Good morning, West Chester.

Local firefighter Emily Gindele, 26, celebrated her graduation from West Whiteland Fire Company’s volunteer firefighter program on Wednesday (after more than 170 hours of training) following a car accident that claimed her partner and left her with chronic pain.

Local riders shared practical tips this week for handling disruptive SEPTA etiquette on their commutes, including using the free SEPTA Transit Watch app and carrying earplugs.

The advice, drawn from everyday travel experiences, aims to promote courtesy on public transit.

Avelo Airlines will cut four routes from Wilmington Airport - ending Nashville service at January's close and canceling scheduled flights to Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Chicago while continuing to serve ten other cities for Chester County travelers.

Kennett Winterfest has announced its 14th annual festival scheduled on Feb.

28, 2026, from 12:30 to 4 p.m. — featuring headlining band The Tisburys and opening act Blank Pages along with over 50 breweries and options for non-alcoholic tickets.

In 2025, local nonprofit Natural Lands planted 22,500 trees across several preserves in Chester County (including Stroud Preserve in West Chester) to help restore native forests, improve soil health and reduce flooding risks.

The project was funded by county commissioners, the Pennsylvania DEP and USDA.

Malvern resident Saquon Barkley partnered with the American Red Cross to encourage blood donations during National Blood Month in January.

He noted that only 3 in 100 Americans donate (urging teammates and the community to help save lives).