Wednesday, December 19, 2012
West Chester Borough hosts a candle light vigil for the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.
Members of the West Chester community held a candlelight vigil for the victims who perished in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. “People all around this country are grieving together for the loss of the 20 children, precious children,” said West Chester mayor Carolyn Committa. “As we honor the memory of the people that died, let’s think about what we can do in our own lives, and how we can guide our country forward for a future that will take care of and maybe better protect all of our children.” Co-owner of Taylor’s Music Store Tom Buglio also spoke to the group gathered at the intersection of High and Market Streets. “It’s time for gun owners to talk about change,” Buglio said. “And it’s up to us to make …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
West Chester Borough Council will fully fund the Business Improvement District in 2013.
The West Chester Borough Finance Committee took action on Tuesday that would restore funding to the borough’s Business Improvement District after funds were originally slashed last month to balance the 2013 budget. The BID receives $85,000 annually from the borough to promote business growth in the town center. Last month, borough council voted on a 2013 budget that would have reduced that funding to $40,000. “Our parking garage revenue is performing better than we expected,” said finance committee chair John Manion. “Therefore, funding can be restored to the BID.” According to Manion, even with the restored BID funding, the borough will still balance the budget without raising taxes. “A huge thanks goes out to our borough employees,” …
Friday, October 12, 2012
The West Chester Rotary Club will host it's 10th Annual Chili Cookoff this Sunday in downtown West Chester.
The West Chester Rotary Club will host the 10th annual Chili Cookoff on Sunday October 14 with the gates opening at 10:30 a.m. According to Rotary club president Jeannie McGinn, all of the proceeds from the event go directly back into the community. “The rotary club gives out grants that we call Community Philanthropic Committee grants,” McGinn said. “On Sunday we will hand out over $33,000 in grants.” The cookoff has doubled in size since its first year a decade ago with 72 teams scheduled to compete this year. The first year had 34 teams. “We have the teams divided up into four categories,” McGinn said. “They are restaurants, businesses, hometown and non-profit.” For several years people who have attended the event have complained …
Thursday, September 20, 2012
West Chester Borough Council amends the height ordinance to eliminate the possibility of a nine-story building being built in the town center.
The West Chester Borough Council voted to change the borough’s height ordinance on Wednesday limiting buildings in the town center to 45 feet by right and 60 feet by special exception. The ordinance also includes a new zoning designation named “commercial services” that would allow buildings of 75 feet by special exception. “We also included supplemental design guidelines so that new buildings stick with the historical character of our town,” said council member Jordan Norley. The new “Commercial Services District” stretches along the Gay and Market Streets corridor between North Franklin and North Bolmar Streets. Borough Council began the process to change the height ordinance last September after developer Eli Kahn purchased several …
Monday, September 17, 2012
West Chester Borough Council will vote on a new height ordinance Wednesday.
The West Chester Borough Council will vote on a new height ordinance Wednesday that would change borough code creating zones that would allow buildings of 60 and 75 feet. The current borough codes allows buildings of 75 and 90 feet. Borough council originally proposed the height ordinance change after the sale of the county buildings to Eli Kahn in downtown West Chester in 2011. Talks of changing the ordinance began in Sept. 2011. At that time they were pushed back until Jan. 2012 to allow the newly elected borough council to make any decisions on height. In Jan. 2012, council agreed to push the ordinance back until at least June to allow Eli Kahn to submit a plan for the buildings in the downtown he had purchased and slated for …
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The borough will install 50 parking meters that accept credit cards on a trial basis if full council decides to move forward.
The West Chester Borough Council Parking Committee voted to move forward with a 90 day trial of “smart” parking meters in the borough that would accept credit cards. The committee decided to put 20 of the meters on Gay Street between Walnut and Church Streets, another 20 on Market Street between Church and Darlington Streets and another 10 near the Wet Chester University campus on South Church Street. The new meters that will accept credit card payments would be installed in the next few months if the trial agreement is approved by the full council next week. The borough hopes that the new meters will provide additional revenue as well as convenience for people hoping to use the downtown.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Representatives from the "Women are Watching" bus tour make a stop in West Chester.
Representatives from the “Women Are Watching” bus tour, part of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, made a stop in West Chester Monday promoting a call to action for voters. “We’re here to encourage people to vote,” said Women are Watching representative Alix Lowe-Server. “This is a really important election.” West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta also attended the rally. “We’re here today to make a stand for human rights and women’s rights,” Comitta said. “We’re here for our right to chose and for our right to reproductive privacy.” Planned Parenthood funding has come under attack recently, and representatives of the organization said that Mitt Romney plans to eliminate all federal Planned Parenthood funding. “We would be harmed by the …
Saturday, August 18, 2012
A look at what's at the West Chester Growers Market this Saturday.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
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Saturday, August 18, 2012
The following information comes from the West Chester Growers Market blog found by clicking on the link: here. Another week, another Market! This week is our monthly food drive, so be sure to bring canned food items or donate Market Produce to those in our community who need it. We want to be a community who supports one another! Stop by for late Summer produce, fun music and tasty samples. It's a Market you won't want to miss! More to come in the next few weeks - so stay tuned! Stay updated by checking out the Market Calendar here on the blog, as well as our Facebook Page. Ellen April Handcrafted Soap Ellen April will be at the market this week with a variety of soaps and body products. Stop by to check out their newest soap, Pink …
Friday, August 17, 2012
The new downtown hotel opens for business Friday.
- BUSINESS
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Friday, August 17, 2012
The following is a press release from the Warner Hotel. Centerstone Hotels is proud to announce the grand opening of their first new construction property, the Centerstone Hotel Warner in West Chester, PA. The 80-room property will officially open to the public on August 17, 2012. The Centerstone Hotel Warner, developed by The McFadden Group, is an adaption re-use of the historic 1930’s Warner Theater from Warner Brothers. The actual theater now makes up the lobby and public space and a new tower has been built to house the guest rooms. “We keptwhatever historic beauty we could. The façade repeats the style of original fret work, and we repeated its architectural medallions on bump outs. Inside, the actual 1930s staircase is still …
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The borough will now fine anyone littering a cigarette butt $100.
The West Chester Borough Council voted on Tuesday to add an ordinance that would fine anyone caught littering a cigarette butt $100. “Right now there’s a complete disregard for our littering ordinance,” said council president Holly Brown. “I see no harm in this ordinance.” The new rule doesn’t actually create a new ordinance; it simply adds tobacco products to the list of things covered by the borough’s littering laws. “Enforcement really isn’t the issue,” Brown said. “It’s more about the message.” Borough council member Tom Paxson added, “We need to do something because the cigarette and gum problem downtown is getting out of control.”
Concerned Citizen
5:30 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Malcolm gets his full salary for the year yet again! Cronyism at its finest. more ›