On Stage: Venues reopen briefly, but…close again, due to COVID-19

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
COVID-19 has almost completely wiped out live music and theater performances.
There were glimmers of hope for live shows recently. Some venues actually hosted indoor performances in late July but the era of indoor live shows 2020 has drawn to a close.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced statewide mitigation efforts as COVID-19 cases surge in...
Chesco courts get ready for return of jury trials

Volunteers pretend to take the juror oath during an exercise to get the courts ready for the return of jury trials in West Chester.
WEST CHESTER — This week the Chester County Justice Center prepared for the return of jury trials with a full scale exercise that tested plans to keep jurors safe while preserving the fairness of court proceedings.
About 40 volunteers from various county departments...
DCCC to move to mostly online/remote classes for fall semester

This fall, Delaware County Community College has a multi-faceted plan to keep the education and training goals of our students on track, and to ensure safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
The plan includes stringent safety protocols for wearing masks, social distancing and sanitizing; a tuition freeze for the 2020-2021 academic year to help keep college affordable and in reach of students and...
Mad about the pandemic? Don’t blame Gov. Wolf

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Don’t blame Gov. Tom Wolf.
With COVID-19 cases rising again in Pennsylvania, Wolf surgically put the brakes on — closing some bars and limiting restaurant capacity in the state this week.
Yes, for those businesses, it stinks. But such locales proved to be the nexus of infection growth since the state partially reopened.
Don’t blame Wolf. For...
Op/Ed: President Trump’s Great American Comeback should make Joe Biden feel embarrassed

Erin Elmore
By Erin Elmore, Special to The Times
America is picking up momentum under President Trump’s bold leadership in the Great American Comeback. As President Trump upholds his reputation as the jobs President and always puts America first, the economic contrast between President Trump and Joe Biden couldn’t be clearer.
Many indicators show that President Trump is swiftly rebuilding the...
State, local officials bring Mariner East II construction under scrutiny

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
The Mariner East II pipeline is facing closer scrutiny from state and local officials after sinkholes developed in West Whiteland and noise complaints prompted a cease and desist order in Uwchlan. Times file photo.
The Mariner East II pipeline faced government intervention on two fronts this week, as local officials in Uwchlan informed Energy Transfer/Sunoco...
What To Do: Looking for a safe family outing? Head to the zoo

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
The Philadelphia Zoo
Recently, there has been a relaxing of the area’s state governments’ “stay at home” and “no social gatherings” restrictions which had been imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attractions such as tourist sites, amusement parks, zoos, gardens and arboretums, state and national parks and family fun centers are...
2020 survey shows decline in homelessness in Chester County

This map details the location and number of unsheltered people on Jan. 23 of this year — the annual Point In Time Count for Chester County for those suffering homelessness.
WEST CHESTER — A report compiled by the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Decade to Doorways partnership has found that 522 people were identified as experiencing homelessness in Chester...
On Stage: Blues ace Toby Walker to perform in Landsdowne, Friday

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Toby Walker
When Mike Tyson was in his prime, he would pummel his ring opponent with a barrage of short, powerful and severely damaging hooks to the midsection – never stopping until he had battered him into submission (frequently via a knockout).
COVID-19 has been brutalizing the area’s live entertainment scene with similar effectiveness.
Live...