Music Spotlight: Chesco native helps fuel Troubadour 77’s Laurel Canyon sound

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Troubadour 77 Spring is traditionally the time of year when artists like to release new albums. The holiday season, which is a brutal time to release an LP unless you’re named Jay Z or BTS or Billie Eilish, is done, the weather has gotten better and it’s a great time to tour in support of a new disc. Troubadour 77’s new album, “Revolution...

COVID-19 Update, May 27: Local legislators ask Wolf to allow restaurants, hair salons to partially reopen under Yellow status

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa As much of Pennsylvania edges toward reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic, some local legislators are asking Gov. Tom Wolf to amend his rules for counties in Yellow status and allow a limited reopening of some restaurants and hair salons. State Rep. Joe Ciresi — along with State Rep. Dan Williams (D-73), Christina Sappey (D-158) and State Rep. Melissa...

COVID-19 Update, May 26: Wolf seems to throw cold water on HS graduations, pro sports restart

By Mike McGann, Editor, the Times @mikemcgannpa As Gov. Tom Wolf thanked Pennsylvanians for doing their part to drive down the number of new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, he seemed to throw cold water on the idea of high schools holding graduation ceremonies and a restart of pro sports in the Keystone state any time soon. Responding to a question during Tuesday’s press conference, referencing moves...

As Chester County moves toward Yellow, let’s all be smart about COVID-19

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa So, on June 5, Chester County moves to Yellow status. Obviously, it is good news. It means some of our businesses will reopen and some of our people will go back to work. In some ways, life will go back to something approaching normal. It appears the county will go to Green status by the end of next month — meaning even more things will open, including...

COVID-19 Update, May 22: All of Pa. to go ‘Yellow’ June 5; 17 counties go ‘Green’ on May 29

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday afternoon that the entire state of Pennsylvania would move out of lockdown into Yellow status, effective June 5, with eight counties moving to Yellow and 17 additional counties moving to the fully open Green status on May 29. “We know not only that we succeeded in slowing case growth, but that our actions, our collective...

What To Do: Parks, shore reopening, but be careful

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Marsh Creek State Park Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer in this area. It is weekend that usually features picnics, camping, family gatherings, swimming, parties, hiking – a weekend to get outside to welcome summer. The COVID-19 “shelter-in-place” situation has thrown a wrench in the works for a lot of these activities –...

COVID-19 Update, May 21: After County pushes for Yellow status, Carnegie-Mellon report appears to say ‘not so fast’

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa As Chester County leaders push Gov. Tom Wolf to move the county to Yellow status on June 4, there is some immediate good news: as of today, you can get your favorite cocktail to go from your favorite bar or eatery (assuming they’re open) to take home and enjoy. And maybe some bad news: on the heels of the county request, the state released the first...

Chesco Commissioners to Wolf: Let us prove ourselves ready to move to Yellow, June 4

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa The Chester County Commissioners issued a statement Wednesday night, calling on Gov. Tom Wolf to allow the county to prove it is ready to move to Yellow status in the state’s reopening plan by June 4 — and asking county residents to try to be patient and stick it out two more weeks. In the statement, the Commissioners — Marian Moskowitz, Josh...

Music Spotlight: Chesco native Zell sees album plans put on hold, but finds silver lining

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Nicole Zell When America screeched to a halt in early March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, everything was turned upside-down and inside-out. Nothing was the same. The music industry got slammed. Venues closed and tours got cancelled. Recording sessions were put in limbo. Album releases got put on hold indefinitely. The shutdown was bad for...

1,500 face shields donated to county will go to protect election workers

Chester County Voter Services Director Sandra Burke (center) with Voter Services staff member Laura Bradley (left) accepts a delivery of 1,000 protective face shields donated by Nielsen-Kellerman CEO Alix James. Thanks to two separate donations of face shields, Chester County voters and poll workers will have even greater protection from the threat of the spread of coronavirus on primary election...