Wolf moves to reduce COVID restrictions as of April 4

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa April showers may well bring May flowers, but April 4 will bring — potentially — a half full Citizens Bank Park for the Phillies just a couple of days into the Major League Baseball season — as well as the reopening of bars across the commonwealth, under new orders released by Gov. Tom Wolf, Monday. Wolf, citing both declining COVID-19 rates...

Pa., Chesco, municipalities to get funds from American Rescue Plan

Chester County and its municipalities are expected to receive an estimated $153 million in total federal pandemic relief through the recently passed American Rescue Plan (ARP), state Senator Carolyn Comitta said. According to estimates from the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee, Chester County will receive $101.82 million in estimated relief and its 73 municipalities will...

Inner Nature: Mad Honey

By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times In his book, Anabasis, Xenophon wrote in 401 B.C.E. that his Army of Ten Thousand – Greek soldiers retreating from a failed mission on behalf of Cyrus to dethrone his brother, Artaxerxes – had crossed into a Turkish town called Trabzon, near the Black Sea. Tired but exultant after having arrived at the sea and imminent succor, they rested. They found...

County, state continue to clash over vaccine distribution

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa While President Joe Biden announced that states will have to allow universal scheduling of COVID-19 vaccine appointments after May 1 for everyone over age 18, local officials continue to express worry that the state Department of Health is still not sending the county its fair share of vaccine, leading to widespread frustration by those in the first...

What To Do: After a long year, museums, attractions slowly reopening

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Longwood Gardens Amazingly, it was a year ago when COVID-19’s destructive path began to evidence itself all across the United States. On Friday the 13th in 2020, things started to shut down in response to the newly arrived pandemic. Because of Coronavirus, doors were beginning to close. But the doors were not being slammed shut and locked tight....

On Stage: Arnez J. headlining at Helium

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Arnez J. Because of the pandemic, live entertainment by national acts is virtually non-existent in this area – and it is no laughing matter. Fortunately, there are a few venues still presenting shows – and it is a laughing matter. Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia has been presenting nationally acclaimed comedy acts on a regular basis for...

Sheriff: demand for concealed firearm carry permits spiked in second half of 2020

WEST CHESTER – In the third and fourth quarters of 2020, the demand for permits to carry concealed firearms skyrocketed in Chester County. The demand continues and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has taken steps to double the number of applications processed. To keep up with the increased demand for License-to-Carry (LTC) permits, the CCSO has added weekend hours to allow more applications...

Answering questions about vaccines: in short, they work and they’re safe

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Here we are closing in on a year of life altered by the pandemic.  As a practicing dentist I have fielded my share of questions from all points of view. I want to share my perspective on where we are what lies ahead. There are lots of questions about vaccines. Yes, they work. The job of the vaccine is to keep people out of the hospital and...

Local officials blast Wolf Admin. over ‘shortchanging’ SE counties on COVID-19 vaccine

A Sunday meeting between local elected officials and officials from the state Department of Health (DOH) did little to convince officials from Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Bucks county that DOH has not shortchanged the region when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine — and that the state will continue to shortchange the counties surrounding Philadelphia. The meeting — with county commissioners,...

Bartos announces bid for U.S. Senate

Jeff Bartos Jeff Bartos, small business owner and co-founder of the Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund, today announced his candidacy for the United States Senate. In a statement and announcement video, both included below, Bartos pledges to be a fighter for all Pennsylvanians and do what it takes to help keep our nation moving forward. “During the Trump Administration, millions of Pennsylvanians who had...