Op/Ed.: Keystones not ready to graduate

By Rep. Duane D. Milne, State Representative, 167th Legislative District State Rep. Duane D. Milne As the 2013-14 school year ends, and we look forward to 2014-15, I am calling on my fellow citizens to join me in demanding a halt to the implementation of the Keystone Exams as proposed. In short: the Keystone Exams, if adopted as is, will require Pennsylvania high school students in general to take...

Bad state budget could wipe out Corbett and local legislators

If House plan is the final budget, GOP could face electoral doom in November By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times It looks like Gov. Tom Corbett could be winning his budget battle, but could be losing the war — and maybe a handful of state legislative seats in Chester County. We may have a better sense how bad the mess will be once a state budget is passed, maybe even by Monday. The House of Representatives...

Letter: Denton Hollow safety concerns real

To The Editor, The concerns raised by residents regarding the traffic situation on Denton Hollow Road resulting from the detour of Route 52 have been misconstrued by some as whining and crying by a few people who simply don’t want to see more traffic on their road.  That’s not it – we are concerned township residents who see a recurring dangerous situation facing everyone using Denton Hollow. ...

Op/Ed: All budgets reflect values

By Susan Rzucidlo, Candidate, State Representative, 158th District Susan Rzucidlo Budget season in Harrisburg is in full swing. Mark Kennedy Shriver, (Former Maryland Representative and now with Save the Children), once said, “All budgets reflect values.” This is a statement with which I agree. What values does this year’s budget reflect? As we face a $1.2 billion dollar deficit, Gov. Tom...

Letter: Objects to writer’s published comments

To The Editor, I am reaching out once again as my initial letter was never published. I was very disappointed when I read an article regarding the stalking cases surrounding Lisa Robertson a host on QVC.  An executive with this company, Kathy Brady Shea clearly stated that it was Miss Robertson’s fault that these guys were stalking her and perhaps it was her wardrobe to blame. Ms. Shea seemed astounded...

Unionville says feds are out to lunch. Good.

It’s high time local government and school boards pushed back on state and federal overreach By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times There’s a little bit of revolution brewing in Unionville. And it’s a good thing. In case you missed it, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Board of Education voted last week to withdraw Unionville High School from the National School Lunch Program. While on...

Op/Ed: Time to fix Special Ed. funding

It’s time for a funding system based on actual needs By Lisa Lightner, Special to The Times Lisa Lightner, as seen with her special needs son at The White House, recently. The time is now to reform Pennsylvania’s special education funding Based on broad, bi-partisan support, the Pennsylvania General Assembly has introduced companion special education funding reform bills: HB 2138 and SB...

Letter: Real facts about Taylor library move

To The Editor, I serve as a trustee on the Board of the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library. We made an announcement that we were moving location two weeks ago, which has been very well received by the majority of people and patrons. There are a few people who are disappointed and that is sad; but I felt it necessary to set the story straight, as some of the letters to the press have featured incorrect...

The coming public safety crisis

If we don’t deal with it now, fire, EMS and police issues could cost us dearly By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times You’ve probably heard about the pension crisis, maybe the school funding crisis or any number of other challenges facing the commonwealth in the coming years. But let me clue you in to one that might just have you up nights thinking about it: the coming public safety crisis. The...

Letter: Library board has failed on relocation

To The Editor: Two decades ago, the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Board announced the need for a new library facility. This facility still does not exist and apparently will not be available for at least another decade. The Boards over the years have made decisions and proposals that the community simply does not support. The community rejected the Board’s current suggestion to use the Waywood site...