Chesco Coroner: Drug overdose numbers fall during first half of 2020

WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Coroner’s Office released data on drug overdose deaths in Chester County from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020. A total of 58 deaths have been confirmed to be due to an accidental drug overdose. This is fewer than the 68 overdose deaths reported mid-way through 2019, but the Coroner’s Office cautioned that it is not possible to accurately predict a total...

What To Do: Nat’l Const. Center joins growing list of reopened attractions

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  The National Constitution Center Just like blooms on mid-summer annual plants, things that have been closed for a while are now slowly starting to open up. Attractions that have been shuttered for months are beginning to open their doors and welcome patrons. Getting out and enjoying them can be a great antidote for four months of cabin fever – as...

La Comunidad moves forward with Oxford expansion

LCH staff at the current Oxford location 303 North Third Street: Left to right Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Marthe Adler, MSN, CRNP, FNP; Bonnie Valente, Member Relations Specialist; Yaritzabell Dorsey, Medical Assistant; Maria Ortiz, Registered Nurse. La Comunidad Hispana (LCH) received approval for their conditional use agreement from the Oxford Borough Council last month.  This sets in motion...

Brandywine Creek Water Trail study completed

The Brandywine Conservancy, in partnership with the Chester County Planning Commission, announced the completion of the Brandywine Creek Water Trail feasibility study. A part of the Brandywine Creek Greenway initiative, this study outlines recommendations for a formalized route along the Brandywine Creek for recreational use, enhanced by connections to land trails. Focusing on the east and west branches...

Let’s be blunt about it: Russ Diamond is a jerk

By Mike McGann, Editor The Times @mikemcgannpa There are good people (lots, actually) and then — well, and unfortunately there’s no better way to put it — some people are reprehensible jerks (and yes, I wanted to use a more succinct expletive, but it seemed immature). One of the biggest in Pennsylvania is a State Representative from Lebanon County, Russ Diamond. After State Health Secretary Rachel...

County announces three new admin hires

New leadership appointments for Chester County government, clockwise from top right: Tiffany Sowers, Director of Human Resources; Nicole Forzato, County Solicitor; and Brianne Zanin, Deputy County Administrator. WEST CHESTER — Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline approved today the appointment of new Chester County Solicitor Nicole Forzato at their public...

Local, State Police to crackdown on aggressive driving

Aggressive drivers, look out! Local and State Police will be focusing on you, on July 29 in a joint-effort to make local highways safer — and calmer. On Wednesday, July 29, over 60 police departments from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties will join Pennsylvania State Police in a coordinated aggressive-driving enforcement wave to help reduce the number of crashes, injuries,...

Chesco Coroner reports COVID-19 deaths down in nursing homes

WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Coroner’s Office  reported a significant drop in the number of nursing home residents dying with COVID-19 in June and July, officials said Friday. In May, 135 such deaths were reported, compared to 25 in June and 8 so far in July. For all of 2020 to date, 380 COVID-19 deaths have been reported to the Coroner’s Office, with 318 (83.6%) being residents of long...

Chesco courts get ready for return of jury trials

Volunteers pretend to take the juror oath during an exercise to get the courts ready for the return of jury trials in West Chester. WEST CHESTER — This week the Chester County Justice Center prepared for the return of jury trials with a full scale exercise that tested plans to keep jurors safe while preserving the fairness of court proceedings. About 40 volunteers from various county departments...

DCCC to move to mostly online/remote classes for fall semester

This fall, Delaware County Community College has a multi-faceted plan to keep the education and training goals of our students on track, and to ensure safety during the coronavirus pandemic. The plan includes stringent safety protocols for wearing masks, social distancing and sanitizing; a tuition freeze for the 2020-2021 academic year to help keep college affordable and in reach of students and their...