Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes

Tag: West Chester

  • 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. 💵 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. 💵 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 💵 $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. 💵 $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. 💵 $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. 💵 $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. 💵 $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. 💵 $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. 💵 $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. 💵 $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. 💵 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. 💵 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. 💵 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 💵 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. 💵 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 💵 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. 💵 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. 💵 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.

  • Chesco has seen ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ this year, with more new businesses to start 2026

    Chesco has seen ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ this year, with more new businesses to start 2026

    As major retailers made Chester County home in 2025, start-ups were the fastest-growing group that the Chester County Economic Development Council found itself providing support for this year.

    The region saw interest in expansions from big manufacturers — think chemical tech company Johnson Matthey, or coffee manufacturer Lavazza — and major retailers, like a Trader Joe’s in Berwyn and Exton, or even a Sheetz deep in Wawa country in Downingtown.

    But in a continued trend from the pandemic, which saw a surge in “entrepreneurial spirit,” the county has seen a continuation of new, small businesses taking shape, said Mike Grigalonis, president and COO for the county’s economic development council.

    “That’s our biggest area of growth, services that we’re providing to start-up businesses and entrepreneurs,” Grigalonis said. “That ranges from a salon, or a cafe, or a retail shop — any of those Main Street mom-and-pop businesses that you might think of — all the way to very kind of cutting-edge high tech, emerging tech — whether that be a new med device, a new drug, a new app, and everything in between.”

    The county’s wide-ranging restaurant scene saw a number of businesses planning new locations.

    Here’s a look around the county at some of the comings and goings in the final stretch of 2025.

    New local spots

    Expansions are on the menu. Stubborn Goat Brewing — which boasts craft beers, food, and a live music lineup — opened its doors this year in West Grove, and is planning an expansion into Kennett Square in 2026.

    Our Deli & Cafe, which has enjoyed four decades in Paoli, opened a second location in Phoenixville this month at 498 Nutt Road.

    The borough also recently welcomed The Local, a breakfast and lunch restaurant at 324 Bridge St.

    In West Chester, Olive & Meadow, a business focused on charcuterie boards and grazing tables, opened its brick-and-mortar location at 1388 Old Wilmington Pike this month.

    The business, which began in 2020 when Ariel LeVasseur dropped off charcuterie boards for her friends to enjoy while they chatted from afar on Zoom, grew from custom orders prepared in a commercial kitchen to a spot where customers can seek grab-and-go board items.

    “I love Chester County. I’m from Delco, but I think Chester County is so historic and beautiful,” she said. “I feel like everybody is very welcoming, and I know that a lot of people like supporting small businesses.”

    The new shop near the former Dilworthtown Inn offers all that, and everything else LeVasseur hopes will make hosting a breeze. Coming next year, she hopes to partner with local wineries and host workshops.

    “I just want them to feel like they stepped into my home, and grab some gourmet cheeses and meats and like, share the love of charcuterie that I have,” she said.

    Others close their doors

    As new businesses enter the scene, the community is also losing some favorites: Bookstore Bakery, a bookstore that offers gourmet pastries at 145 W. Gay St., will be closing its doors by the end of the year after having opened in 2024.

    LaCava Coffee, a neighbor on Gay Street, is also winding down its brick-and-mortar, but will continue selling its coffee beans online.

    “I always wanted to create something that connects my roots and that I can be connected to my home country,” said its owner, Jose Oliva, who is from Honduras. “I started the dream of creating a brand, and by 2022 we were able to accomplish a dream, and by personal efforts, we opened a very beautiful store that we ran and operated into November 2025.”

    Oliva said the increased cost of coffee, a lack of substantive foot traffic, and the initial difficulty in opening the location, which sapped his capital, ultimately led to the decision. He is eyeing a relocation to Virginia.

    “In a business if you don’t have a working capital for innovation, for development, for marketing, it is very difficult. Even so, we did it for almost two years and a few months,” he said. “We did it very successfully and with a lot of pride and we always maintain our customer service at its fullest.”

    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 former West Chester and Temple basketball coach placed hundreds of bets for more than $175,000

    A former West Chester and Temple basketball coach placed hundreds of bets for more than $175,000

    A former Temple guard who worked on coaching staffs at two Philadelphia universities placed hundreds of bets on professional and collegiate games while he was a volunteer coach, the NCAA revealed.

    Khalif Wyatt, who served as an assistant volunteer coach for the men’s basketball team at West Chester University from July 2022 to spring 2023, placed 498 bets on professional and collegiate games between July and November 2022, totaling $176,326, according to the report released Thursday.

    None involved West Chester teams.

    Wyatt, who worked as a director of player development at his alma mater Temple before moving to the Long Island Nets in the NBA’s G League in September, declined to comment.

    As part of the NCAA’s penalty, Wyatt was suspended from 15% of the regular season during the first season of his employment if hired by any other NCAA member. He would not be able to participate in coaching activities during that period.

    What does the violation mean for West Chester?

    The NCAA began its investigation in 2024, when it was investigating another men’s basketball team. During that inquiry, sportsbook operator FanDuel reported Wyatt’s gambling. West Chester did not provide sports betting education to Wyatt, a volunteer coach, until 2023, according to the report. The NCAA found the university also responsible for Wyatt’s gambling.

    The university was fined $2,500 and is on NCAA probation until December 2026.

    A spokesperson for West Chester said, “Though the infraction was committed by a former short-term volunteer,” the school complied with the NCAA’s sanctions. It has further strengthened its compliance education, the spokesperson said.

    Temple did not respond to a message seeking comment.

    Khalif Wyatt was a standout player at Temple.

    Who is Khalif Wyatt?

    Wyatt, 34, grew up in Norristown and attended Norristown Area High School. He was a standout guard at Temple, where he helped the Owls earn two Atlantic 10 titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in four consecutive seasons.

    He finished his career with 1,576 points, 295 assists, and 273 rebounds and was named Atlantic 10 and Big 5 Player of the Year. He remains the program’s all-time leader for most 30-point games (seven) and is one of three Temple players to score more than 30 points in two NCAA Tournament games.

    After his college career, Wyatt spent nearly a decade playing overseas in China (2013-14), Israel (2014-19), and the Philippines (2019-20).

    Where has he coached?

    Wyatt was named to Temple’s staff as its director of player development in July 2023, after previously having served as an assistant coach at West Chester.

    Wyatt spent two seasons with the Owls before leaving for a job with the Brooklyn Nets’ G League team as a video coordinator this offseason.

    Wyatt told The Inquirer in 2023 that he had hoped to be a Division I head coach or work in the NBA.

    What is the NCAA gambling policy?

    The NCAA bans student-athletes, coaches, and athletics staff members from participating in all sports betting activities, regardless of sport or division — including professional sports.

    In late November — after six college men’s basketball players had their eligibility revoked over allegations of sports betting — the NCAA rescinded a rule change that would have allowed student athletes to bet on professional sports.

    Are there other local college betting incidents?

    Former Temple guard Hysier Miller, who overlapped one year with Wyatt on the Owls’ staff, is permanently ineligible to compete in the NCAA after having placed dozens of bets, including some against his team, during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

    The Neumann Goretti graduate placed 42 parlay bets totaling $473 on Temple games, and three of those were against his team.

    Former Temple special assistant coach Camren Wynter and former graduate assistant Jaylen Bond also violated NCAA rules by betting on professional and collegiate sports. Their bets did not involve Temple.

    According to the NCAA, both coaches received one-year, show-cause orders, a penalty in which any new hiring school would have to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions to state why it shouldn’t face discipline for hiring the coach, and a suspension of 10% of regular-season contests during his first year of employment.

    In late November, Temple president John Fry and athletic director Arthur Johnson wrote in a statement that the NCAA found no evidence of point shaving or wrongdoing by the university.

  • A Main Line man who brought guns to a ‘No Kings’ protest and had bombs at his house pleaded guilty in federal court

    A Main Line man who brought guns to a ‘No Kings’ protest and had bombs at his house pleaded guilty in federal court

    A Malvern man who brought a gun and other weapons to a “No Kings” protest in West Chester over the summer — and who was rearrested days later after police found homemade bombs at his house — pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday morning.

    Kevin Krebs, 32, said little while pleading guilty to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm or explosive device. Krebs had been taken into federal custody this fall, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged him earlier this month by information, a process that typically indicates a defendant plans to plead guilty.

    The charges against him relate to his conduct in West Chester six months ago. On June 14, Krebs was arrested by local police after other attendees at a “No Kings” protest in the borough told authorities they thought they had seen Krebs carrying a gun.

    When police stopped Krebs and searched him, they found a loaded Sig Sauer handgun along with extra rounds of ammunition, a knife, a bayonet, pepper spray, and other weapons, prosecutors said. He also had an AR-15 rifle in his car nearby.

    Krebs did not have a concealed carry permit for his handgun, and he was charged with illegal gun possession.

    Two days later, police searched his home on Conestoga Road and found 13 homemade pipe bombs, prosecutors said, as well as components used to make detonators, tactical vests, and bullet-resistant armor. Some of the bombs had nails and screws inside, which are often added to improvised explosive devices to increase the amount of shrapnel they can generate.

    Krebs was initially charged by Chester County prosecutors, who said his political beliefs or potential motives were not straightforward.

    Krebs was a registered Democrat but had previously been registered as a Republican and said online that he voted for President Donald Trump. In online postings, he later said he came to regret that vote, and in the weeks preceding the “No Kings” protest he had been posting violent rhetoric aimed at Trump and police officers.

    Before his arrest, Krebs was a licensed electrician and onetime Home Depot employee. His attorneys and relatives previously said he had been diagnosed with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

    Krebs is scheduled to be sentenced in March by U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Costello. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

  • 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.

    🏫 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.

    🍽️ 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 Café 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 💵 $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. 💵 $10-$15 📍 The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

    🐦‍🔥 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. 💵 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

    🗞️ 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.

  • 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

    🏫 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.

    🍽️ 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 💵 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. 💵 $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. 💵 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. 💵 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. 💵 $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 💵 $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

    🗞️ 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.

  • Is the Chester County poll book debacle a prelude to 2026 elections? After a heated local contest, this township hopes not.

    Is the Chester County poll book debacle a prelude to 2026 elections? After a heated local contest, this township hopes not.

    Now and then, we still see the Amish horse and buggy tooling its way down Fairview Road. Occasionally, someone will alert their neighbors in a Facebook post that a cow or a horse has escaped a pasture and is blocking the road. “That’s so Glenmoore,” a local resident will chime in nostalgically.

    But Glenmoore, like the rest of America, is changing, in ways both obvious and subtle.

    It’s rare now to see a horse travel down a road that has a steady flow of traffic. Where cows once used to escape to sip the water of the branch of the Brandywine Creek that flows through the part of town residents call “the village,” you can look up a hill and see the large homes of the newest development, just one in an array of luxury homes built on the hill.

    Don’t get me wrong. Wallace Township (the Glenmoore postal area is significantly larger) is still pretty amazing. It’s Glen Moore Fire Co. members lined up in a row at a funeral inside one of our historic churches to honor the wife of a longtime member. It’s Pete the cat walking his people to the elementary school on days when it’s in session. Some of my best friends are people I’ve met on walks, often punctuated with a stop at the village coffee shop, the Mean Bean.

    The Chester County poll book debacle in the Nov. 4 election didn’t help nurture a sense of calm about something many of us had taken for granted — the sanctity of our vote. In case somehow you missed the hubbub, when independent and third-party voters (there are approximately 18% of us) got to the polling place, we were told that, because they hadn’t gotten the right poll books for us, most of us would have to cast provisional ballots.

    I was aware of others in my position. We kept checking to see if our vote showed up on the Voter Services website. As of last Monday, resident Dorothy Kirk, an independent, said, “I am skeptical that our votes were counted.” It took almost 15 days to register Kirk and her husband’s votes on the Voter Services website.

    The real ghosts of Pennsylvania | Opinion

    Unlike some other townships in our environs, which have become increasingly blue, Wallace voters are registered as more than 50% Republican, and have been for many years.

    This year, we already had more of a local stress test: a competitive race for one seat in the three-member board of supervisors — replete with candidate websites, campaign literature, and canvassing. That’s a lot of drama for our relatively small (less than 3,000 registered voters) township.

    Call me naive, but knowing the local judge of elections, I had confidence my vote would count.

    But it wasn’t long before I started to hear from other residents. Let’s just say, they had questions.

    Tish Molloy, a former Wallace poll worker, spent a few hours observing the ballot certification process in West Chester after the election, curious to see how it was done. Though onlookers could not see everything, she said, the workers seemed to be “careful, cautious, and mindful,” as well as efficient.

    Though Wallace Supervisor Rob Jones, serving as a Republican, had some pointed comments about the potential for mismanagement at the county level, he said he didn’t think anything “nefarious” had occurred. “I just think we have a basically honest populations out there,” said Jones. “I do think the county learned a lesson.”

    As for the township? Jones was ready to move on from what was a fairly heated campaign by Wallace standards, urging neighbors in this small community to avoid viewing each other through a political lens. “The way you show love for people with your township is through what you do. When I make a decision [about the township], I don’t care what their party is. How can I bless the most people in the township?”

    Though he came closer than other Democratic candidates in recent memory, Andrew Holets conceded the supervisor’s race to Republican candidate John Thomas last Friday evening. Perhaps it’s not surprising, in a town where so many people know and depend on each other, that his vision is similar to that espoused by Jones. Building trust isn’t just up to leadership, he said. It’s about practicing kindness and doing the right thing.

    “Everybody has responsibility,” said Holets. “How they wake up and how they spend their day makes a difference in how much we care for ourselves and others. I don’t want to buy into the division that seems to be here in our country. I don’t think we need to have that locally.”

    Nonetheless …

    The bonds of mutual trust and affection are still pretty strong around here. At the same time, it’s hard not to wonder what else could go wrong, and it’s arrogant to think ourselves immune from the polarization that has divided neighbor from neighbor and family from family.

    While it’s up to Chester County to rectify its mistake, the future of our community is also, as both Jones and Holets said, in our hands. We can’t afford to assume our neighbors trust us. We have to renew those bonds together, one act of service, citizenship, and kindness at a time.

    We’ve had our shot across the bows. Now it’s up to us to make sure we get safely to harbor. The cost of drifting is way, way too high.

    Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans is a freelance journalist in Chester County. Her writing has appeared in Religion News Service, the National Catholic Reporter, Sojourners, Christian Century, the Washington Post, and The Inquirer.