Mushroom Festival now accepting Cook-off entries

Kathleen Harmon’s Mushroom Taquitos won first place at last year’s Mushroom Cook-off. KENNETT SQUARE — Mushrooms are the star of the Mushroom Festival’s Amateur Mushroom Appetizer Cook-Off. The challenge for home cooks is to create an appetizer featuring the mushrooms that are commercially grown in Kennett Square, such as button, crimini, portabella, oyster, maitake, and/or shiitake. Entries...

Art Watch: ‘Musical Chairs’, Photography, Plein Art and More…

By LeLe Galer, Columnist, The Times   This first Friday in July is a First Friday Art Stroll for the towns of West Chester, Kennett Square and Phoenixville. Make sure to mark your calendars for this Friday, July 3rd and check out the various opening receptions, and pop up shows throughout the towns. First Fridays are a great way to introduce you to these wonderful downtown locations. Make sure...

What to do: Tall ships, tours, festivals, history, beer gardens & more

Regional events calendar says summer fun is in full swing…   By DENNY DYROFF, Staff Writer, The Times   Most area residents are familiar with Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-100, www.longwoodgardens.org) and much of what it has to offer. However, many have enjoyed the site’s beautiful gardens and fountains during the summer in a daytime setting only.     This...

Balloon Festival provides a weekend of family fun

By Kim Chiomento, News Editor, The Times A festival volunteer works to help position a tethered balloon. TOUGHKENAMON – The Chester County Balloon Festival went on, despite a very challenging weekend forecast. Tens of thousands of visitors, from across the region, came to Chester County’s New Garden Flying Field to be a part of the fun and support the 2015 festival beneficiary – The Chester...

What To Do: Fathers Day means high-flying fun!

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times There are three types of aircraft that almost always force you to turn your gaze skyward and they all begin with the letter “h” — harrier jets, helicopters and hot air balloons. This weekend, you’ll be able to see two of the three in the skies above Chester County. If you want to see harriers in action, you might need to go to Iraq where the plane...

United Way hosts book drive for preschool students

Call to action – donations needed to help kids get ready for kindergarten The United Way of Chester County (UWCC) has issued a community call to action to help local children get ready for kindergarten in the fall.  Sponsored by a grant from CCRES, UWCC’s drive will get summer reading materials to public sites.    Send article as PDF   

La Mancha open house, June 19

EAST FALLOWFIELD — Once a year LaMancha Animal Rescue opens its farm to the public.  Come join us and see the horses, emus, cows, farm yard animals and, of course, adoptable cats and dogs.  LaMancha is a beautiful  55-acre no-kill rescue located in Chester County. Yappy Hour is our family friendly summer fundraiser.  We will have dog and cat meet-and-greets, pony and Great Pyrenees painting,...

What To Do: Things get ‘fair-ly’ exciting in Downingtown

Also: Brandywine Food and Wine and multiple ethnic festivals in the area  By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Nothing says the start of summer like a local fair. One of the area’s top events is the St. Joseph Church Community Festival in Downingtown, which starts June 16. Summertime is the time for a lot of fun events — especially festivals and country fairs. The lights on a Ferris...

Immaculata announces Dean’s List

EAST WHITELAND — Immaculata University announced its spring Dean’s List students this week. Students who merit inclusion in the Spring 2015 Dean’s List are listed below. To attain Dean’s List status, a student must achieve a grade point average of 3.7 on a scale of 4.0.      Send article as PDF   

Downingtown kicks off Summer Jam series, June 26

Downingtown begins its Summer Jam series on Friday, June 26 with two stages of musical acts and lots of food. “Downingtown area residents have been calling for nights of good entertainment and we’ve scheduled three great evenings,” said Jeff Thomas of Downingtown Main Street Association. “After our highly successful evening last year we decided to expand the concept this year.” The Summer...