Don’t ‘should’ on yourself

Making overly hard judgments about yourself isn’t productive By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times As another year end quickly approaches, this is a great time to take a moment away from the rush of the holidays and reflect on the past year. Many of us started the year with resolutions, goals, and intentions about how 2013 would unfold.  For some people, life may have happened exactly as...

Area YMCAs offering free holiday tryout

From Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, residents can sample offerings at no charge The only string attached to this holiday gift is the hope that the YMCA of the Brandywine Valley will be able to attract your patronage, its officials say. From Dec. 26 to 31, YMCAs in the area will be open to the public for free – just in time to counteract the traditional holiday stress and overeating. Even better: The YMCA...

Brandywine Health Foundation presents scholarships

Three area nursing students receive awards at holiday reception Ashlie Krejci (front, from left) of Immaculata University, and Rachel Heisler and Bridget Phillips, both from the West Chester University School of Nursing, were each presented with a $1,000 Cardiac Rehab Nursing Scholarship from the Brandywine Health Foundation. Behind them (from left) are Jay Rooney, a co-f0under of the Maria Rooney...

Porcelain laminate veneers – something to smile about

You can create an entirely new smile in just a few visits By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times What is a veneer? For more than 20 years dentists have had the technology to create lifelike appearing veneers to give teeth a flawless appearance.  Also known as laminates, veneers are usually custom made from porcelain.  Porcelain veneers can make uneven or crooked teeth appear straight....

Observing National Influenza Vaccination Week

County to offer free flu shots Monday at Exton library Don’t take chances with your health, urges the county, which is offering free flu shots on Monday, Dec. 9. In observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 8-14), the Chester County Health Department will offer the free vaccinations – recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older – at the Chester County Library in Exton from...

Progress seen in plan to end homelessness

County officials applaud collaborative Decades to Doorways initiative By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Chester County Commissioner Terence Farrell (right) discusses the Decades to Doorways initiative, with its administrator, Michael Hackman. Born in South Carolina,  Juanita moved to Coatesville with three young children. Hoping to find a better life, instead she encountered hardship...

Where do germs go the other 8 months of the year?

By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times It’s that time again!  The holidays haven’t yet arrived, but the flu season is already upon us.  Chances are, the last time you stepped outside, you also saw or heard someone discuss the “bug that’s going around.”  But, where’s the “bug” actually going?  If you pay any attention to the news, you might think that a newly discovered disease...

County to smokers: Be a quitter

Free assistance being offered to help kick the habit In observance of the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 21, the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition will be distributing 1,000 free “quit kits” to work sites and community-based organizations in Chester County, a news release from the county Health Department said. Quit kits, tobacco prevention information, and smoking cessation resources...

Free child safety seat checks scheduled

State police urging parents, caregivers to have equipment inspected  Every day, about two children aged 12 or younger die and 325 are injured in motor-vehicle accidents across the country, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Research also shows that three out of four children are not as secure in the car as they should...

What were all those dentists doing in New Orleans?

Annual American Dental Association Meeting highlight tech, learning By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Just last week more than 24 thousand dental professionals gathered in New Orleans for the Annual meeting of the American Dental Association.  That’s a lot of dental people in one place.  What makes these meetings so important? As a private practice dentist, I believe it is...