What To Do: It’s spring, get out there for festivals and fun

Flowers, Chester County Studio Tour, cars, Shrine circus and tons more fun things to do By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times “Peonies and Primroses” are featured Sunday at Winterthur, just one of many great outdoor activities in the area this weekend. Spring is “bustin’ out all over” and some of the best places to enjoy it are the top-caliber historic sites and tourist attractions around...

On Stage: David Torn, the best guitar player you’ve never heard of

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times David Torn, who performs on May 14 at Philadelphia Art Alliance, might just be the best, least-known guitar player in the world, if not the most versatile. There is a huge array of genres in popular music today and, within each of those genres are many excellent guitarists. There are rock greats such as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Derek Trucks. There are jazz...

Mayor pledges support, thanks volunteers after fire

Tuesday’s fire at a Wallace Avenue shopping center left a number of borough businesses homeless. Mayor Josh Maxwell offered thanks to the volunteers who helped battle the blaze, as well as those who offered food and beverages to the volunteers. He said the borough was already at work, looking for places to house the displaced businesses. Photo: courtesy Josh Maxwell. DOWNINGTOWN — Mayor Josh...

Toxic Waste may be more dangerous than it sounds to teeth

Super-Sour candy is almost as acidic as battery acid By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times No really – one of today’s hottest super sour candies is called Toxic Waste. Yummy huh?   The website for Toxic Waste is full of cartoons, games and challenges. How long can you keep this sour candy in your mouth? Are you tough enough?   Now, to be fair Toxic Waste is not the...

Op/Ed: Helping our female veterans

By Ryan Costello, U.S. Rep., Sixth Congressional District U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6) May provides us with a unique opportunity to honor both our veterans (Military Appreciation Month) and the women who are very special to us (Mother’s Day). Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to our veterans and our mothers, and I wanted to update you on my efforts to help our female veterans. Female veterans...

City backs ‘Young Lungs At Play’ initiative

Coatesville police and other city officials gathered to express support for ChesPenn Health Services and Coatesville Youth Initiative’s Young Lungs At Play, to get tobacco products away from parks and playgrounds. Pictured, front row, Gabrielle Thomson, age 11; Israel Thomson, age 8 ;Amina Thomson, age 10. Second row: Sergeant Rodger H. Ollis, Jr., City of Coatesville Police Department; Lula...

Father & daughter seek to run 24 hours to fight cancer

Father and daughter runners Nancy Rowe and Dennis Metzler of Coatesville hope to run 24 hours straight in an effort to battle cancer as part of the Central Chester County Relay For Life, this weekend at Downingtown West High School. DOWNINGTOWN — The 2015 Relay For Life of Central Chester County is the American Cancer Society’s signature overnight fundraising activity   Although they are excited...

Saving the Post Office

Handcuffed by Congress, Postal Service faces a murky future By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times I’ve always been a fan of the post office. I enjoy getting the mail out of the letterbox attached to my house six days a week; I like knowing that a mail carrier is walking around my neighborhood and going to people’s doors without asking for subscriptions or conversions. I enjoy taking...

What To Do: If it’s Mothers Day, It’s Willowdale

From Steeplechases to local stages, there’s lots to do with Mom this weekend By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times The 23rd Annual Willowdale Steeplechase takes place Sunday, complete with the annual tailgating competition, antique cars — and of course, the hats. It’s Mother’s Day on May 10 and you can go the traditional route and take mom out to a nice dinner. But, if you’re looking...

On Your Table: Celebrate National Gardening Month

Enjoy a family adventures starting vegetables from seeds By Cathy Branciaroli, Food Correspondent,The Times Planting seeds for a summer garden is a great family project. Vegetable plants can also be gotten at local garden centers. Starting seeds that will grow to produce this summer’s garden bounty and then nurturing a backyard garden plot can be a fun family project.   It’s the miracle...