Oh jeez, not again: groundhog sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter predicted

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow Tuesday morning. According to tradition, that means six more weeks of winter. Image courtesy, VisitPa.com PUNXSUTAWNEY – This morning, Pennsylvania’s own world-famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. For the first-ever virtual Groundhog Day celebration, visitors from all over the world tuned in to see Phil make...

County Collects more than 2.3 tons of unused prescription drugs in 2020

Chester County Detectives Crime Scene Unit Detectives Chris Bucci (left) and Gary Lynch. WEST CHESTER — The Chester County District Attorney’s Office announced that the County’s Medication Drop-Off program collected over 2.3 tons of unused prescription drugs in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for the 37% drop in numbers from 2019 when 3.7 tons were collected. “The success of...

Major snowstorm bearing down on Chester County; a foot of snow or more expected

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa The first major snowstorm in nearly two years is expected to hit Chester County Sunday, bringing 12 to 18 inches of snow, high winds and potentially hazardous traveling conditions on Monday and into Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). A Winter Storm Warning went into effect at 10 a.m. warning of a possible Nor’easter, heavy...

Op/Ed: Candles and balloons

By Donna Bullock, State Representative, 195th District State Rep. Donna Bullock My older son celebrated his 13th birthday in January.  We shared this moment virtually with family and friends. As I decorated his backdrop with balloons and he blew out candles on a cake, it hit me. Something so innocent and joyful has been redefined by the growing number of gun deaths. A week before, a 9-year-old...

Inner Nature: Plant poisons

By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times Plants can be just as deadly to animals as animals are to animals, and this is not hyperbole. In order not to be eaten, plants abound with an alphabet soup of chemicals designed to make the predator so uncomfortable as to leave them alone, or to really make a point by killing them stone cold dead. Here, I want to spend a little time looking at plant toxins and...

Chesco schools to receive a total of $31M in COVID funds

WEST CHESTER — School districts and charter schools in Chester County are slated to receive more than $31 million in total federal COVID-19 pandemic support, according to estimated allocations released by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The funds come as part of $2.2 billion in pandemic education relief that Pennsylvania is set to receive from the second federal stimulus plan passed...

What To Do: Beat the winter blues by getting outside for fun

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  One way to deal with winter is to get outside and celebrate it rather than staying inside and hiding from it. This weekend, there is a great way to be out in the open air enjoying a winter event — “Chestnut Hill on Ice.” “Chestnut Hill on Ice” (Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill, chestnuthillpa.com) is scheduled for January 29 from...

On Stage: Michael Borowski makes solo debut at Sellersville

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Michael Borowski When Michael Borowski performs at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) on February 2, it will be as close as possible to what he could call a hometown show. The talented pianist grew up 10 minutes southwest of Sellersville in Souderton and now lives about 15 minutes south of...

Houlahan asks for ‘Valentines for Veterans’

WEST CHESTER – U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-6)  — Chester County’s representative in the U.S. House, is inviting students and residents in the region to participate in the Valentines for Veterans project by making cards for area veterans, thanking them for their service. “Especially during this pandemic, we’ve seen extraordinary acts of kindness in the Pennsylvania Sixth,” said...

Breaking those bad dental health habits

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Bad Habits? You betcha – we all have then,nobody’s perfect. We all pick up bad habits along the way. Our personal oral health is no exception. Odds are you, like just about everyone else has picked up a habit or two that is not beneficial. It’s human nature to cut corners in the name of time or money, but with oral health care,...