County: Everyone over age 16 eligible for COVID vaccine

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa If you’ve been waiting patiently for the COVID-19 vaccine, Chester County has news for you: it is now your turn if you are over age 16. The county Health Department announced Friday that appointments will not be available for all adults, more than a week earlier than federal guidelines required. The expansion comes in part because the county vaccination...

Chester County’s Envirothon to return virtually

Students throughout Chester County love to compete in the Envirothon every year. This year’s event will be virtual, and organizers hope that next year, the Chester County Envirothon will return to in-person competition at Hibernia Park. WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Envirothon, a schools-based tradition that challenges students’ knowledge of the natural environment, continues this year, virtually. The...

What To Do: With warmer weather, time to get outdoors

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Paoli Battlefield Park It seems as if warm spring weather has finally arrived. That means it’s a great time to visit attractions such as horticultural sites, zoos and historic sites – and a great time to do some walking. A special “Paoli Battlefield Walking Tour” (pbpfinc.org) will be held on April 10 and repeated on May 8. Participants are invited...

County to host Open Space Summit, April 29

WEST CHESTER — Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline, along with leaders of Chester County’s Planning Commission and Parks + Preservation, are hosting the annual Open Space Summit on Thursday, April 29. The Summit includes a report on Chester County’s 2020 open space preservation achievements and ongoing commitment to the program, and will take place...

On Stage: Belardo returns to her Wilmington roots

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Maya Belardo The live entertainment scene over the last seven or eight months has been similar to flowers growing in outdoor gardens. Almost nothing has survived over the winter months except for pansies. It’s ironic that the word ‘pansy’ is used as an insult meaning “a weak man’ when, in reality, the pansy is a strong flower that can be...

Kennett Mushroom Festival to return in 2021

KENNETT SQUARE — After a one-year absence due to COVID-19, one of the county’s most beloved and best attended events will return in 2021: The Kennett Square Mushroom Festival. The 36th Annual Mushroom Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, according to an announcement by the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival Committee this week. The Committee also unveiled the theme...

County launches Teen Talk Line to aid mental health and wellness

WEST CHESTER — Chester County teens now have a new tool for mental health and wellness. A Teen Talk Line, targeting 12 to 18 year-olds, is now taking calls and texts to support young people who are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, sad, isolated, or confused. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that young people may be more vulnerable to stress and developing mental health conditions, such...

Houlahan highlights threat to local economy posed by Spotted Lanterfly

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan speaks at a media event Monday to highlight the threat to the local economy from the Spotted Lanterfly, as Braeloch Brewing owner Ken Steeves looks on. KENNETT SQUARE — If you are a beer or wine lover — or a fan of Chester County’s great agricultural products — you have a new Public Enemy, No. 1: the Spotted Lanternfly. This...

Chesco to participate in events to combat opioid epidemic

WEST CHESTER — Chester County’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services (CCDDAS) recognizes the impact COVID-19 has had, and will continue to have on our communities, and notes that the opioid and overdose crisis, along with other substance use disorders are still extremely prevalent. In some ways, the crisis is exacerbated by the pandemic. In a continued effort to prevent further Opioid Use...

Get over it: COVID passports are going to happen

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa On this Easter Sunday — one that feels a whole lot different than the one a year ago — there is both hope and fear. We’re close. More than a third of the adult population of Pennsylvania, as of Saturday, has had at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, with thousands more happening daily. Just short of 2 million have had both shots. Supply, while...