On Stage: Akaash Singh thrives on having a live audience

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Akaash Singh
There seem to be two main types of standup comedians.
Some give performances that are a series of bits – jokes and routines they have honed to elicit laughs from audiences. Others spend much of their time onstage interacting with audiences in a conversational way – talking about audience members’ dates, their clothing or their...
Don’t retire, ReFire: The value of perserverance

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times
In this last year, we all have had to dig deep and plug along an unknown, winding road with no apparent end in sight. Now that the end is in sight, we are still dealing with the slow process of getting to the finish line, almost feeling like we’re walking in quicksand, as we attempt to set up an appoint to be vaccinated!
We’re tired. The problem with...
Wolf loosens some COVID restrictions; Congress members call for better Pa. vaccine roll out

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Gov. Tom Wolf announced some loosening of COVID-19 restrictions Monday — as members of Congress from the Philadelphia suburbs, including U.S. Chrissy Houlahan, called for Wolf to fix the state’s vaccine program.
This all happened as the new weekly state COVID numbers showed another modest decline — and a similar drop in Chester County from the...
Coroner says 7 deaths due to cold weather

The Chester County Coroner’s Office has investigated seven winter weather-related fatalities so far this year. Hypothermia caused or contributed to the deaths of six Chester County residents. Four persons were found outdoors and two died inside homes with inadequate or no heat. Ages of these decedents ranged from 59 to 87, and all but one were male. Alcohol intoxication played a role in one death,...
County officials push state on vaccine numbers, explain guidance for schools reopening

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Chester County Commissioners’ chair Marian Moskowitz updates the public on the current status of COVID-19 vaccine in the county, Thursday.
WESTTOWN — The leaders of Chester County’s government expressed frustration at low supplies of COVID-19 vaccine — and pledged to keep pushing state officials to boost supplies locally, specifically...
What To Do: Brandywine Railroad extended, Kennett Winterfest goes virtual

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Brandywine River Museum
With COVID-19 still impacting everyone and everything, there aren’t nearly as many things on the weekend activity schedules as there usually are.
Fortunately, there are still some worthwhile events and attractions – many of which are here in the heart of the Brandywine Valley.
The “Brandywine Railroad” display at the...
On Stage: Adam Ferrara was ‘driven’ into comedy

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Adam Ferrara
Adam Ferrara, who will be headlining the Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com) from February 25-27, is currently one of the top comics in America.
His career as a top-flight standup comedian might never have happened had it not been for a pair of prescient activities by his mother and him...
WCU clinic demonstrates potential model for large county vaccine events

Chester County residents in Phase 1A received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Saturday, at the large-scale clinic established through a partnership between Chester County Hospital and the Chester County Health Department.
WEST CHESTER — Two of Chester County’s leading COVID-19 vaccine providers came together on Saturday for a one-day clinic that vaccinated close to 1,500 individuals...
Avon Grove SD wins award for budget prep excellence

Back row from left: Daniel Carsley, Elizabeth Julian, Donna Bollinger, Lisa Dosenbach, Barbara Wallace, Amanda Trauger and Dennis Pagan. Front row from left: Amy Seamon, Cindy Bhan, Eric Willey, Marcia O’Hara and Christine Marsala.
WEST GROVE — For the second consecutive year, the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) has recognized Avon Grove School District (AGSD)...
A tale of two political parties

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
With apologies to Charles Dickens, it is a tale of two political parties.
In one party, a long-serving U.S. Senator is under attack for voting his conscience — the party rejecting the idea that said senator can hold a former President responsible for sparking an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The local county committee draws up a resolution condemning...