Good morning, West Chester.

Four fall events in Chester County offer residents a chance to enjoy autumn; the Malvern fundraiser at the Desmond Hotel will support Paoli Hospital, West Chester will host a spooky walking tour—Plagues and Pestilence—that looks at early 1800s disease, Chadds Ford Winery will hold adult trick or treat events on weekends, and Kennett Square will hold the Clover Market on October 19.

The Friends Association will host its annual Charity Ball on Dec.

6 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at West Chester Golf & Country Club—an event to raise funds for programs that help families facing homelessness in Chester County.

A Chester County mom created Bottimals after having difficulty bottle-feeding her son, now offering a baby bottle that uses a heart-shaped pad—designed to carry her scent—to help infants feed better.

She runs the business from her home in Phoenixville and sells the product for $29.99 in over 15 stores.

The Philadelphia Business Journal named five fast-growing companies from Chester County based on two-year revenue gains, including Fullthrottle.ai from West Chester, PPR Capital Management and PurpleLab from Wayne, Green Lawn Fertilizing/Green Pest Solutions, and Heart—Paw in Berwyn. PPR Capital Management led with a 316.25 percent growth after its revenue rose from $2.34 million in 2022 to nearly $30 million in 2024.

Five Chester County public high schools are ranked in the top 25 in Pennsylvania for 2026 based on Niche’s review of test scores, graduation rates and teacher quality.

The list includes Conestoga Senior High in Berwyn, Downingtown STEM Academy, Unionville High School in Kennett Square and Great Valley High School in Malvern—each showing strong performance in the evaluation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture cataloged 28 invasive insect species that threaten forests, farms and native ecosystems, according to a recent state review.

Officials in the Governor’s Invasive Species Council and the Department of Conservation — both key to managing these threats — grouped the insects into tiers to guide early detection, eradication, containment and local control efforts.

The West Goshen Police Department introduced the Blue Envelope program to help autistic drivers during traffic stops by providing a blue envelope—holding a driver’s license, registration, insurance, and guidance—to reduce stress for both drivers and officers.

Local officers have embraced the voluntary program to make each interaction safer and clearer.

State Sen. Tim Kearney introduced Abby’s Law yesterday, naming it for 12-year-old Abigail Gillon who died in an e-scooter accident, to ban children under 16 from riding e-scooters—he said the bill would also require helmets for riders 16 and 17 and set a statewide 20 mph limit.

Dub C Swing Concert

7-9 p.m. — Kennett Flash — $20 GA | $10 Students | $5 BYOB — Experience fresh instrumental versions of your favorite songs with Dub C Swing.

West Chester Chili Cook-Off 2025

12-4 p.m. — Downtown West Chester PA — Free entry — Experience a flavorful showdown with great food, live music, and friendly competition.

13th Annual Unite For HER Run/Walk

9-11 a.m. — Downtown West Chester PA — $30 – $60 — Come together to support breast and ovarian cancer patients through community run/walk efforts.

West Chester French: Café and Conversation

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Panera Bread — Free entry — Indulge in French culture with conversation, wine, cheese, and chocolate tastings.

West Chester Halloween Parade

5-8 p.m. — West Chester Railroad — $50 – $80 — Celebrate Halloween with a train ride featuring live music, games, and spooky fun.

West Chester Halloween Parade 2025

1 p.m. — Downtown West Chester PA — Free — Celebrate Halloween with costumes, candy stations, and local performances at this family-friendly parade.

Throwdown Thursdays at Más

9-11:45 p.m. — Más Mexicali Cantina — $4 Miller Lites and $10 Marg Pitchers — Enjoy line dancing with Boot Scootin Becky and perfect your moves on the dance floor.