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WEST CHESTER, PA — The district attorneys of Bucks and Chester Counties formally asked Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen to use her emergency authority to classify 7-Hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, as a controlled substance. The chemical, derived from the kratom plant, produces opioid-like effects comparable to morphine or heroin, yet it remains legal and largely unregulated in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors say it is increasingly sold at smoke shops and gas stations in youth-friendly forms such as gummies, vapes, and candy bars, often without age verification.

The request comes just days after the DEA temporarily scheduled three related compounds under federal law but declined to include 7-OH itself, leaving local police unable to enforce violations without a matching state law. Bucks and Chester County officials pointed to Massachusetts, North Dakota, and Florida as states that have already restricted the substance, and urged Pennsylvania to follow suit.

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WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester Borough Council voted unanimously on Aug. 19 to restrict where new smoke and vape shops can open, responding to neighborhood complaints after a residential corner store was converted into a vape shop. Residents objected to the store's bright lighting and its proximity to school bus stops, prompting the council to amend its zoning ordinance so future smoke shops are permitted only as a conditional use in the town center and commercial services district.

The ordinance defines a smoke shop as any retailer where at least 20 percent of display space is dedicated to tobacco, CBD, THC, kratom, or vaping products. New shops must be located more than 500 feet from schools, day cares, libraries, parks, school bus stops, and religious institutions, and cannot cluster too closely together. The rules also require age verification, bar unaccompanied minors from entering, and prohibit hiring workers under 18.

Existing shops in the town center, of which there are at least five, are unaffected by the new rules, which apply only to future openings. Council President Nicole Scimone said the borough is trying to balance economic activity with residents' quality of life.

CHESTER SPRINGS, PA — A planned renovation of Pine Creek Park in West Pikeland Township has become entangled in a dispute over Cayden's Corner, a memorial sand play area dedicated to Cayden Leithead, an infant who died a week after his birth in December 2022. The memorial, established with the help of his father, Ryan Leithead, opened in December 2023 and remains listed on the township's official parks page.

As West Pikeland pursues a broader overhaul to make the playground more accessible and safer, officials have said the memorial's location within the fall zone of a planned swing set complicates redesign efforts. A preliminary plan would relocate the sandpit and replace its dedication sign, though no final decision has been made. The proposal became public at an Aug. 17 meeting, and Ryan Leithead has said his family was not notified beforehand. He is asking to be included in future planning discussions.

The issue has sparked a community response, with residents organizing to preserve the memorial ahead of the Board of Supervisors' Sept. 8 meeting, where members have reportedly expressed a range of views. Meanwhile, the underlying renovation project continues to move forward with substantial funding: a $231,900 state grant and more than $65,000 in private donations toward an estimated $300,000 project that includes new playground equipment, safety surfacing, stormwater upgrades, and improved accessibility. The township expects the work to conclude by mid-2027, though final designs still require approval from the Board of Supervisors. A Parks and Recreation Committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 3, with an agenda yet to be released.

EXTON, PA — Chester County Parks + Preservation is teaming up with the Chester County Astronomical Society to offer a free solar viewing event on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Chester Valley Trail trailhead in Exton Park. Led by park ranger Rita Mounayar, the program will allow visitors to safely observe the sun through specialized equipment during what organizers describe as a peak point in the sun's roughly 11-year activity cycle.

Three instruments will be available for public use: a solar telescope tuned to the hydrogen-alpha wavelength, which reveals chromospheric features such as plasma filaments and potential solar flares; a full-spectrum telescope for observing surface sunspots; and a research-grade spectroscope capable of identifying elements present in the sun. Informational tables covering heliophysics and spectroscopy will also be set up at the event.

The program is free and open to participants of all ages, with capacity capped at 50 people. Registration is required and open now through Oct. 1. Because the event depends on clear skies, organizers advised registered participants to check their email the morning of the event in case cloud cover forces a cancellation.

DOWNINGTOWN, PA — Host Jenny Leigh talks with boudoir photographer John Thompson, who traded a nearly decade-long law enforcement career in Georgia for a fresh start in Chester County after meeting his wife, Victoria. Thompson shares how he built JWTIV Photo into an award-winning boudoir business focused on everyday women — moms, brides, and first responders — rather than models, and how he and Victoria create a comfortable, full-day client experience from consultation to reveal.

He speaks openly about overcoming stereotypes as a male photographer, the professional credentials and training behind his work, and the emotional impact of helping clients see themselves in a new light — an experience that's also been part of his own healing from his time in law enforcement. The episode wraps with a look at what sets his business apart and his love for life in Chester County as a transplant who's made it home.

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Coming Soon:
1200 FLORENCE CT Downingtown ($975,000)
430 FARMHOUSE RD Downingtown ($399,990)
39 NANCY LN #191 Downingtown ($324,000)

Just Listed:
1422 GILRAY DR Downingtown ($899,000)
106 HILLTOP DR Downingtown ($599,000)
411 NATIONAL DR Downingtown ($549,000)
10 TERRY CT Downingtown ($389,000)
23 ROSE TREE DR Downingtown ($599,000)
132 ASCOT CT #64 Downingtown ($300,000)
2782 SHELBURNE Downingtown ($390,000)
406 GARFIELD AVE Downingtown ($400,000)
4813 HORSESHOE PIKE Downingtown ($510,000)
57 LILA LN Downingtown ($650,000)
1476 E STONINGTON DR Downingtown ($1,225,000)
209 DECLAN CT Downingtown ($580,000)
514 LYANNA WAY Downingtown ($451,990)
241 ROOSEVELT AVE Downingtown ($425,000)
45 W PENNSYLVANIA AVE Downingtown ($1,500,000)
552 PRIZER CT Downingtown ($650,000)
100 CAMPBELL CIR #D-33 Downingtown ($335,000)


See more listings at ChesterCountyRealty.com

INSTANT HOME VALUE CLICK HERE

Upcoming local events…

America250 Concert & Drone Show (Exton) - Sept 3, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Downingtown Farmers’ Market (Kerr Park) - Sept 5, 9am-1pm

Downingtown Farmers’ Market (Kerr Park) - Sept 12, 9am-1pm

Pastries With The Police (Wallace twp) - Sept 12, 10am-12pm

Kids Day @ East Caln Park (Bell Tavern) - Sept 12, 10am

Battle of the Bands (Downingtown VFW) - Sept 12, 12pm

Caln Community Day (Caln) - Sept 12, 4pm-8pm

Annual Cheers to CVC: Battle of the Badges (Exton) - Sept 17, 5pm-8pm

Upper Uwchlan Litter Clean-up (Upper Uwchlan) - Sept 19, 9am-11am

Downingtown Farmers’ Market (Kerr Park) - Sept 19, 9am-1pm

Historic Chadds Ford Days - Sept 19, 10am-5pm

Battle of The Coulds March up Ship Rd (Uwchlan) - Sept 19, 10am-1pm

Third Annual PawPaw Festival (Bondsville Park) - Sept 19, 11am

Master Plans Presentation: Lionville and Rossi Parks (Exton) - Sept 23, 7pm

Downingtown Farmers’ Market (Kerr Park) - Sept 26, 9am-1pm

Lithium Battery Collection Event (West Bradford) - Sept 26, 9am-11am

Downingtown Farmers’ Market (Kerr Park) - Oct 3, 9am-1pm

Downingtown Fall Fest - Oct 4, 11am-4pm

East Brandywine Fall Festival - Oct 4, 12pm-3pm

Downingtown Farmers’ Market (Kerr Park) - Oct 10, 9am-1pm

Family Fall Fest (Broad Run Park) - Oct 10, 4pm-7pm

Catch up on previous issues…

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