On Stage: Veteran acts hit local venues

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Eric Andersen Over the next few days, there will be several music acts playing shows in the area which have longevity as part of their DNA. There will be singer/songwriter Eric Andersen, whose first album was released in 1965. There will be Orleans, a veteran band of hitmakers who have been making music since 1972. There will be Humbleman Band,...

Kennett Symphony announces new name — Brandywine Valley Symphony — and schedule for 85th season

The Brandywine Valley Symphony (BVS), formerly the Kennett Symphony, proudly announces its 85th season, marking the first under its new name. The Symphony embraces its proud legacy of presenting timeless classics to audiences in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Main Line, and Chester County. 2025–26 features one special event, one salon concert with food and spirits, three full-orchestra Masterworks...

Op/Ed: Bleeding on the Page — The Lost Art of Listening

Engagement with music on an emotional level is dying out, and we will all reap the consequences. By Jason Bauer, Special to The Times Jason Bauer The first time I heard Six Years Wiser by Harrison Boe, the hair on the back of my neck stood straighter than the guards at Buckingham Palace. I played it dozens of times consecutively until I could sing every word backwards in my sleep. I didn’t just want...

Op/Ed: Bleeding on the Page — The Lost Art of Listening

Engagement with music on an emotional level is dying out, and we will all reap the consequences. By Jason Bauer, Special to The Times Jason Bauer The first time I heard Six Years Wiser by Harrison Boe, the hair on the back of my neck stood straighter than the guards at Buckingham Palace. I played it dozens of times consecutively until I could sing every word backwards in my sleep. I didn’t just want...

What To Do: Mushroom Festival, Caln Community Day and more

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Mushroom Festival There is an adage that always applies in Kennett Square – “There is a fungus among us.” That saying is never more evident than on the weekend after Labor Day each year – the weekend for the annual staging of the Mushroom Festival. After three decades, anniversaries begin to take on a special significance. This weekend marks...

On Stage: Grant-Lee Phillips comes to Philly to support new album

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Grant-Lee Phillips Acclaimed Nashville-based singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips is out on the first leg of a U.S. tour in support of his 13th album – “In The Hour of Dust.” This leg begins on September 7 in Vienna, Virginia and now swings into the “City Winery Segment” with three shows in a row at City Winery venues in Philadelphia,...

Authorities thwart prison escape

Authorities were able to stop a prisoner from escaping from Chester County Prison Wednesday afternoon, local officials said. According to a statement from county government issued late Wednesday: “This afternoon, an inmate attempted to escape from the Chester County Prison. He was quickly apprehended due to a combination of security features and prison staff. All inmates are accounted for and...

28th annual Kennett Brewfest, Oct. 4

Brewfest attendees don pretzel snacklaces, theperfect compliment to cold beer. Photo by MoonloopPhotography. Kennett Collaborative announced the 28th Annual Kennett Brewfest is just around the corner on October 4, 2025. Admission includes unlimited tastings from a lineup of more than 85 carefully selected craft breweries plus vendors, food trucks, live music, and more, sponsored by Wistar Motors. Jeff...

CCIU opens revitalized Engle Education Center

The main entrance of the Engle Education Center Monday, August 25 marked a significant milestone for the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) as the newly revitalized Engle Education Center welcomed approximately 233 students on its first official day. The new building houses several programs including K–12 special education programs such as autistic support, emotional support, life skills support,...

What To Do: The last big weekend of summer beckons

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Summer 2025 seemed to zip by more quickly than summers in recent years. Whatever caused it, summer came and went with rapid speed. Hard as it is to believe, we’ve arrived at Labor Day Weekend — the weekend when summer unofficially draws to a close. Even though the official end of summer arrives later in the...