Good morning, West Chester.

Residents in Chester County are organizing to block large housing and data center projects by raising funds and hiring attorneys in places like West Brandywine and Uwchlan Townships.

They say these efforts help protect open space and ease traffic and environmental concerns.

Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce is recruiting walking marshals to join the Christmas Parade on Dec.

4 when an eight-block route kicks off with a tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. at the historic Chester County Courthouse (first year volunteers march alongside floats and bands) and further details will be emailed in November.

Philadelphia Eagles fans can join a charitable evening at Downingtown High School West on Thursday, Nov.

5, with former players Seth Joyner, Brent Celek and Todd Herremans hosting a live Q&A and community marketplace, while students attend free and adults get free entry with a coat donation.

Onward Upward Sports & Events, led by Andrew Motyka (its president), won the 2026 MUSE Silver Award for emerging event planning in the region.

The firm will host a Pickleball Tournament on Nov. 14 at Ace Pickleball Club and a West Chester Bar Crawl on Nov. 21.

Meridian Bank employees enjoy weekly pickleball matches during Tuesday lunch breaks at Bounce Pickleball.

The 13-week series began Sept. 1 and continues through Nov. 24 — participation has nearly doubled since its first run.

West Chester University will host its fifth annual Dance for HER benefit concert on Sunday, Oct.

25 at 6:00 p.m. at Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall (700 S. High St.) to support Unite for HER and honor those affected by breast and ovarian cancer.

Artist Adrian Martinez (a Downingtown painter) and residents painted 70 feet of murals at Pinckney Hill Commons, celebrated last week at the Charles A.

Melton Arts and Education Center. The murals feature portraits of Einstein, Benicio del Toro, and Cynthia Erivo tied with family trees in a two-year community project.

The Friends Collaborative raised over $62 million to fund need-based scholarships in Friends schools while partnering with Firstrust Bank—its financial ally—to assist over 5,700 students and remove cost barriers for quality education.

Five West Chester elementary schools report kindergarten measles vaccination rates below the 95% benchmark, which could risk classroom disruptions if exposures occur.

District officials say overall coverage exceeds 95% after contacting families to update records+ full school data is pending.

The PA Health Department issued a health advisory noting congenital measles was identified for the first time in decades.

Health officials advise pregnant individuals exposed to measles to receive IVIG within six days and urge those planning pregnancy to get the MMR vaccine & wait 28 days before conceiving.

Residents can safely dispose of unneeded medications on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, Oct.

24, in West Chester. Local law enforcement and a free locator tool (MyOldMeds) help ensure unused drugs are removed from homes to prevent misuse.

Chester County health inspectors cited two restaurants on Oct.

19 for food safety and sanitation violations. Atexquita Mexican Restaurant (505 E. Gay St.) in West Chester had issues with rice cooling and employee hygiene, while Wasko’s (223 Gay St.) in Phoenixville faced cleaning and maintenance lapses.