Op/Ed: Good news on standardized testing?

By Jeff Hellrung, Member, Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education Gov. Tom Wolf joined Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, advocates, and educators last month to announce a significant reduction in standardized testing for elementary students. One test section will be eliminated in both Math and ELA PSSA tests amounting to a 93 minute total time reduction. Also, approximately 22 minutes will be...

How is Tropical Storm Harvey like Donald Trump?

By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Tropical Storm Harvey and Donald Trump both were foreseeable disasters that have caused a lot of damage and suffering. Republicans knew Trump would be trouble. His campaign was accompanied, but not at all impeded, by a whole litany of negative comments about him by his fellow primary candidates, former candidates and presidents, and other Republican leaders....

Lending a hand for victims of Harvey

By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times The devastation as a result of Hurricane Harvey is overwhelming. When faced with a crisis of epic proportions, it is easy to feel paralyzed by the work that lies ahead. How can we help when we are hundreds of miles away? Unless we have a personal connection, the level of aid we can provide is limited to making a donation of supplies or a monetary contribution....

On Stage (Spotlight): Made In America

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times It’s Labor Day Weekend and that means it’s time once again for Philadelphia’s largest annual outdoor music event – the Budweiser Made In America Festival. The Budweiser Made In America Festival (www.madeinamericafest.com) is huge – a two-day musical celebration that occupies the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City every Labor Day weekend.

What To Do: You won’t have to ‘Labor’ to find fun this weekend

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times The clues have been showing up all week – kids are back in school, evening temperatures have been cool, a change is in the air. In case you haven’t noticed, summer is sneaking out the back door. And, in case you haven’t noticed, we’re already into September. Today is September 1 — the first Friday of the month.

Local mushroom grower to hold Harvey donation collection

KENNETT SQUARE — The area’s mushroom growers are working to give back to the community, especially those impacted by Hurricane Harvey — starting with a pair of community drives next week. South Mill, one of the largest mushroom growers and distributors in the area, has opened their Cypress Street facility for donations going to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. In addition to a financial...

On Stage: Late album release doesn’t deter Tinkerbelles

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Tinkerbelles There is a really diverse line-up of bands performing in Philadelphia on September 1 – from the powerful metal music of England’s Venom, Inc. to the southern rock/psych sounds of North Carolina’s The Freeway Revival to the noise-pop offerings of the Illinois band Tinkerbelles. Tinkerbelles were supposed to be out on tour to support the...

Art Watch: Having fun at the Whitney Museum of American Art

By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times The Art Watch column is written to describe art events and artists working in the Brandywine Region, but this Art Watch moves 2 and a half hours north to New York City’s Whitney Museum of American Art. As most of you know in 2015, the famous Whitney Museum of American Art moved from its iconic Breuer designed minimalist building on Madison Avenue to the...

On Stage (Spotlight): Allie X, new name, new music

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Allie X Since the release of her new album “Collxtion II,” publications and album reviewers have been referring to Allie X as a new pop act. That’s hardly the case. Allie X, who will headline a show on August 29 at The Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, www.thefillmorephilly.com), has been making and releasing...

On Stage (Bonus): get seriously heavy with Marduk

Marduk By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times When Marduk performs on August 27 at Reverb (1402 North Ninth Street, Reading, 610-743-3069, www.reverbconcerts.com), the band will be playing at a venue that also is a description of the effect of the group’s music. Marduk is one of the heaviest metal bands from Scandinavia. When the powerful foursome plays, the sounds it makes rattle the foundation...