Attacks on Paris hit home

A time for vigilance — and thanks for all that we have By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times Two years ago, my husband and I were in Paris celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. It was a dream of mine to see the Eiffel Tower and stroll along the Champs Elysee. The city was so beautiful and, contrary to the rumors suggesting otherwise, the French people were very friendly. We marveled at the...

Delusions and confusion; or just another day in Harrisburg

State pols continue to labor under budget, tax delusions By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Ah, nothing says “holiday seasons” like the ongoing state budget stalemate. Perfectly, both Democrats and Republicans continue to labor under impressive delusions about the current state of the commonwealth — and the outcomes of some proposed legislation that would provide cornerstones for a possible budget...

What To Do: Holiday season kicks off this week

Also: Cat, reptile shows, wines at first blush and more this weekend By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Cat lovers can get their fill of thrills at the Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Litter Cat Fanciers Association 2015 World Championship Cat Show this weekend. Thanksgiving is getting ready to knock on the door and that means a slew of Christmas-related events will be filling the event calendar...

Pennsbury moves to transfer easements to Brandywine Conservancy

Concerns over Mendenhall historic structures being vandalized By Kris Firey-Poling, Staff Writer, The Times Supervisor Wendell Fenton accepts a printed copy of Pennsbury’s first known map from Historical Commission Chair Lynn Luft at Pennsbury’s board of supervisors meeting. PENNSBURY — The township’s Board of Supervisors focused on properties, agreements, and swimming pools at Wednesday...

County graduates 26 new firefighters

West Chester Fire Department Chaplain Jerry Schwartz speaks with the graduates during Thursday’s ceremony. COATESVILLE  – Chester County Department of Emergency Services, Fire Services Division, held graduation for the Spring 2015 Firefighter I class.  Twenty-six graduates were given their certification at a ceremony that was held at the Wagontown Fire Company on Thursday. Family, friends...

On Stage: The Play’s The Thing

With holidays looming, productions blossom around Delaware Valley By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Matilda The Musical is now playing at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia through Nov. 29. This is the time right now when several stage productions are muscling their way in and establishing their own space on the area entertainment calendar. Now through November 29, the Kimmel Center’s Broadway...

Franklin Mint donates $5,000 to CCIU holiday charity event

Students and staff at TCHS Pennock’s Bridge Campus accept a $5,000 donation from FMFCU for Holiday Hope Chest. Left to right: Marissa Nadachowski, Hailey Maxwell, Leon Spencer, Michael Sheils, Noah Ramagano, Brian Hughes, Patty Knecht. DOWNINGTOWN — It was only the second week of November, but the spirit of the holidays was already palpable at the Technical College High School (TCHS) Pennock’s...

Meehan introduces bipartisan anti-Swatting bill

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7) Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) introduced the Interstate Swatting Hoax Act of 2015 Wednesday, legislation to combat attacks known as swatting. Swatting is defined as the intentional misleading of emergency responders in order to provoke a S.W.A.T. team response. In recent years, swatting has become a widely used tool for online...

County Chief of Detectives Vito to retire at end of 2015

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan congratulates Chief of Chester County Detectives James Vito on his retirement, effective at the end of the year. WEST CHESTER — The county’s top investigative officer, Chester County Detectives Chief James Vito will retire at the end of 2015, District Attorney Tom Hogan said Wednesday. Vito currently is the longest serving member of the District Attorney’s...

Some thanks, apologies and an update

After two weeks in the hospital, I’m finally on the mend By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times A funny thing happened on the way home from the Octorara-Unionville High School Football game on the night before Halloween: I got really, really sick. So sick, I ended up in a local emergency room with what ultimately turned out to be a massive gastrointestinal infection. As that institution declined to...