughout the remainder of winter. The gardens are open daily except Tuesdays. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 16-Sunday, March 22 đŸ’” $17-$32 for non-members, free to members 📍 Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square

    🎭 Broadway at the Colonial Theatre: Several Broadway stars, including area native Amanda Jane Cooper, who played Glinda in the North American tour of Wicked, will perform. ⏰ Sunday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. đŸ’” $30-$65 📍 The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

    🏡 On the Market

    A West Chester Colonial accessed via a covered bridge

    The front of the home has a covered porch.

    Situated in a wooded stretch of East Goshen, this Colonial, along with several others in its cul-de-sac, has a unique access point: Locksley Covered Bridge, which was erected in the 1960s. The four-bedroom, two-and-half-bath home features a family room, living room, dining room, and eat-in kitchen, which has granite countertops and a wood-burning fireplace. There’s a screened-in porch off the dining room, with skylights and brick flooring, which leads to the backyard, where there’s a patio and play set.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $764,000 | Size: 3,137 SF | Acreage: 1

    đŸ—žïž What other Chester County residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • An artsy new restaurant and cocktail bar is coming to Kennett Square

    An artsy new restaurant and cocktail bar is coming to Kennett Square

    Birch Street will get a new restaurant and cocktail lounge this summer as its makeover in Kennett Square continues.

    Opus, a New American upscale restaurant with a second-floor cocktail lounge, will open at 201 Birch St., adjoined to Artelo, a 14-room boutique hotel. Opus is a new initiative for Square Roots Collective, an organization that builds businesses and uses the profits to support nonprofits in southern Chester County.

    Opus will boast 125 seats in its 6,000 square-foot building, with outdoor dining and a two-story terrace. During the day, the cocktail bar will serve breakfast to the public and guests of Artelo.

    The restaurant, which will be adorned by curated art pieces and a hand-painted ceiling mural, is an extension of Artelo, which Square Roots Collective opened in 2024. The hotel, which replaced the former Birch Inn, offers an immersive art experience, with each room painted by a local or regional artist, creating a living piece of art.

    That same principle will follow in Opus, said Luke Zubrod, chief of staff for Square Roots Collective.

    “It’s kind of the anchor to Birch Street,” he said. “It’s really kind of setting the tone for the street as a whole — and the tone it’ll set is really an artistic tone. This is a street kind of filled with beauty, and I think that that theme will be more evident over time.”

    It’s part of a larger effort to revitalize Birch Street, which has in recent years seen more development, including Square Roots Collective’s beer garden The Creamery, and streetscaping. In the coming years, the street will be resurfaced, and the borough plans to add a trail on one side and sidewalk on the other, along with new streetlights and crosswalks. Square Roots Collective worked with the borough to secure funds for that investment, leaning on grant dollars from the state and county, Zubrod said.

    “In addition to the Opus itself, there’s a lot to look forward to,” Zubrod said. “This street is really receiving some public investment that will make it a really vibrant and beautiful place.”

    Along with Artelo and The Creamery, 100% of Opus’ funds will go to the organization’s nonprofit, focused on community improvement, he said.

    “I think in addition to just being a really exciting restaurant concept, it’s also one people can feel really good about in terms of helping to make the community better,” he said.

    Another boutique hotel coming

    The Francis, a boutique hotel in central Kennett Square, is slated to open this year. The eight-room hotel will reimagine an 18th century home, and pay homage to the region’s history.

    Meanwhile, also coming this year, the collective will open another boutique hotel, at 205 S. Union St. The Francis, an ode to Francis Smith who named Kennett Square for his home back in England, will have eight rooms, each dedicated to the history of the town.

    The hotel will reimagine an 18th-century home, and offer single rooms and loft suites with kitchenettes, plus balcony or courtyard access.

    One room — “The Watchmaker” — will honor a former resident and watchmaker, Thomas Milhous. Another room, “The Gardener,” will pay homage to the region’s first big harvest: flowers. Others nod to battlegrounds, four generations of a local family, education, plus the region’s history with the Underground Railroad, the Lenni-Lenape tribe and its “rich immigrant history.”

    The collective plans on luscious landscaping, with a courtyard serving as “a little bit of an oasis,” said Zubrod.

    “There is an appetite to have kind of quaint boutique hotels in the area to meet the needs of people who are coming for Longwood [Gardens] especially,” he said.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • A Malvern teen is launching free art classes for kids | Inquirer Chester County

    A Malvern teen is launching free art classes for kids | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    Welcome to the first full week of 2026. We’re kicking off the new year with the story of a Malvern teen who’s helping kids find joy in art. Also this week, four new county officials have been sworn in, West Bradford Township’s property taxes are being slashed, plus the search is on for a new tenant at the former Iron Hill in West Chester.

    We want your feedback! Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at chestercounty@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    A 15-year-old’s nonprofit looks to spread the joy of art

    Faridah Ismaila launched nonprofit A Paint-full of Promise to connect younger students with free monthly art classes.

    A Great Valley High School sophomore will soon be bringing her passion for art to young students in the district.

    Inspired by the phrase “Do what makes you happy,” Faridah Ismaila recently launched nonprofit A Paint-full of Promise to provide free monthly art classes for kindergarteners through sixth graders, The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz reports.

    The program is slated to kick off this month with a winter wonderland-themed class. Ismaila is working with district educators to offer the workshops where students can learn new skills and express themselves.

    Read more about what inspired A Paint-full of Promise.

    📍 Countywide News

    💡 Community News

    • Erica Deuso was sworn in Monday as mayor of Downingtown, making her the first openly transgender mayor in the state.
    • A person on a trail on Warwick Furnace Road in Warwick Township was recently injured by a coyote, prompting the Chester County Health Department to look for the animal. It’s unknown if the coyote is rabid.
    • Residents of West Bradford Township will see a decrease in their property taxes this year, bucking a trend in the region. The 50% reduction is due in part to a mix of savings during the pandemic and more revenue from long-term leases.
    • The community is mourning the death of photographer, filmmaker, and Kennett Square resident Robert Caputo, who died Dec. 18 at a voluntary assisted dying center in Switzerland. Throughout his career, Mr. Caputo traveled the world, producing stories, films, and photographs for National Geographic magazine, Time, PBS, and TNT. The 76-year-old was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year.
    • A Malvern office building at 52 Swedesford Rd. is poised for demolition to make way for a mixed-use development with 250 apartments and retail space, including a market and cafe. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • The 33,000-square-foot Acme-anchored shopping center at 785 Starr St. in Phoenixville recently sold for nearly $7.4 million. The sale didn’t include Acme’s space.
    • The state’s Department of Environmental Protection is expected to evaluate surface and well water at the Bishop Tube HSCA Site in East Whiteland Township this month for contaminants such as PFAS, volatile organic compounds, and inorganics, as well as fluoride.
    • The Paoli Memorial Association in Malvern has been awarded a $325,000 grant, which will help fund construction of the Paoli-Malvern Heritage Center. The center, which will be adjacent to the Paoli Battlefield, will preserve an 1817 obelisk and offer interpretive exhibits.
    • Several Chester County communities have received funding from the state’s Green Light-Go Program aimed at improving traffic safety and mobility. Upper Uwchlan Township has been awarded over $920,000 to upgrade detection and controller equipment at Route 100 and Graphite Mine Road. West Whiteland Township is getting nearly $390,000 to upgrade multiple intersections along Route 100 and Commerce Drive. And East Whiteland Township will get almost $192,000 to modernize Lancaster Avenue and Conestoga Road.
    • Heads up for drivers: Asplundh will be pruning trees along Goshen Road between Pottstown Pike and Hillside Drive in West Chester throughout the first quarter of 2026.
    • Paoli Hospital is among Forbes Top Hospitals for 2026 and is the sole Chester County institution on the list.
    • Two new gyms are now open: CrossFit Reckoning opened this week at 199 Reeceville Rd. in Coatesville and Planet Fitness has opened at 270 Swedesford Rd. in Berwyn.
    • On Monday, Coatesville-based Presence Bank became part of Norwood Financial Corp.’s Wayne Bank after being acquired for $54.9 million. Presence has two Chester County branches, in Coatesville and Oxford.
    • Kennett Area Senior Center, the nonprofit helping older adults, took on a new name at the start of the year. It’s now known as The Gathering Place at Kennett.
    • Looking to dispose of your Christmas tree? Upper Uwchlan will collect trees curbside on Jan. 15; Spring City residents can place trees curbside daily through Jan. 30 for pickup; East Pikeland residents can place trees curbside on Wednesdays in January or drop them off at the township yard waste recycling facility; West Vincent residents can drop them off at the township building through Jan. 23; and Phoenixville residents can place them curbside with trash through Feb. 28. Trees can also be dropped off at the compost site at 18 S. 2nd Ave.
    • It’s the last chance for residents in Easttown (through Jan. 12) and Upper Uwchlan (through Jan. 15) to recycle old holiday lights.

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • Tredyffrin/Easttown School District is hosting its elementary new student registration window for next school year from Jan. 20-26. Learn more here.
    • West Chester Area School District has an opening on its school board following Alex Christy’s resignation ahead of his term’s expiration next December. Applications to fill the vacancy are open until noon on Jan. 21.
    • Coatesville offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller was named to Sporting News’ 2025 High School Football All-America Team. The junior is rated the top interior offensive line in his class.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    • The search is on for someone to take over the former Iron Hill Brewery in West Chester. Over the holidays, building owner John Barry acquired the liquor license and all assets inside the space, which he said will help him “to get a better tenant in there.”
    • In case you missed it, The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reflected on the most notable restaurant openings of 2025. They include Bao Nine in Malvern, The Borough in Downingtown, Jolene’s in West Chester, L’Olivo Trattoria in Exton, The Local in Phoenixville, and Stubborn Goat Brewing in West Grove. See the full list here. The Borough also made Klein’s roundup of the best new pizza restaurants to open in the region last year.
    • As for the best things Inquirer food writers ate last year, the Caramelia at Longwood Gardens’ 1906 restaurant was up there. Paying homage to Kennett Square’s mushroom industry, the red-topped mushroom-shaped dessert features chocolate mousse with espresso and caramel flavors.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎹 An Ancestral Journey: Moore College of Art grad Roe Murray’s works will be on display for the next few weeks. She will also participate in an artist talk on Jan. 28. ⏰ Thursday, Jan. 8-Thursday, Jan. 29, times vary đŸ’” Free 📍 Chester County Art Association West Chester Galleries

    đŸŽ¶ A Grand Night For Singing: This rendition will celebrate the wide-ranging works of Rodgers & Hammerstein with singing, dancing, and a live orchestra. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 9-Sunday, Jan. 18, select days and times đŸ’” $31.60-$36.70 📍 SALT Performing Arts, Chester Springs

    🧁 Pinkalicious the Musical: The musical adaptation of the book follows a pink-loving heroine who inadvertently turns herself into her favorite color by eating too many cupcakes. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 9-Sunday, Jan. 18, select days and times đŸ’” $21-$30 📍 Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester

    🏡 On the Market

    An airy four-bedroom Kennett Square carriage home

    The carriage home has a two-car garage and a screened-in porch that leads to a deck.

    Located in the Villages at Northridge, this Kennett Square carriage home is just a few years old. The great room, which has a fireplace, opens to the kitchen, where there’s two-toned cabinetry, an island with a farmhouse sink, a pantry, and a dining area with a built-in beverage station complete with a bar refrigerator and ice maker. The great room also has access to the screened-in porch, which leads to the deck. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a double sink vanity. The finished lower level walk-out has another bedroom, a full bathroom, and a living room.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $975,000 | Size: 3,544 SF | Acreage: 0.06

    đŸ—žïž What other Chester County residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • 18 ways to ring in the new year in Chester County

    18 ways to ring in the new year in Chester County

    The countdown to 2026 is on, and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. From New Year’s Eve dinner specials to adults-only celebrations and family-friendly gatherings, here’s how to ring in the new year in Chester County.

    New Year’s Eve Events for Adults

    New Year’s Eve at Fenix Bar & Lounge

    Festivities kick off at 5 p.m. with an $8 martini happy hour, followed by music from New Orleans-style jazz band Gumbo Nouveau from 7 to 10 p.m. Festivities continue at Molly Maguire’s after that.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍Fenix Bar & Lounge, 193 Bridge St., Phoenixville; Molly Maguire’s, 197 Bridge St., Phoenixville

    Bistro on Bridge in Phoenixville is hosting a party to celebrate the new year.
    New Year’s Eve Party with DJ Q-Ball and Mike Balik

    Bistro on Bridge will have tunes, party favors, and a champagne toast at midnight during this 21-and-over event.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍Bistro on Bridge, 212 Bridge St., Phoenixville

    New Year’s Party at Rec Room

    Conshohocken Brewing Company’s brewpub and gaming room will have performances from local bands Sun Blind, Florida Wayne Band, and Still Burning, followed by a champagne toast at midnight.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-midnight đŸ’” $15 📍Rec Room, 230 Bridge St., Phoenixville

    The Laugh Lounge at Uptown! New Year’s Eve Edition

    Comedians Chris Coccia and headliner Julia Scotti will perform sets as the clock ticks toward midnight. Tickets include a drink to toast the new year.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m. đŸ’” $45 📍Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N. High St., West Chester

    New Year’s Eve Celebration with The Influence

    Celebrate the end of one year with throwback tunes from another. The Influence, a 1980s tribute band, will play hits throughout the night at this 21-and-over event, and wrap up in time for Kennett Square’s mushroom drop.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8:30-11 p.m. đŸ’” $40 📍Kennett Flash, 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square

    The Colonial Theatre will be transformed into Moulin Rogue for its New Year’s Eve celebration.
    New Year’s Eve at the Moulin Rouge

    Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler will host a fundraiser for the Colonial Theatre, which will resemble Paris’ famous cabaret, Moulin Rouge. The 21-and-over event includes food, drinks, and a champagne toast at midnight.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. đŸ’” $175-$225 📍The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville

    NYE Midnight Mixtape

    Stove & Tap’s throwback party will feature music from across the decades, an open bar, a late-night buffet, a disco ball, dancing, and a champagne toast.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. đŸ’” $75 📍Stove & Tap, 158 W. Gay St., West Chester

    Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Events

    Have a Ball! New Year Family Event

    In advance of the holiday, kids can create their own party kit, including a noisemaker and a hat. There will also be cookie decorating and themed games.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 27, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. đŸ’” $10 📍Chester County History Center, 225 N. High St., West Chester

    Longwood Gardens will have musical performances on the last day of the year.
    New Year’s Eve at Longwood Gardens

    Explore the gardens, which are decked out for the holidays, as a number of musicians perform throughout the grounds, including an organist, from 4 to 10 p.m. Timed reservations are required.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. đŸ’” $25-$45 for nonmembers, free for members 📍Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Rd., Kennett Square

    Studio 323’s Noon Year’s Eve Celebration

    Kids can make their own party hats and noisemakers, listen to music, dance, enjoy food, and participate in a balloon and confetti drop at noon.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. đŸ’” $49 📍Studio 323, 323 Bridge St., Phoenixville

    Noon Year’s Eve at the Henrietta Hankin Branch Library

    The library will have dancing, activities, and a photo booth ahead of a countdown to noon for kids 10 and under. Registration is required.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Henrietta Hankin Branch Library, 215 Windgate Dr., Chester Springs

    Honey Brook Library’s New Year’s Eve Party

    Kids ages 4 to 12 can hear a story, make crafts, and count down to noon. Registration is required.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Honey Brook Library, 687 Compass Rd., Honey Brook

    Avon Grove Library’s New Year Countdown

    Celebrate the new year with a midday countdown and crafts at this drop-in event.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Avon Grove Library, 117 Rosehill Ave., West Grove

    Midnight in the Square

    The mushroom capital of the world will drop its signature lighted mushroom to mark the end of 2025 and the start of 2026. There will also be live music starting at 7 p.m. and a laser show.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-midnight đŸ’” Free with the donation of non-perishable food 📍Downtown Kennett Square

    New Year’s Day on the Farm

    Spend the first day of 2026 at Springton Manor Farm, which will have kids’ crafts, hot chocolate, and visits with its resident animals during this drop-in event.

    ⏰ Thursday, Jan. 1, 1-4 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Springton Manor Farm, 860 Springton Rd., Glenmoore

    New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Dining

    Social Lounge

    Grab dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. or swing by as the clock counts down for $5 draft beer, house wine, and “Mistletoe Margaritas” from 10 p.m. until midnight. There will also be a complimentary dessert table starting at 10 p.m. and a midnight toast.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m.-midnight đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍Social Lounge, 117 E. Gay St., West Chester

    9 Prime New Year’s Eve Celebration

    Tickets to the West Chester steakhouse’s celebration include charcuterie and a champagne toast. There will also be themed cocktails available.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, dinner seatings 4-10:45 p.m., celebrations start at 9 p.m. đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍9 Prime, 9 N. High St., West Chester

    White Dog Cafe is hosting a New Year’s Day “pajama brunch,” where attendees are encouraged to where their PJs.
    Pajama Brunch at White Dog Cafe

    On New Year’s Day, White Dog Cafe is again hosting its Pajama Brunch, which encourages attendees to wear their PJs to the restaurant, where an à la carte menu will be available. Reservations are encouraged.

    ⏰ Thursday, Jan. 1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. đŸ’” Prices vary 📍White Dog Cafe, 181 Gordon Dr., Exton

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Can’t score a Longwood Gardens reservation this week? See these other festive Philly-area options.

    Can’t score a Longwood Gardens reservation this week? See these other festive Philly-area options.

    Deanna Baker made reservations for A Longwood Christmas in late summer.

    The 32-year-old Downingtown resident has been gifted a Longwood Gardens membership each of the past five years, but even the member reservations for the annual holiday light show book up well in advance. So she secures her family’s time slots while the weather is still warm.

    “Yes, it’s ridiculous this time of year,” she said of the Longwood demand at Christmastime. But “yes, it’s worth it.”

    Baker, who works in operations for Victory Brewing Co., said there is “a magical element” to the experience, whether she’s going with her toddler or her adult friends and relatives. She went once in early December and plans to return in the afternoon on Christmas Day.

    Every holiday season, hundreds of thousands of people visit A Longwood Christmas, which serves as an “economic engine” for the business communities in Kennett Square and surrounding towns, as Cheryl B. Kuhn, CEO of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce, recently described it.

    Brandywine Valley businesses are getting a Christmas bonus — from Longwood Gardens

    Longwood Gardens’ holiday attendance has increased nearly 42% since pre-pandemic times. Last year, 650,000 people visited the gardens at Christmas, up from 609,000 the prior holiday season and from 458,000 during the 2019-2020 event (the show ends in the beginning of January).

    Many of these guests book months in advance, leaving last-minute planners few options for afternoon and nighttime visits during the holiday week.

    More than 500,000 lights shimmer at Longwood Gardens’ A Longwood Christmas through Jan. 11, 2026.

    “We open ticketing in July, and there are always a few early planners that buy tickets and make reservations then,” Longwood Gardens spokesperson Patricia Evans said in a statement. “By late Octoberish, the most desirable evening time slots on the weekends and the week of and following Christmas tend to be sold out.”

    But as of Monday, Evans noted, some tickets were available for time slots before noon and after 8:30 p.m. for the remaining days of December. Availability opens up in January, she added. The holiday lights stay on through Jan. 11.

    If nonmembers snag tickets, the experience will cost $45 a person for adults and $25 a person for kids, which Evans said is a $2-$3 per person increase from last year. Children 4 and under are free.

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    Philly-area holiday attractions that have availability

    For Philly-area residents who want to enjoy a festive experience before 8 p.m., or at a slightly lower price point, other options have availability this week.

    As of Monday afternoon, the ice skating rinks at City Hall and Penn’s Landing had online reservations available for any day this week, though spokespeople said some time slots can sell out around the holidays. Both cost about $20 per person for admission and a skate rental.

    LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo also still had tickets available every operating night through Jan. 3 as of Monday afternoon.

    A family walked into the Philadelphia Zoo’s LumiNature holiday light display in this December 2021 file photo.

    “While tickets are available, the most popular times that guests reserve their tickets for are from 5-6 p.m., and it is likely that that particular hour will sell out on our most popular nights,” zoo spokesperson Maria Bryant said.

    Last year, LumiNature saw nearly 70,000 guests, according to Bryant, and it is on pace to exceed that number this season.

    Depending on the day, tickets cost between $25 and $29 per nonmember 12 and over, and $20 and $24 per child between the ages of 2 and 11. Younger children are free.

    Nighttime turned the Philadelphia Zoo into a wonderland of lights as LumiNature returned for its third year in December 2022.

    In the suburbs, the Elmwood Park Zoo’s Wild Lights “will not sell out,” with “plenty of tickets for each day of the rest of the event,” marketing director Kyle Gurganious said. Guests can buy at the gate, he added, or book online to save $1 per person.

    For nonmembers, online tickets are $27 per person 13 and older and $24 per child between the ages of 3 and 12. Children under 3 are free.

    Last season, the Norristown attraction brought in about 50,000 visitors, a number Gurganious said the zoo is “on track to eclipse 
 significantly” this year.

    Throughout the region, there also free events, such as the Wanamaker Light Show and the Comcast Holiday Spectacular. But be prepared: They can come with long lines and large crowds at popular times.

    Another holiday sellout in Philly

    A miniature Art Museum was on display in the Holiday Garden Railway at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens in 2023.

    At least one other Philly-area holiday attraction is completely sold out this week: The Holiday Garden Railway Nighttime Express at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens.

    Because it’s “so popular and because we only have a limited number of nights, the Nighttime Express sells out every year,” said Christopher Dorman, the director of visitor experience for the arboretum, which is part of the University of Pennsylvania.

    Those looking to snag tickets for next year may want to mark their calendars: Holiday tickets go on sale at the beginning of November for arboretum members and a week later for the general public.

    Added Dorman: “While the Nighttime Express is sold out, folks can still see the trains all lit up [and the rest of the garden] during normal daytime hours through Dec. 30.”

    And for those turned off by the planning — and expense — required for these paid festivities, there’s always the low-cost, low-commitment option: touring your neighborhood’s home light displays.

  • Christmas at Longwood Gardens is an ‘economic engine’ | Inquirer Chester County

    Christmas at Longwood Gardens is an ‘economic engine’ | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    A Longwood Christmas is more than an annual staple for many — it’s an economic boon for businesses in and around Kennett Square. Also this week, the county has certified the November election results, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made another gift to Lincoln University, plus a new restaurant has opened at the former Lotus Inn.

    We want your feedback! Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at chestercounty@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    A Longwood Christmas makes for a bright economic season in Kennett Square

    State Street in Kennett Square sees lots of additional visitors during the holiday season.

    Kennett Square is buzzing thanks to a holiday swell of visitors in town for the annual Longwood Gardens holiday display.

    To capitalize on the “economic engine” that is “A Longwood Christmas,” merchants kicked off the holiday season a little early this year, including with a festive parade a week ahead of its usual schedule. That decision was a boon for businesses, which reported “record-breaking” sales during Thanksgiving week, something they plan to replicate next year.

    The Longwood effect isn’t just great for the gardens or area shops — it also means increased hotel bookings and full restaurant dining rooms.

    The Inquirer’s Tony Wood delves into Longwood’s year-round impact on neighboring businesses.

    📍 Countywide News

    • The county’s Board of Elections certified November’s general election results on Friday as it continues to investigate why third-party voters weren’t included in poll books. (WHYY)
    • The Chester County Economic Development Council launched a new program last week aimed at helping startups and entrepreneurs throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. The investment group, i2n Angels, will fund promising early-stage companies with between $50,00 and $500,000, as well as provide coaching and advice.
    • The Chester County Department of Community Development was recently recognized by community solutions organization Built for Zero for its efforts in reducing homelessness. County CEO David Byerman said there was a 33% decrease in first-time homelessness in 2024 compared to 2022 and that the number of people entering emergency shelters was slashed by nearly half over the past five years.
    • SEPTA missed Friday’s federally imposed deadline to finish repairs to the heat-detection system on its Regional Rail cars. The agency said the lapse was due to a shortage of the thermal wire required to make the repairs. Installation of the backordered wire for 30 of SEPTA’s remaining trains is expected to be completed next week.

    💡 Community News

    • Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made another donation to Lincoln University, this time for $25 million. The no-strings-attached gift to the historically Black college will support scholarships and other initiatives.
    • Last week, PennDot outlined its updated plans for the busy intersection at Old Baltimore Pike and Newark Road in New Garden Township, a project that is expected to cost upward of $11 million and has already been pushed from its original timeline. In 2022, the agency projected work would get underway in 2025, but plans now call for the three-phase project to begin in 2028 and is expected to take several years to complete. (Daily Local)
    • South Coatesville Borough has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to hire a full-time municipal manager. There’s no timeline yet for when the hiring process will begin.
    • After 45 years, Brandywine Conservancy announced last week that 2026 will be its last year as the sole operator and beneficiary of the Radnor Hunt Races. The popular Malvern steeplechase event is looking for a new operator going forward. The 2026 races will take place May 16.
    • Still in search of a fresh-cut Christmas tree? Wiggins Farm, which has locations in Cochranville and West Chester, is one of a number of area farms offering delivery this year. The service runs about $50 near West Chester and jumps to $75 for deliveries more than 30 minutes away.
    • Residents in West Bradford Township are expressing concern over skyrocketing sewer bills after being switched to a metered rate for running water rather than the previous flat rate. The change doesn’t differentiate between interior and exterior water use, causing some residents to say they’re now being charged for a service that isn’t being provided. (CBS News Philadelphia)
    • NBC10 recently profiled The Barn at Spring Brook Farm in West Chester, a nonprofit that connects children and teens with disabilities to nature- and animal-based programming. The organization launched in 2005 and served 477 children last year alone. See the segment here.
    • Gadaleto’s Seafood Market in West Chester will continue providing family meals for free to those in need throughout the holiday season. (6abc)
    • Santa is making a stop in Spring City and East Vincent Township this weekend. At 11 a.m. on Sunday, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph will hop aboard one of Liberty Fire Company’s trucks and travel around town.

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • New student registration for kindergarten through 12th grade is now open for the 2026-27 school year at Downingtown Area School District.
    • Last Friday, several school districts throughout the county held reorganization meetings, swearing in new members as well as voting on leadership. In Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, Sue Tiede was elected president and Kenneth Hong as vice president. In the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, the board reelected Victoria Baratta and Erin Talbert as president and vice president, respectively. And Avon Grove School District’s board reelected Dorothy Linn as president, and elected Ruchira Singh as vice president.
    • Some local high school football players have signed on to play college ball. Last week, Malvern Prep edge rusher Jackson Ford committed to playing with Penn State next year. Fellow Prep teammates Max Mohring, a linebacker, will head to Northwestern University, and running back Ezekiel Bates will play for Minnesota. Kennett Square kicker Shay Barker is headed to Syracuse University and West Chester East offensive tackle Tyler Duell is off to Rutgers.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    • The former Lotus Inn in Berwyn has gotten new life. Karthic Venkatachalam and Gopal Dhandpani of Nalal Indian Cuisine in Downingtown and Adyar Cafe in Exton opened Vibe Haus Indian Plates & Taps there last week. The restaurant, at 402 Swedesford Rd., features Indian-meets-American pub food, with plans to add a brewery in the coming months.
    • Our Deli CafĂ© expanded to its second location on Monday, opening at 498 Nutt Rd. in Phoenixville. The Paoli-based eatery serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including staples like burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and milkshakes.
    • After nearly two years in business, Bookstore Bakery in West Chester has announced it will close at the end of the year. Located at 145 W. Gay St., the shop was known for its selection of both books and baked goods, including customized cakes.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎁 There are more holiday markets and events taking place this weekend, including the Downingtown Good Neighbor Christmas Parade on Saturday. That same day, Christkindlmarkt takes over part of Gay Street in West Chester, and on Sunday, shoppers can browse vendors at the Berwyn Holiday Market at Bronze Plaza. On Saturday and Sunday, the Kennett Square Holiday Village Market returns for its second weekend at The Creamery, while in Phoenixville, Fitzwater Station’s Christmas Village continues. On Sunday evening, Congregation B’nai Jacob in Phoenixville will host its Hanukkah Celebration with a menorah lighting, jelly donuts, and games of dreidel.

    Here’s what else is happening around Chester County:

    🎭 Anastasia: It’s the final weekend to catch SALT Performing Arts’ stage performance of the lost Romanov. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14, times vary đŸ’” $31.60-$36.70 📍 SALT Performing Arts, Chester Springs

    🏡 Home Alone: Catch a screening of the beloved holiday classic, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 12:15, 4:30 and 7 p.m. đŸ’” $10-$15 📍 The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

    đŸŠâ€đŸ”„ Phoenixville Firebird Festival: Now in its 22nd year, the festival inspired by ancient mythology and the symbols of resurrection and renewal returns to Phoenixville, where a 20-foot phoenix will be burned. There will also be a Festival Village. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 4 p.m. đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍 Reservoir Park, Phoenixville

    🏡 On the Market

    A fully updated five-bedroom West Chester home

    Part of the family room’s ceiling reaches two stories, while another part has a stone fireplace.

    Located just outside the borough, this West Goshen Township home recently underwent a full update, with over $560,000 in improvements. The sprawling home features an office, dining and living rooms, and an open-concept kitchen on the first floor. A sunny family room, part of which spans two stories, features a stone fireplace. There are four bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with two vanities, a soaking tub, and dressing area with a wardrobe and separate walk-in closets. Other features include a finished walk-out basement and a new deck overlooking the pool.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $1.65M | Size: 6,579 SF | Acreage: 1.81

    đŸ—žïž What other Chester County residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Brandywine Valley businesses are getting a Christmas bonus — from Longwood Gardens

    Brandywine Valley businesses are getting a Christmas bonus — from Longwood Gardens

    It’s December, by far the coldest week of the season to date and due to get colder, but to Jeff Hulbert, the Brandywine Valley these days evoke July — July at the Jersey Shore, that is.

    Business has been brisk, and the human traffic thick along State Street, where he and partner Sandra Morris own and operate the popular Portabello’s of Kennett Square restaurant.

    Like the peak summer weeks at the Shore, where Hulbert used to work in Atlantic City, this time of year, the Kennett Square area “is twice as busy.” The reason, in a word, is “Longwood.”

    Specifically, the annual “Longwood Christmas” festival, an “economic engine” not only for Kennett but for other towns in the region, said Cheryl B. Kuhn, CEO of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce.

    Longwood has played a “significant role in the area’s growth,” said Nancy Toltain, director of hotel operations at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kennett. Some guests book their reservations a year in advance, she said.

    This year, the merchants on Kennett Street got a jump on the season by turning on the holiday lights and staging the July Fourth-style parade — complete with Mummers and a marching band — on Nov. 22, a week earlier than usual.

    Diners at Portabello’s on Friday evening.

    It was no coincidence that the event coincided with the first weekend that Longwood, four miles to the northeast and about twice the size of the borough, was throwing the switch to illuminate about 500,000 lights for its annual “Longwood Christmas” festival.

    The exuberance is understandable. The Longwood light show is a cause for celebration among the merchants in downtown Kennett Square, a time when business, shall we say, mushrooms in the so-called Mushroom Capital of the World.

    Longwood Christmas is a huge draw — 650,000 people visited last season, which ran from Nov. 22, 2024, to Jan. 11, 2025 — one-third of the annual total. And a whole lot of those who bonded with the plants and the lights ended up in downtown Kennett eating or shopping.

    Moving up the Kennett fest paid immediate dividends, said Daniel Embree, executive director of the Kennett Collaborative, a nonprofit development group that works with Kennett businesses.

    Downtown merchants reported “record-breaking” sales Thanksgiving week, he said, and it gave them five pre-Christmas weekends to make hay, rather than four. They’re planning an encore early start next year.

    Sandra Morris said she and Hulbert will be ready, that in the run-up to the Longwood Christmas, “We know that we need to be staffed up and ready.”

    Local business people and tourism officials say the region’s diverse population and attractions, in addition to Longwood, are tourist draws.

    The Brandywine Museum in Chadds Ford, famous for its Wyeth family paintings, not to mention its elaborate toy train set, and northern Delaware’s Winterthur, with a museum renowned for its Americana collection and its walking paths winding through 1,000 pastoral acres, have long lured holiday crowds.

    But if the area could be likened to a decorated room, Longwood would be the lighted tree with the star on top.

    “If there were no Longwood Gardens, there would be no Portabello’s,” said Hulbert.

    About the Gardens and the Longwood effect

    The theme for Longwood Christmas in 2021 was Fire and Ice, a study in contrasts.

    Longwood Gardens, located on land that Pierre DuPont opened to the public in 1921, is one of the nation’s preeminent horticultural attractions.

    It covers about 1,100 acres, the majority of which is in East Marlborough Township, with the rest in Kennett and Pennsbury Townships. (It has a Kennett Square postal address, but none of it is in the borough, popular perception notwithstanding.)

    About 1.78 million people visited in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, said spokesperson Patricia Evans, more than double the total of 15 years ago. According to its tax filing for the previous fiscal year, it generated about $35 million in admission and restaurant revenue.

    Longwood’s $250 million investment in new buildings and landscaping, part of the “Longwood Reimagined” project, was completed just before last season’s Longwood Christmas, and that likely contributed to a 7% increase in the holiday traffic, compared with last season, Evans said.

    All the land and its building are worth about $160 million, according to Chester County tax records.

    Close to 90% of that is tax exempt, Longwood having won a landmark case in the late 1990s, but local officials and business people say the region has reaped significant economic benefits from the gardens.

    “Longwood is an excellent regional partner,” said Chester County Tourism’s Nina Kelly.

    While the biggest impacts have been on local tourism and hotels, the presence of Longwood probably has given a boost to property values in the area, at least indirectly, said Geoffrey Bosley owner of the local real estate concern LGB Properties & The Market at Liberty Place, a food court and event space on State Street.

    In Kennett Square, aggregate commercial property values have increased nearly 30% in the last 20 years, adjusting for inflation, state tax records show.

    Longwood and Kennett Square

    Portabello’s Restaurant with the owners, Sandra Morris and Brett Hulbert.

    Kennett Square, literally a square mile, is home to many of those who work in the local mushroom industry. Latino residents constitute about half the borough’s population.

    Its median household income, about $75,000, according to Census figures, is among the lowest in Chester County and about half that of some of its wealthier neighboring towns.

    Tourism, particularly Longwood-related, has been a huge boon to the businesses by any measure.

    While the town has just under 6,000 residents, it has a total restaurant seating capacity of 2,000, said Hulbert.

    In all, the downtown has about 150 businesses, said Embree. Part of the allure is Kennett Square’s quaintness and unaffected small-town atmosphere, but Longwood is a huge factor. “That’s why they want to be here,” he said.

    Said Hulbert, “When Longwood Gardens is slow, we are slow. When they are busy, we are busy.”

    While moving up the Kennett Square’s holiday parade gave sales a healthy boost, “I don’t want to overstate the significance of the date,” Embree said.

    Longwood has supported the Kennett Collaborative financially and in other ways, said Embree. The illuminated decorative bunting on State Street was donated by Longwood, a highlight in the conservatory during the 2023 display.

    Said Geoffrey Bosley, “I don’t think you would have as robust a town if we didn’t have a Longwood that would drive so much traffic, especially during the holiday season.”

  • Chesco residents may dodge a tax hike in 2026 | Inquirer Chester County

    Chesco residents may dodge a tax hike in 2026 | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    Welcome to the first edition of The Inquirer’s new weekly newsletter, bringing you community news, important school district and municipal updates, restaurant openings, as well as events throughout the county.

    Chester County residents may avoid a property tax hike despite increased spending in next year’s proposed budget. Also this week, Chester County is home to the region’s most flood-prone waterway, a new Chester County Prison program is helping inmates find second chances, plus, a mixed-use development is being planned on former farmland in Kennett Square.

    As we start this journey together, we’ll want your feedback. Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at chestercounty@inquirer.com. Thanks for joining us!

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Chester County is poised to avoid property tax hikes in 2026

    Chester County Commissioners Eric M. Roe, Josh Maxwell, and Marian D. Moskowitz are expected to pass a 2026 budget that includes no property tax hikes.

    Chester County residents may be the only ones in Philadelphia’s suburbs to dodge a property tax hike in 2026.

    While the county’s proposed budget for next year has a 4.7% spending increase, officials don’t expect to pass that on to taxpayers. That’s thanks to non-personnel budget cuts initiated earlier this year across departments, as well as delayed projects.

    While still navigating financial uncertainty, the bipartisan Board of Commissioners tasked officials with holding “the line in terms of tax increases,” county CEO David Byerman said. The budget is expected to pass doing just that.

    Read more about how the county maintained property taxes for 2026.

    💡 Community News

    • An Inquirer analysis of U.S. Geological Survey data found that the East Branch Brandywine Creek near Downingtown is the most flood-prone waterway in the Philadelphia area. Between 2005 and 2025, it had 11 major and 22 moderate floods, including a record 19.1-foot surge in September 2021 from Hurricane Ida.
    • A portion of former mushroom farmland near the intersection of Routes 41 and 1 in Kennett Square is being eyed for development. Baltimore-based Stonewall Capital is looking to turn the 235-acre site into 622 residential units and shops. The developer plans to begin work on the $300 million White Clay Point project next fall. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • Main Line Health opened a new outpatient facility in Devon on Monday. The $13.8 million, 22,700-square-foot center at 80 W. Lancaster Ave. offers primary care, rehabilitation, imaging, and laboratory services.
    • In case you missed, HBO series Task, which was created by Berwyn native Brad Ingelsby, has been renewed for a second season. The crime drama scored a record $49.8 million tax credit from the state to film locally, the largest amount Pennsylvania has given to a single production.
    • Heads up for drivers: Peco will continue performing utility construction roadwork on Newtown Road between Sugartown and Waterloo Roads in Easttown Township on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 19. And in Caln Township, Pennsylvania American Water will continue water line installation that will shut down Olive Street between South Caln Road and 13th Avenue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through February.
    • In other transportation news, PennDot is hosting a virtual meeting tomorrow at 7 p.m. to discuss proposed improvements to the intersection at Newark Road and Baltimore Pike in New Garden Township.
    • Avondale and West Grove Fire Companies recently voted to merge into a single department. They will operate under a combined name, which is yet to be announced, and continue to provide fire and EMS services to over 120 square miles in southern Chester County. The merger is expected to take about 12 months to complete. The newly formed department will have a mix of both career and volunteer responders.
    • In other emergency services news, Westtown-East Goshen Police Commission last week named a new chief of police for the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department. David Leahy, a 26-year veteran of the department, has been elevated from his role as interim chief and will be sworn in on Dec. 19.
    • Chester County is home to three of the region’s most magical holiday light displays: In West Chester, there’s the Griswold display and the Lights Up Holiday Weekends, while in Nottingham, the Herr’s Holiday Lights Display dazzles with more than 600,000 lights.
    • Those heading into West Chester this season can expect plenty of crowds. The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce estimates 40,000 people will visit the borough throughout the holiday season, including for this weekend’s tree lighting, which features a new 28-foot tree. (Daily Local Times)
    • In Downingtown, borough parking lots will be free through Jan. 1.

    📍 Countywide News

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • Kennett Consolidated School District is considering redistricting its elementary schools due to uneven enrollment and ongoing housing development. The district is drawing up a comprehensive map of planned attendance areas. (Chester County Press)
    • Kindergarten registration for the Coatesville Area School District is now open for the 2026-27 school year.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    • The Local opened its doors yesterday at 324 Bridge St. in Phoenixville, taking over the former Your Mom’s Place. It’s launching this week with breakfast and plans to expand to lunch service shortly. Menu items include breakfast sandwiches, omelets, pancakes, and French toast.
    • Several holiday-themed pop-ups have opened or will soon throughout the county. In West Chester, Station 142 has transformed into Miracle on Market Street; Hotel Indigo has converted its basement speakeasy Room 109 into the North Pole Social; and Slow Hand has added Sleigh Bar. Grain in Kennett Square is serving up holiday sips at its North Pole KSQ pop-up and on Saturday, a Christmas-themed pop-up is taking over 10 N. Main St. in Phoenixville.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎁 Several holiday markets are popping up this weekend, including Historic Sugartown’s Holiday Craft Market & Biergarten on Saturday. Kennett Square’s Holiday Village Market kicks off its two-weekend run this Saturday and Sunday at The Creamery, and for the first time, Fitzwater Station in Phoenixville is hosting a Christmas Village. It takes place Saturday and Sunday and returns for two more weekends after that.

    Here’s what else is happening around Chester County:

    🎭 A Christmas Carol: Catch People’s Light’s adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. ⏰ Through Jan. 4, days and times vary đŸ’” Prices vary 📍 People’s Light, Malvern

    💎 A Longwood Christmas: This year’s annual holiday display is inspired by gems. Timed reservations are required. ⏰ Through Sunday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. đŸ’” $25-$45 for non-members, free for members 📍 Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square

    🎄 West Chester Hometown Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting: The beloved events kick off with the tree lighting at the historic courthouse at 6:30 p.m., followed by the parade at 7 p.m. ⏰ Friday, Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍 Downtown West Chester

    ❄ Coatesville Christmas Parade and Christmas Wonderland: Kick off the day with a parade. Later, Santa will help light the city’s tree. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6, parade starts at 10 a.m., Wonderland is 4-7 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍 Downtown Coatesville

    💃 The Phoenixville Christmas Spectacular: Catch one of three performances of this dance-forward show celebrating Phoenixville’s holiday charm. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6, 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. đŸ’” $18-$25 📍 The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

    👾 Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella: The Broadway adaptation of the beloved fairytale comes to life on stage on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 28, select days and times đŸ’” $40-$50 📍 Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester

    🏡 On the Market

    A Chadds Ford home perfect for entertaining

    The kitchen features an island and looks out on the living room.

    This Chadds Ford home is ideal for a home chef or host, featuring double ovens, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, and a 10-foot island with seating in the kitchen, plus a butler’s pantry with a bar sink and additional storage and prep space between the kitchen and dining room. The updated home, originally built in 1952 from a Sears kit and since expanded, has four bedrooms, including a first floor primary suite. Other features include a large deck and a suite with a kitchenette and a private entrance.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $1.1M | Size: 4,129 SF | Acreage: 2

    đŸ—žïž What other Chester County residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.