School board continues its affront to electorate
But aggrieved taxpayers can – and should – continue pressure for change
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Entrenched members of the Coatesville Area School Board thumbed their noses at the community once again on Saturday by defiantly ignoring not only the sentiments that citizens voiced at meetings but the ones that they expressed at the ballot box.
Regrettably, the decision...
Costello-DiGiorgio battle could have wide-ranging impact
Gerlach’s decision not to seek reelection touches off primary fight
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
That shattering and creaking sound you heard this week wasn’t from the extreme cold (unless you were near my nearly half-century old bones), but what would appear to be the shattering of a fragile unity among Chester County Republicans.
When Jim Gerlach announced Monday that he would not seek...
Op/Ed: Chester County worked together for a successful 2013
By Terence Farrell, Chester County Commissioner
Terence Farrell
Happy New Year! ¡Feliz año nuevo! And best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year.
As we transition from 2013 to 2014, it is worthwhile to look back at the year that just ended to assess how Chester County government is doing to meet the needs and expectations of its constituents, and to make plans to do even better in...
Rehiring Ellison begs a lot of questions
Why just tops the list of explanations needed by CASD board
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
As you probably know, we do get our share of reader comments. Many are supportive, encouraging and enlightening. Some are nasty and pointless (we tend to remove those without editorial or commentary value) and some are humorous.
Once in a great while, even when clearly wearing a troll hat, a commentator will...
Ellison is out and so is the Tea Party
One — the former Democratic power-broker — knows he’s done, the other is oblivious
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
As we head into the holiday season — and hopefully, a couple of weeks of relative quiet — a few notes and thoughts on local political stuff and other news items.
Maybe the topline item this morning is that James Ellison is out at Rhoads & Sinon — meaning he will no...
Roundtable on poverty a start, but more is needed
Until there is a collective will to really address poverty, things won’t get better
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
COATESVILLE — With wealth bordering on abundance at times in Chester County, it can be difficult to confront the truth that for many here — arguably far too many — poverty remains a stark reality and a reality that in recent years has gotten worse.
This past week, six state...
Op/Ed: Radon – is your home raising your lung cancer risk?
By Harold P. Wimmer, American Lung Association
Harold P. Wimmer
Mention radon to most people, and you’ll get a blank stare. But mention lung cancer, and you’ve got their attention!
Most people don’t know that exposure to radon, an invisible odorless gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Pennsylvania is recognized as having a very high risk of radon, so we at the American...
Op/Ed: Supportive service for Veterans’ families
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”
...
Political news and notes: 2014 legislative races kicking off
Final write-in results show poor turnout, participation in 2013
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The political news cycle never seems to end these days, on the heels of the final write-in election results being posted Friday, we have a batch of new candidate announcements or pending announcements in 2014 state legislative races — and even, it seems — an early hint about a 2016 race.
First to the...
CASD board continues to disrespect citizens
Tirade by Joe Dunn sadly typifies group’s overall tenor
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Few jobs on the planet are as thankless as serving on a school board, a duty that routinely subjects members to all manner of vitriol. In fact, when school district operations go smoothly, those folks rarely hear a peep from constituents; so even the good times go unrewarded.
Of course,...
