Culture
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Local Chaplain Reflects on Decades Working at Chester County Prison
Chaplain Jack Crans has led a lifelong journey supporting the local community through his faith, writes J. F. Pirro for Main Line Today. The 74-year-old has served as the Chester County Prison chaplain for over fifty years. Crans has held the role through many ups and downs over the decades, from the COVID-19 pandemic to…
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The Best Summer Picnic Spots in Chester County
Nature preserves and local parks across Chester County make for some of the best picnic spots in the region, writes staff for County Lines Magazine. Here are four locations across the county with scenic views perfect for a summer day outdoors. Everhart Park—West Chester. The second oldest park in the West Chester borough, Everhart Park…
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World-Class Horticulture, Architecture, and Natural Beauty at Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square offers world-class horticulture, architecture, and natural beauty spread across more than 1,000 acres, writes Bridget Gleeson for the Islands. The largest botanical garden in the United States features over 10,000 species of plants and flowers and is home to the nation’s biggest green wall with a total surface area of…
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Fairless Hills Swimming Pool Closed Indefinitely Due to Leak Issue
Fairless Hills’ Oxford Valley swimming pool remains closed, writes JD Mullane for the Bucks County Courier Times, but Parks and Recreation is working with the General Services team in hopes of reopening it this summer. The Bucks County-owned pool was leaking water. County spokesperson Jim O’Malley stated that he believes the leak is coming from…
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Brandywine Battlefield Task Force Dedicated to Preserving Local History
The Brandywine Battlefield Task Force is dedicated to preserving Chester County’s legacy during a historic year, writes Bill Rettew for The Daily Local News. Recently, the organization celebrated twelve years of planning the Brandywine Battlefield Phased Study, and thirty-two years of operation overall. A crucial piece of local history, The Battle of Brandywine took place…
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The Star-Spangled Banner, One of Best-Known National Anthems in World, Has Rowdy Origins
The Star-Spangled Banner, one of the best-known national anthems in the world, has roots far more rowdy than patriotic, writes Barrymore Laurence Scherer for The Wall Street Journal. The melody was originally written by English composer John Stafford Smith as a popular drinking song, “To Anacreon in Heav’n.” A pupil of renowned composer William Boyce…
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Kennett Symphony Rebrands to Reflect Expanding Reach
After much consideration, the Kennett Symphony has rebranded as the Brandywine Valley Symphony to signal its expanding reach beyond Kennett Square, writes Peter Dobrin for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “We serve, in terms of a cultural footprint, an area much larger – to northern Delaware and the surrounding counties,” said Timothy Blair, the orchestra’s board president. …
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Malvern Retreat House Receives Famous Historic Cross From 1979 Papal Visit
Malvern Retreat House is now home to a historic 40-foot papal cross once used for a 1979 Philadelphia papal visit, writes Jay Sorgi for Catholic Philly. The cross was a noticeable feature of Pope John Paul II’s 1979 visit to Philadelphia. The cross stood at the ceremony where the Pope performed an outdoor Mass ceremony…
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Levittown Photographer Captures Magical Connection Between Two Strangers
Amanda Johnson, a photographer from Levittown, takes photos of strangers meeting for the first time, and her latest pictures have gone viral, writes Marcella Baietto for CBS News. Johnson enjoys playing matchmaker, offering what she calls “stranger sessions.” “I get two strangers together and we have fun, take a photo shoot, and apparently the internet…
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Take In the Scenic New Waterlily Court at Longwood Gardens’ Festival of Fountains
The Festival of Fountains at Longwood Gardens will feature the long-awaited return of the Waterlily Court, writes Kimberly Inlander for Global Traveler. The exhibit was recently restored as a part of the Longwood Reimagined project. The Waterlily Court first reopened on May 9 after three years of renovation. The new court features reflective pools with…
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Philadelphia-Based Coast Guard Unit, Various Partners Working to Safeguard Delaware River
The Coast Guard unit based in Philadelphia is working with multiple partners to keep the Delaware River safe and secure, particularly to support the flow of commerce, writes Susanna Granieri for the Delaware Currents. That is no small task, given that the river hosts the largest freshwater port in the world — a vital hub…
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Inside Mushroom Cultivation at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens
Mushrooms are the secret powerhouse plant supporting Devon’s Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens, writes Alyssa Turner for County Lines Magazine. The arboretum’s horticulture team aims to support mushrooms by minimizing soil disruption. By avoiding over cutting and embracing a more natural look, mushrooms improve soil quality and support other plants. Small but mighty, mushrooms help maintain…
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Hundreds Gather in Chester County for Powerful Juneteenth Reenactment
More than 200 people packed the Chester County History Center in West Chester last week to witness a moving Juneteenth reenactment, writes Madeleine Wright for CBS News Philadelphia. Juneteenth marks the pivotal day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. The live performance recreated the arrival of Union…
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Chester County Preserves History with Underground Railroad Memorial Sites
Chester County organization Voices Underground has plans to honor the county’s history through immersive storytelling, writes Emily Neil for WHYY. Voices Underground features artists, scholars, and activists working to promote racial healing through creative arts, memorialization, and storytelling. Currently, the organization plans to construct three separate memorial sites that tell the storied history of the…
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West Philadelphia Nonprofit Aims to Reduce Recidivism in This Unique Way
Books Through Bars, a local nonprofit, send free books to individuals who are incarcerated throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The goal is to help educate these individuals, which in turn could reduce recidivism, writes Violet Comber-Wilen for Billy Penn at WHYY. According to a 2013 Rand Corporation study, education is one of the major factors in…
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Mystery Behind Cowan Family Gravestone at Historic West Caln Church Revealed
A quiet mystery at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Caln stirred curiosity when a large Cowan Family gravestone appeared in the historic cemetery, writes Bill Rettew for The Daily Local News. The stone, which appeared without explanation and honors at least 15 family members, puzzled churchgoers and staff. No one recalled approving or even…
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Inspired by Students and Community, Coatesville Artist Gifts Painting to Her Son’s School
Rainbow Elementary School in Coatesville was gifted a special piece of artwork by one of their graduating students’ mothers, writes Bill Rettew for The Daily Local News. Jacqueline Rose, a local professional artist, has depicted her son’s five years of education at Rainbow Elementary in the form of acrylic paint. “It’s a true reflection on…
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Live Music Venue Coming to West Chester Through Owner of Saloon 151
Frank Herron, owner of Saloon 151 Whiskey Bar & Grill and Marchwood Tavern in Chester County, is set to open Station 142, a new live music venue in downtown West Chester, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The targeted opening date will be in early April. The new venue will take over the…
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