What To Do: Summertime and schedule of events is massive
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
As usual, there is a wide array of special events on this weekend’s calendar – diverse enough to include a canal fest, a massive Celtic festival, a birthday party for an orangutan, a Chinese Lantern festival, an ice cream festival, tasting sessions at wineries and Wawa Welcomes America’s headlong rush in next weekend’s Independence Day holiday...
On Stage: With weather warm (really warm), the music heads outside
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Time seems to drag by ever so slowly during the brutal winter months – one cold, grey day followed by another one cold, grey day.
Then, when summer arrives, it speeds along like Shinkansen (the “Japanese Bullet Train” that can travel at speeds greater than 200 mph).
Amazingly, this is already the penultimate weekend before Fourth of July...
CCIU to offer sneak peak at new Engle Center
Newly installed playground equipment at the Engle campus.
The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) is offering a first look at its newest educational facility: the Child & Career Development Center – Engle Education Campus. With space to serve over 130 secondary students and 225 early childhood program students, applications for this new campus are still open!
The grand opening and ribbon-cutting...
County Agricultural Land Preservation Board announces funding opportunities
Chester County’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board has opened applications for agricultural preservation funding. More than 45,000 acres of farmland have been preserved by Chester County through the two funding programs.
The Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation Board is accepting applications for two competitive programs funded by the Chester County Commissioners: The Commonwealth/County...
On Stage Extra: Davy Knowles comes to area for two shows this week
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Davy Knowles
The Isle of Man is a small island in the Irish Sea that is an independent country. It is a self-governing kingdom – a Crown dependency that belongs to neither the U.K. nor the European Union.
The island nation covers 222 square miles and has a population of 84,523. It is also known as Manx nation.
For such a small place, it has...
What To Do: Summertime is time for outdoor festivals
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Community Festival
The arrival of summer is here and so is the arrival of a plethora of fun outdoor family events.
Now through June 21, the sights, sounds and smells of a summertime fair will be filling the air in Downingtown when Saint Joseph Church (338 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, 610-269-8294, www.stjoesfestival.com) hosts its 17th annual “Community...
On Stage: Kaisa Mäensivu making a name for herself on double bass
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Kaisa Mäensivu
The number of female jazz double bass players around the world pales in comparison to that of male players.
But while lacking in quantity, the list of female players holds its own in quality.
One of the most famous is Grammy Award winning Esperanza Emily Spalding, an American jazz bassist, singer, songwriter and composer.
Many...
‘No Kings’ protests show that Americans will stand up for the Constitution
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social
It was the ultimate split screen moment that is now so telling about the state of American politics: a parade in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army on one screen. Millions of Americans participating in the “No Kings” protest, peacefully, on another. And a third featuring a manhunt for a man alleged to...
What To Do: Balloon Festival, St. Joe’s Festival and Juneteenth events
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Balloon Festival
Many “out of the normal” things are happening right now on this very busy final weekend of Spring 2025.
The weekend gets underway on June 13 – a.k.a. “Friday the 13th.”
The weekend wraps up on June 15 with celebrations of Fathers’ Day.
A few days later, there will be events and activities celebrating Juneteenth.
In...
On Stage: Philly singer-songwriters come home for shows
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Kate Gaffney
The Philadelphia area has for a long time maintained a tradition of producing top-flight female musicians – from highly-sought L.A. session bassist Lynne Davis and jazz vocal extraordinaire Billie Holiday to pop/rock singer P!NK and punk rock pioneer Joan Jett to legendary R&B/soul singer Patti LaBelle to world superstar Taylor...
