Letter: Strawberry Fest a record breaking success
To the Editor,
It is with great pride and gratitude that we are able to report that this year’s Strawberry Festival was a record breaking success! Thanks to generous underwriting support from PECO and First Niagara, Brandywine Hospital, hundreds of volunteers who planned and worked throughout the four-day event, and the many businesses and non-profit organizations donating time and money, the income...
Redevelopment in Coatesville for real this time
Announcements this week signal best opportunity in a generation
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
COATESVILLE — Finally, for once in a city plagued by misfires, the rhetoric and reality appear to be merging.
This week’s announcement that real redevelopment is planned at the corner of First Avenue and Lincoln Highway — 40 to 60 apartments along with retail space — is the first tangible proof...
Primary aftermath: Dinniman comes out the big winner
The state senator was not on the ballots, but he emerged as county’s top Democrat
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
While most primary elections in non-presidential years are kind of ho-hum events, Tuesday’s elections turned out to be more revealing than expected, and at minimum give us some hint of what is to come in November.
Not shockingly, turnout was lousy, especially on the Republican...
Letter: Frustrated with deceptive political ads
To The Editor
Hear that? It’s a collective groan heard all across PA as the election shifts into full gear. We are bombarded with political ads: print ads, internet pop-ups, TV, radio and robo-calls. Primary ads are even more bizarre than general election ones. Republicans attack Republicans. Democrats attack Democrats. The ads are ugly. I think I speak for most ordinary citizens when I say I would...
Coatesville resident addresses state lawmakers
She calls attention to unmet needs of those raising relatives’ children
Debbie Willett (second from left) is joined in Harrisburg by Karen Brenneman (from left), former director of the Family Outreach Program at Child and Family Focus, Inc., a nonprofit advocacy agency; Rep. Tim Hennessey, who invited Willett to speak; and Deb McKinley, a grandparent from the support group.
Debbie Willett, who...
Letter: Administration to blame for Chadds Ford test issues
To The Editor:
I was shocked and dismayed by the forced retirement of Mr. Mark Ransford as the principal of Chadds Ford Elementary School. He has done an extraordinarily job in his short time there. He brought the first, nationally “Blue Ribbon” commendation to our district.
While there may have been errors made in the administration of this year’s PSSA tests at CFES, the district’s...
Letter: candidate opposes Keystone graduation requirement
To The Editor:
I oppose the effort to make the Keystone exams the deciding factor in a student’s graduation from High School. One test cannot accurately evaluate an individual students abilities or efforts throughout their K-12 education. Students show their abilities and skills in many ways and a single exam path to graduation narrows an individual’s path toward success.
The time spent instructing...
Op/Ed.: Cultivating economic development in Coatesville
By Josh Maxwell, Mayor of Downingtown
Josh Maxwell
Cultivating economic development is often a tricky endeavor. On one hand, we want to incentivize job-creating businesses; on the other hand, we want to avoid missing out on valuable tax revenue for our communities. In Downingtown we have been recognized for being able to use infill development opportunities with limited tax incentives to expand...
Letter: Dinniman calls on McCord to pull down ad
To The Editor:
Politics is admittedly a rough game but Rob McCord’s TV ad that essentially accuses Tom Wolf of being a racist goes beyond all levels of acceptability. I join forces with former Governor Ed Rendell, Senator Bob Casey, and other Democratic leaders in condemning this add and urging McCord to withdraw this offensive ad. When will we Democrats learn to stop shooting ourselves...
Spring brings out the senseless in politics
May brings flowers and Silly Season, Part I
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Ah yes, it’s May. The blooms are on the trees, warm sunshine is here (that is when we don’t get washed away by five inches of rain), the birds are singing and Spring is in the air.
Oh, and the crazy is really ramped up in the political world. From the 158th state house district to Gov. Tom Corbett, the red mist has fully...
