Publisher’s Letter

Welcome autumn! Apples, pumpkins, squash … The scent of falling leaves. Cooler days, growing shorter, becoming spookier. County Lines will get you ready.

In “Across County Lines,” join Shannon Montgomery to tour Chester and Delaware Counties, the Main Line and Wilmington. Bright colors, scenic landscapes and charming towns full of shopping, dining and fall festivities with fun for the whole family.

We also suggest a special trip to the steel town that’s become a beer town. Check out over a dozen places to spend “Happy Hour in Phoenixville.” Shoot for late afternoon.

On a nice day, consider expanding your tour west into Lancaster County. In Lititz, you’ll find a sanctuary for “Running with Wolves.” Heed the call of the wild.

Nuts, berries, fruits, seeds and cones. By fall, plants and trees are ensuring their next generation. In “Beyond Pine Cones,” Victoria Laubach of Welkinwieir shares the fun of collection them.

Samuel Barber is one of the greatest musical composers of the early 20th century. He was born right here in West Chester. A master of melody, his music crossed forms: classical, blues, boogie woogie. Malcolm Johnstone tells his Brandywine Story in “A Precocious Prodigy.”

The pandemic, we thought, was behind us. Data shows it’s not. In “Turning Pandemic Learning Losses into Student Silver Linings,” Cara Corridoni takes a look at what our private schools are doing to address the problem. Also helpful to parents, Assistant Editor Marci Tomassone shares a “Guide to Private and Independent Schools & Education Services.”

“Live the Dream — Dream Barn, That Is,” writes Laurel Anderson. She’s spotted a bank barn on a 2.5-acre wooded lot bordering Ridley Creek. Tour it with her and consider barn living. Later, she notes several places to spend the “Spooky Season” with the kids … and maybe with a ghost.

In “Falling for Fall Salads,” Courtney Diener-Stokes interviews Josh Taggart of Mae’s West Chester, who shares several delicious ideas for salads and dressings.

Finally, we ask, “Are You Sober Curious about Sober October?” Experts say a break from alcohol, even briefly, offers several benefits. Join Sober October and make a plan for alcohol-free fun.

As always, our Best Local Events section is filled with things to do for you and your family.

Perhaps you already have County Lines delivered to your mailbox. Save it for future reference. At CountyLinesMagazine.com, you can read the October 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

Across County Lines

Leaves are changing, there’s a chill in the air and neighborhoods have posted their spookiest decor. There’s no better time than autumn for a drive in Brandywine Valley. Take time to explore the places that make our corner of the country so special.  Adventure awaits!

A Precocious Prodigy

Many consider Samuel Barber to be America’s greatest, most celebrated 20th-century musical composer. A child prodigy, he was considered a master of melody and is perhaps most famous for “Adagio for Strings,” performed in films and several presidential funerals. He considered West Chester his hometown.

Turning Pandemic Learning Losses into Student Silver Linings

The pandemic had a lingering effect on students. It took a toll on their mental health, making school harder and more stressful. Often, when students returned to the classroom, they observed rather than participated and had other adjustments to make. But local private schools have a plan to address this gap.