Lies, damn lies and talk about Common Core
Kennett event drifted into propaganda, rather than a clear-eyed look at the facts
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
KENNETT — I came, I saw, and frankly, I left scratching my head.
Setting aside the oddity of complaining about the teaching of global warming on a day that four-plus inches of rain fell on the southern part of the county, closing roads and bridges, it was a complicated night of...
Common Core hysteria is testing the limits
While a debate is proper, muddying the waters with lies doesn’t help
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Tuesday night, there’s a big meeting planned at the Kennett Fire Company’s Red Clay Room, to talk about the issues with the proposed Common Core curriculum.
And while there are issues with Common Core, ranging from questions about the nature of the curriculum to who should pay for it,...
Taking a bite out of ‘Back to School’
A handful of tips to make it easier to get your child dentally ready for the school year
By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times
It’s the beginning of August and signs proclaiming back to school have been popping up everywhere. As a mom, I approach the upcoming start of school with a mixture of enthusiasm and trepidation. As a dentist I can offer a few tidbits to make the...
Letter: Kennett Twp. holds too large a surplus
To The Editor,
The financial management of Kennett Township funds is in disarray. With an operating budget of approximately $3 million/year, the current Board of Supervisors has accumulated a massive General Fund of $9 million dollars. Kennett Township also continues to receive 0.25% Earned Income Tax (EIT) for open space, only a very small fraction of which has been used, and now totals another...
Same-sex marriage is happening. So?
The less time we spend on this, the more we might realize what sort of mess we’re in
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Same sex couples, it would seem, can drive a short distance from Chester County and obtain a marriage license.
At the same time, our state Attorney General is refusing to defend the state’s defense of marriage act — a law that defines marriage as being between a man and...
Don’t write Corbett off just yet
Despite doomsayers — and the work of local GOP legislators — Gov. may just have second act
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Undoubtedly, you’ve seen the headlines (unless of course, you’re a sensible person and have spent the last broiling week or so somewhere with beaches, cool (relatively speaking) breezes and chilled beverages) that Gov. Tom Corbett is likely doomed, will be pushed...
Letter: a call for action in Kennett
To The Editor,
Last week, at the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors meeting, dozens of concerned residents came to voice their concerns about repeated, annoying and unsafe discharges of firearms in township neighborhoods. The residents had called the police on numerous occasions and spoke with the homeowner, all to no avail, despite dangerous, high-powered rifles being fired with no berm to...
Council of Goverments shows a path ahead
13 towns working together offer chance for smart, more efficient government
UPDATED (Sun 9 a.m.): adds comment on Saturday night legislative action
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
CALN — It was a sight to behold. Elected officials from various parties, municipalities and even the County Commissioners, sitting down for a sometimes freewheeling and open discussion about how best to work together.
It...
Letter: Getting rid of Jury Commissioners hurts justice
To The Editor,
The old adage states you don’t fix something that isn’t broke. The Pennsylvania Legislature has violated this wise advice by taking unconstitutional action that threatens the integrity of the Commonwealth’s judicial system.
Since 1868 the elected representatives of the office of Jury Commissioner have made sure that the jury selection process in Pennsylvania has been fair and...
In Harrisburg, seven big days ahead
Corbett’s legacy and whether your state legislator will have a lot of explaining to do
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
By all accounts, it’s going to be a busy week in Harrisburg — as the state legislature has just a week to get a lot of work done.
Of course, the question is what will get done? And how much Republican-on-Republican political violence will be involved?
Going into this...
