Publisher’s Letter

It’s September at County Lines. Fall is coming. Homes, horses, bells, meadows, wine and good food. We’re celebrating the bounty of Chester County.

Join Carol Metzker for a preview of four fabulous homes on the Chester County Day Tour. Read “Opening Doors: Chester County Day’s 83rd Tour of Tours.” Laurel Anderson adds one more when she tours the Galer family’s retreat with vineyard in our Dream Home feature. And check out “Home Decor” for inspiration for your home.

Shannon Montgomery gets ready for autumn, inviting you to “Fall in Love with the Coming Equestrian Season.” Five spectacular events, from Ludwig’s Corner to the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Plus Jillian Sinclair suggests another: “Dressage at Devon: A Must-Attend Event for Family and Fun.”

Ever heard a bell ringing in downtown West Chester? At the top of the hour, from the clock tower at High and Market Streets, it’s “The Oldest Sound in West Chester,” writes Malcolm Johnstone.

Main Point Books’ Cathy Fiebach asks, “Read Any Good Banned Books Lately?” Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” and Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” … It’s a surprising list.

Tired of mowing? A Malvern family was, so they replaced their lawn with a wildflower meadow. Willistown Conservation Trust’s Blake Goll describes the experience in “Longing for Life Beyond the Lawn” and offers advice.

The colors of autumn weave a tapestry of colors, inviting you to immerse yourself in rich flavors of fortified wines. Liz Tarditi suggests you sample some in “A Tapestry of Tastes.”

When Meg Veno, owner of Life’s Patina, took a trip to Europe, it changed her life. Read about her new approach to food in “Food as Art” in Courtney Diener-Stokes’ Brandywine Table column.

To have a September to remember, check out People’s Light’s 50th anniversary along with our monthly roundup of Best Local Events.

Perhaps you already have County Lines delivered to your mailbox. Save it for future reference. At CountyLinesMagazine.com, you can read the September issue online. At Issuu.com, you can read the digital issue. Or click “Get A Copy” on our website to find locations to pick up a print copy.

We hope you’d like to subscribe to County Lines. Do it on our website or call 610-918-9300. For single issues, try Wellington Square Bookshop, Main Point Books, or Reads & Co. Bookstore. Visiting an advertiser is also a great — and free — way to find copies!

Ed Malet, Publisher

610-918-9300

Opening Doors: Chester County’s 83rd Tour of Tours

Chester County Day, on October 5, is the 83rd Tour of Homes to benefit the Chester County Hospital. Each year, residents open their homes to reveal great rooms, cozy nooks, brass candlesticks, crystal chandeliers, vaulted ceilings and wine cellars. All for a great cause!

Longing for Life Beyond the Lawn

Wildlife populations in North America, including birds and beneficial insects, have decreased by 70% since 1970. As awareness grows around the biodiversity crisis, some Americans are beginning to embrace the au natural/back-to-nature mindset, allowing flowering “weeds” and less lawn. Willistown Conservation Trust is working to convert our mowed, biologically barren lawns into living meadows.

The Oldest Sound in West Chester

If there’s any single sound that can be called unique to West Chester, it’s the sound of the courthouse bell. It hangs cradled in its original clock tower at the corner of High and Market Streets, where it rings at the top of every hour. The tower sat atop the original 1786 courthouse until that building was replaced by the current larger courthouse in 1848. Since 1838, It’s been ringing in the hour.