West Chester

Kevin McGrath hit a two-run homer and Charlie Kelly launched a solo shot into the second level in leftfield at Citizens Bank Park to lift West Chester to an 8-2 victory over University of the Sciences for its third consecutive Bill Giles Classic championship. McGrath also had an RBI double for the Rams (32-9), who have won the Division II tournament seven times in the past 10 years. Lou Tomasetti and Mark Forbes knocked in runs for USP (4-29).  

The streets were alive with the sound of cooking. They were also alive with the smells, tastes and sights of international food. The occasion was the Restaurant Street Festival, held last Sunday on Market Street in West Chester. Greek, American and Indian food were among the selections from which the thousands of festivalgoers could choose. The festival also included a German street band playing German folk music and other bands playing American folk music. And for those children who could not get excited about the wide variety of food or music, there were clowns and face painters to provide entertainment.

West Chester paid tribute yesterday to former Chief of Police John O. Green, 70, who died at his home Sunday. Uniformed local and state police filled pew after pew at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church to honor Green, who had been the West Chester chief for 23 years. The church was filled with members of the community, including government officials, friends and relatives of Green. Green was remembered as an active member of the community who touched many lives. Msgr. Thomas P. Craven, who presided over the service, spoke of Green's gentle strength, and his ability to bring together "people of difference.

A West Chester man has been charged with a burglary at a West Chester health-food store. Melvin Vasquez, 18, of the 100 block of East Gay Street, was arrested Jan. 11 and charged with three counts each of burglary and trespassing, two counts each of theft and receiving stolen property, and one count each of conspiracy and criminal mischief. An affidavit filed by West Chester police gave this account: Robin Chewning, who lives above Great Pumpkin Health Foods, 316 S. High St., and works at the store, arrived home at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 31 and found the store's refrigerator ajar and her apartment door open.

The Westtown Recreation Department looked everywhere for a new summer director. Officials ran ads, talked to friends, made pleas at township meetings. But no one responded - a disturbing sign, considering the program was just entering its second year. Nearly 70 children had signed up for the program last summer, and township officials were sure the past success would spark further interest. But last year's director had other commitments, and the all-volunteer recreation committee feared it was stuck.

Calvary Lutheran Church will rededicate its newly expanded church at 730 S. New St., West Chester, with music, services and a reception on Sunday. The $3.9 million project enlarged the church facilities by about 50 percent. The project began in 1995 when the congregation opted to stay in West Chester rather than relocate. The church has been in West Chester for 75 years. Sunday's activities will begin with the usual services at 8, 9 and 10:30 a.m. At 2:30 p.m., there will be a musical recital.

West Chester got a goal from Jen Hutchinson (Neshaminy) on a header with four minutes left, and the host Golden Rams made it stand up for a 1-0 win over Slippery Rock, capturing the Atlantic Region title of the NCAA Division II women's soccer tournament Friday. West Chester (15-4-1) advanced to the quarterfinals to play the College of St. Rose, 1-0 winners over Dowling, on Sunday at noon. Women's volleyball. Temple topped Duquesne, 3-2, in the Atlantic Ten quarterfinals in Pittsburgh.

When the West Chester men's basketball team defeated Bloomsburg on Saturday, it marked the first time in more than four years that the Rams could claim even a share of first place in the Eastern Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. If they can regularly summon the will that motivates junior shooting guard Eugene Watts, the Rams might just stay on top. Watts turns 26 on Friday, Feb. 15, but his emergence as West Chester's second-leading scorer and rebounder has less to do with late blooming than with perseverance.

An earthy paradise. A garden of delight. Those descriptions hardly seem applicable even to the West Chester of 100 years ago, home to brick storefronts and government buildings. Yet by 1900, horticulture in the borough was a thriving business, with many nurseries and thousands of acres under cultivation. Aside from being the home of several prominent horticulturists and botanists, including John Rutter, who developed the Rutter pear, West Chester apparently had ideal growing soil.