Letter: Our legislators need to get back to work:

To The Editor: On behalf of our membership, the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry (CCCBI) is calling for the General Assembly and Governor Shapiro to avoid a prolonged state budget impasse, which is now entering its fourth week. Before an impact is felt by the residents and employers of the Commonwealth, legislative leaders and the Governor should meet jointly and collaboratively instead...

Two local taekwondo athletes win World Championships in Phoenix

Two champions celebrate: Master Kammas Kersch (left) and Dr. Stephanie McGann celebrate their respective World Championships together earlier this month. The two titles represent the first ever individual titles for the ATA West Chester school. Two athletes with strong ties to Chester County both won World Championships at the American Taekwondo Association championships in Phoenix earlier this month...

New Kennett Library to hold grand opening, Aug. 27

The new Kennett Library The Kennett Library & Resource Center will celebrate its Grand Opening on August 27. All are welcome to attend. The celebration will begin at 1 pm with a ceremonial book pass down State Street, followed by a land acknowledgment by the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, brief remarks by local dignitaries, and a ribbon cutting. Community members are encouraged to participate in...

WCU’s Florentino to retire in summer, 2024

Christopher M. Fiorentino West Chester University President Christopher M. Fiorentino, Ph.D., who leads the largest university within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, announced to the West Chester University community today that he will retire in the summer of 2024. Having led the institution as its 15th president for more than six years and having served the University now for a...

Shame of the commonwealth: PA tied for no. 3 in US for hate groups

By Rich Heiland, Columnist, The Times PENNSYLVANIA is tied for third among states…..and not in a good way. The Southern Poverty Law Center has released its “The Year in Hate & Extremism Report” for 2022. The report tallies up the number of hate and/or extremist groups in the country by state. Topping the list with 103 is California. Next comes Florida with 89. No surprise there. The state...

Obituaries: Lois Edith Simpler

Lois Edith Simpler Lois Edith Simpler 96 of Wall, NJ, formerly of Sun City West, AZ, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ. Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Lois summered on Breezy Point of Okauchee Lake outside of Oconomowoc, WI. Lois lived and raised her 5 children in Kennett Square, PA before moving to Sun City West, AZ in 1982. She raced...

Inner Nature: The nature of instinct

By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times One of the unexpected sights driving around my neighborhood in Chester county is seeing an adult male peacock with a magnificent tail walking about the streets. Peacocks are native to the tropics, and are the national bird of India. This peacock was probably bought as a pet, maybe as a pair, maybe alone. He’s since become feral, and has no partner. He has a big...

What To Do: Kimberton Fair returns; Oliver! under the stars

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Kimberton Fair There are two things you can be sure of in this area every July – scorching heat waves and an assortment of festivals, outside music events, carnivals, family-oriented celebrations and summertime fairs. If you enjoy country fairs, you should check out the Annual Kimberton Community Fair (Kimberton Fairgrounds, Route 113, Kimberton, 610-933-4566,...

On Stage: Andy Summers is more than just a legendary guitar player

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Andy Summers Andy Summers is most known for his work as the guitarist of the British band The Police. Summers’ innovative guitar playing created a new paradigm for guitarists in this period and has been widely imitated ever since. Prior to the Police, he played with various bands in the London scene including the Soft Machine, Kevin Coyne, and also...

Upper Oxford, County team to preserve 101 acres of farmland

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline recently approved the preservation of the 101-acre Kavanagh Farm, located in Upper Oxford Township. The County’s Department of Parks + Preservation partnered with Upper Oxford Township to acquire the easement rights from the estate of Paul A. Kavanagh Jr. at a cost of more than $523,800. “The preservation...