Home Care In West Chester, PA

WEST CHESTER—Although you might not have a green thumb, there is now a new shop in the borough where you can pick up hardy plants.

The Green House opened up this month at 107 N. Church St. and is owned by Peter Giuffre.

“A lot of people come in and say ‘I kill everything, what should I get?’” Giuffre said last week at the pleasant, airy storefront. “I love interacting with people and teaching them about the different types of plants.”

Giuffre shows customers low maintenance options, including self- watering pots, for those who “struggle” with watering. The pot holds water in a reservoir so the roots can pull up only what it needs. This way the owner doesn’t under or over water the plant.

The shop owner hand makes most of the pottery out of cement and also has some ceramic and terracotta options. He says he also takes the time to pair plants with empty pots while the customer waits.

Potted plants range in price from $15 to $65. Giuffre noted that most plant prices have recently astronomically risen. He said that his supplier hasn’t significantly hiked prices.

“I’m trying to be affordable and fair,” he said. “My supplier has quality stuff at affordable prices.”

Also sold in the store is home décor and non-toxic organic body, home, and baby products.

Most customers enter the shop and comment on how good it smells. Giuffre says it’s because they only use beeswax candles, with essential oils. He said that most candles sold elsewhere are made from petroleum by products with synthetic fragrances that cause pollution.

Giuffre is also on the sales team of tech start LifeBrand up in the borough.

“We allow individuals to connect their social media accounts to our platform and it scans all your posts for any potential harmful or inappropriate posts,” he said. “It then allows you to keep, edit, or delete the posts in question.

“Opening The Green House is a full circle moment to run a small business on Church Street.”

The Green House is located at 107 N. Church St., and is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 484-574-6870 or go to TheGreenhouseWC.com

WEST CHESTER, PA— West Chester Area School Board Tuesday night voted unanimously to appoint Dr. David Christopher, who has worked nearly three decades in public education, as its next superintendent of schools.

Each of the board members congratulated Christopher and said they looked forward to working with him. Christopher will begin his new position on Monday, Dec. 4. as a substitute superintendent for one month before starting a four-year contract on Jan. 1.

The board members also thanked Dr. Kalia Reynolds, who has been serving as the substitute superintendent since January 2023. Reynolds will then resume her role as assistant superintendent for the district.

Susan Tiernan, board president, thanked Reynolds and the board members for their strength and time in working together to select the new superintendent to hire a new superintendent.

Tiernan said the board knew from the start that Christopher was the right person for the position.“He exhibited a kind presence and a good sentence of humor,” Tiernan said.Tiernan said the board is grateful that Christopher accepted the position.

Christopher then shook the hands of each board member.“I am incredibly excited to be joining the West Chester Area School District," Christopher said Friday. "I am thankful to the school board for this opportunity and for their belief in me.”

Christopher was selected out of 36 applicants to serve as superintendent of the district, which has 12,095 students. The district consists of 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools.

The search began in January after Dr. Bob Sokolowski, superintendent, announced he would be retiring this year.

The candidate pool included superintendents, assistant superintendents, and lifelong educators, and had diverse applicants from candidates in eight states.

Christopher has 27 years of experience in public education and eight years of serving as a superintendent. For the last four years, Christopher has served as the superintendent at Cumberland Valley School District in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County.

He previously served as assistant superintendent, principal, director of the curriculum, dean of students, and an elementary school teacher in districts across Pennsylvania, including North Allegheny, Juniata Valley, and Huntingdon Area districts.

Christopher earned his undergraduate degree in elementary education and music from Juniata College, his master’s of educational leadership and policy from Shippensburg University, and his superintendent letter of eligibility and doctorate of educational leadership and policy from Shippensburg University.

WEST CHESTER — Diners will soon have another choice and be able to enjoy a new 300-seat classic Italian steakhouse.

Illinois Chef Fabio Viviani will offer Italian steaks, fresh Mediterranean seafood and handmade pasta dishes at 9 Prime.

The restaurant with more than 10,000 square feet of dining space is targeted to open in early February at the historic 1st National Bank Building.

The restaurant will sit at 9 N. High St. The former 1st National Bank opened during the Civil War in 1863. The four Ionic marble columns out front, resting on a base of marble granite quarried in Vermont, are visible from the historic court house, across High Street.

“They used to cut checks, now we’re going to cut steaks,” quipped Viviani.

The two-story eatery will feature a large bar, event space and Johnny O’s, a speakeasy with 70 seats.

The “very unique, gorgeous and luxurious” décor will include a lot of leather, booths, wood and steel beams.

9 Prime partners include Viviani, Charlie Walsh and John O’Connell.

Viviani moved from Italy in 2005 and owns and manages more than 50 restaurants nationwide.

He compared opening a restaurant to getting married.

“It feels like a brand new wife,” Viviani said. “You love everything about it, but you have to get used to it.

“You have to figure out the kinks. Restaurants come with different challenges.”

Octopus ($23), bone marrow ($17) and truffle crostino ($18) will be offered, along with lobster bisque ($13) and beet salad ($17).

Pastas include Wagyu short rib ($34) and scallop fra diavolo ($36).

Entrees at 9 Prime will include, lamb shank ($33), cowboy ribeye steak ($75), delmonico 14 oz. steak ($55) and filet 10 oz. ($45).

lobster tails ($40) and scallops ($16) will come from the sea.

The restaurant will hire between 60 and 100 employees, with 30 to 50 staffers on a busy Saturday night.

At first, the restaurant will be open just for dinner and then brunch and possibly then lunch.

The 1st National Bank opened in 1863. According to historian and commercial Realtor Tom Walsh, and the 1999 West Chester Bicentennial Souvenir Book, the bank was established in a bid to bolster currency during the Civil War and was the first national bank chartered to do business in Chester County.

It was “organized by civic leaders who wanted to help the financial crisis of our nation in order to win the Civil War,” reads the souvenir book.

In 1998, the 1st National Bank was the 12th oldest national bank operating in the United States. In 1973, Charles Swope, at age 41, was elected as the youngest president in bank history.

The current bank was designed in 1900 and built in 1912, with a Thomas U. Walter theme. Walter earlier designed the Washington Capitol dome, the historic courthouse and a portion of the Chester County History Center.

WEST CHESTER, PA — R. Lorraine “Laurie” Bernotsky was unanimously named the 16th president of West Chester University by the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, effective July 1.

Bernotsky, 56, worked at the university for 27 years, recently as provost.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected to serve West Chester University’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni as its 16th president,” said Bernotsky, who resides in Exton with her husband, Michael Bray, who also works at the university.

“I have dedicated my professional life to public higher education because I believe in the access mission of public universities and of public higher education in general”

A champion for public education, Bernotsky is a first-generation college graduate selected to lead the largest research institution within Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the former Messiah College and master's degrees from Oxford University and Temple University.

Bernotsky, interim president of Pennsylvania Western University, will succeed Christopher M. Fiorentino, who will retire on June 30. He has served as president since 2017.

Retired State Sen. Robert M. Tomlinson, chairman of the university Council of Trustees, said Bernotsky exemplifies the understanding that all students within the state’s higher education benefit when universities collaborate with governance structures, including unions.Dr. Kristen Crossney, professor and director of the University’s Doctor of Public Administration, said the university community is pleased with the announcement.

“We are excited for Dr. Bernotsky to lead the West Chester University community into our next chapter,” Crossney said.

With nearly three decades of progressive experience in higher education, Bernotsky began her career at West Chester University in 1996 as a member of the political science faculty. When the opportunity opened to serve as associate provost and dean of graduate studies at the university, she competed in a national search for the role and served for several years before becoming provost in 2015. As provost, Bernotsky led the university’s Academic Affairs division, which oversees approximately 850 faculty and comprises five colleges that offer more than 100 academic degree programs.In 2017, she led the university’s budget and labor relations.The presidential search committee led a comprehensive and inclusive university-wide process that elicited the feedback of West Chester University students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Numerous opportunities to interact with Bernotsky were provided through interviews, open forums, and presentations.

Two years ago, Speer Madanat threw open the door of a white-tiled former bakery at 136 E. Market St. in downtown West Chester and started selling pizza.

Just pizza: by the slice or the whole pie, plain, white, or pepperoni. Walk-ins only. Cash only. Odd hours, gleanable only via Instagram. (It was open from noon to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, for example.) No phone or email. His website redirects to a “coming soon” banner. The sign outside says only “pizza.”

Of course, customers, critics, and cognoscenti swooned over the crispy, well-cooked 16-inchers. Barstool’s Dave Portnoy showed up in November 2022 to award Madanat an 8.4 rating in his One-Bite Review.

Last weekend, Madanat expanded his empire five blocks away on the outskirts of town with a shop simply called Steaks West Chester, a former caterer’s kitchen at 698 E. Market St. The menu: cheesesteaks and chicken cheesesteaks, plus fries, for now. He said he’s planning to add wings, meatball sandwiches, salads, chicken fingers, and hoagies.

As he does with his pizza, Madanat is paying close attention to ingredients. The fries are made from hand-cut Chipperbecs, a starchy, low-moisture, low-sugar potato. He slices down rib epye and adds coarse-cut Cooper sharp American and rough-chopped onion for texture, and griddles in olive oil.

The meat is neither slab nor chopped. Because the secret to a good sandwich is the roll, he commissioned West Chester bakery La Baguette Magique — owned by chef Anthony Andiario of the peerless Andiario’s restaurant — to make him one. Andiario and head baker Scott Weymiller developed a sesame-coated roll that gives you a crunch while keeping the ingredients together. (I drove one 45 minutes with no sogginess.)

Madanat’s workers Ludwin Zavaleta and Javier Cordero run the show, while Madanat handles pizza duties at Pizza.

The system at Steaks West Chester is more customer-friendly. It has regular hours (11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Monday, or until sellout), and orders are taken by phone (484-373-5500) but not online. It also takes credit cards and cash.