County planning to hold hearing on proposed So. Chester Trail Project

Last year, the Chester County Commissioners accepted a grant award to perform a study that would examine the feasibility of developing a multi-use trail to serve the communities in southern Chester County. On Tuesday, July 14, the Chester County Planning Commission will hold the first public meeting discussing this project. The meeting will be held from 7:00pm-9:00pm via Zoom, and will also be...

DA announces charges in alleged E. Whiteland sex trafficking of minors ring

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against eight individuals Wednesday related to an alleged sex trafficking operation out of East Whiteland, luring and holding adults and minors — including a 14-year-old — against their will and forcing them to engage in prostitution. “The allegations in this case are difficult to digest because of the calculated and deviant...

Chester County’s farmers rise to meet COVID-19 challenge

Alejandro Romero, an employee at Pietro Industries in Kennett Square, wearing a specially created t-shirt that reminds Pietro staff, and the community, that agriculture employees are heroes, performing essential jobs that keep us fed even during difficult times. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our nation in so many profound ways, and agriculture, an essential business in every way, has been...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: Compassion in an unsettled world

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times My messages in the last few months have taken me in directions that have stirred up many emotions, changing, often times, moment by moment. I can assure you that my message here is not a diatribe that will only bring sadness and discontent to you, my Readers. Instead, my hope is that I can, in some way, give you a different interpretation of what you’re...

State, local officials remind everyone to wear a mask

On Tuesday, state and federal officials — including  Chester County legislator — joined Gov. Tom Wolf in reminding Pennsylvanians to wear a mask to reduce the likelihood of spreading COVID-19. “As we increasingly resume public activities in our commonwealth, we need to remain vigilant about taking precautions, especially wearing a mask that covers our noses and mouths while around other...

Unionville HS student wins award for child saving invention

Pranavh Vallabhaneni Chadds Ford 9th grader Pranavh Vallabhaneni was honored recently for his ingenuity at the 5th annual Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, presented by Raytheon Technologies. He was among nearly 500 award-winning K-12 inventors from across the nation who were celebrated at a virtual awards ceremony held on July 2. Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention...

Mortgage/Rent relief focus of next Restore Chesco Webinar, July 9

WEST CHESTER — The next in a series of webinars hosted by the Chester County COVID-19 Business Task Force, focusing on mortgage and rent relief for county residents, is scheduled for Thursday July 9, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. The webinar covers the CARES Rent Relief program, created for Chester County renters financially impacted by the pandemic to pick up where assistance from the Commonwealth support...

Wolf was right; early reopening is killing people & the economy elsewhere

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa A few weeks back, I wrote a column suggesting that the people of Chester County be careful, listen to health experts, wear a mask, wash their hands frequently and continue social distancing as we worked through the process to reopen our county and state, carefully, and slowly. And while it is clear most of the residents in the county agreed — we...

After pandemic delay, Lenape Bridge reopens

Route 52 (Lenape Rd) Reopen 102853 BIRMINGHAM — After what seems like years of constant detours, delays and closures — from construction on the Rt. 52 Roundabout, the 926 Bridge and the Lenape Bridge, traffic in the Birmingham/Pocopson area finally returned to normal this week with the delayed completion of the Lenape Bridge rehabilitation. Work stopped on the project in March, due to the pandemic,...

What To Do: Lancaster offers chance to get back to nature, old ways

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Kreider Farms Tour When spring arrives, gardens begin coming back to life. First, a crocus emerges with its burst of purple color. Then, over a period of weeks, more flowers join the annual resurrection of garden blooms. Before you know it, what was previously a bleak and barren space has transformed into a home for floral activity. In many ways,...