On Stage: “Lettie’ derailed by COVID finds new life at People’s Light

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Abigail Adams The play “Lettie” had its premiere in Chicago in 2017. The show received rave reviews and appeared destined to have a long and successful run on Broadway. Then, COVID-19 changed all that – a pandemic that closed everything down. When the original production ran at the Victory Playhouse in Chicago, Broadway World described the show...

Some W. Caln residents advised to boil water after main break

Pennsylvania American Water routinely monitors the conditions in the distribution system. Late last night, we experienced a loss of positive water pressure due to a main break in West Caln Township along Route 340. A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back siphonage....

Commissioners recognize Pride Month with proclamation and flags flying at county buildings

Pictured here raising the Pride Flag is (left to right): Commissioner Marian Moskowitz; Carrie Stare, President of LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County; Commissioner Josh Maxwell; and Kim Bydlon and Ghana Rowell, members of the Chester County employees’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The Chester County Commissioners officially proclaimed the County’s support for Pride Month with...

Anti gun violence advocates held rally in W. Chester

Anti-gun violence protestors in West Chester last Friday. By Tom Buglio, Special to The Times On Friday, June 2, an assembly of around 50 energetic gun violence prevention advocates rallied at noon during a warm late spring day at the steps of the Old Courthouse in West Chester.  Organized by CeaseFirePA,  ‘Wear Orange’ Day commemorates all of the victims amid the ongoing epidemic of gun violence...

County convenes reentry coalition to help those returning to the community

Melanie Snyder, Consultant for Reentry, Trauma, Resilience and Trauma-Informed Care, leads Chester County’s Reentry Coalition kick-off meeting. The Chester County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) held a kickoff meeting of the Chester County Reentry Coalition on June 1 to develop a strategic plan that supports those reintegrating into the community after being in prison.  In addition to County...

Houlahan celebrates opening of Piasecki in Valley

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan at the Piasecki ribbon cutting ceremony. On Wednesday, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-6) celebrated the opening of Piasecki Aircraft Corporation (PiAC)’s new Heliplex facility in Coatesville. Houlahan had the opportunity to view several models of vertical lift aircraft manufactured by Piasecki and learn of others to be produced at the state-of-the-art research and development facility....

Hibernia Park gets new wildflower meadow

Chester County Parks and Trails Manager Owen Prusack in one of the County Parks’ established native wildflower and warm season grass meadows. With the planting of a new five-acre native wildflower and warm season grass meadow at Hibernia County Park, the Chester County Department of Parks + Preservation is adding to the sustainable ecosystems that already exist at Hibernia as well as Nottingham County...

DASD hires three new administrators

(left to right) Board President LeeAnn Wisdo m, Lauren Raines, Dr. Matt Barr and Superintendent Dr. Robert O’Donnell. Not pictured: Jarvin Williams. The Downingtown Area School District (DASD) Board of School Directors approved the appointment of three school administrators on May 10, 2023. Dr. Matt Barr was named the next principal of Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center, and Lauren Raines and Jarvin...

County OKs $2.5M in open space grants

Site of the adaptive kayak launch and boat ramp rehabilitation project at Riverside Park in North Coventry Township,one of the recipients of a park improvement grant through the Chester County Preservation Partnership Program. The Chester County Commissioners approved the awarding of $2.5 million in open space preservation and park improvement grants today at the public Commissioners’ meeting. The...

On Stage: Chesco resident Giddings made the journey from the UK and to the stage

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Some years ago, Susan Giddings made the 3,500-mile journey from the London area of England to the Philadelphia area – more specifically from Hartfordshire to Chester County. Once in America, Giddings became involved with theater. Now, she is playing one of the major roles in the production of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” which is running...