Homeless man’s death offers somber reminder

After accepting help, 47-year-old opts to return to troubled lifestyle By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times The sign doesn’t deter the homeless from setting up encampments in areas that are difficult to access but offer some protection from the elements. On Wednesday, March 5, a homeless man who ultimately rejected efforts to help him succumbed to chronic alcoholism in Kennett Township,...

Signs of spring: ice cream, more outdoor tables

La Michoacana reopening for season, its companion grill expanding By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Armando Bernal (from left) takes an order as Daniel Castaneda puts toppings on a fresh fish taco that Martha Rodriguez has just prepared at Michoacana Grill. Looking for some sure signs of spring? The snow banks are decreasing in size, the clocks will spring forward on Sunday, and...

Advocacy groups to hold free expungement session

Workshop will be held at La Comunidad Hispana on March 6 Past brushes with the law don’t necessarily have to cloud a person’s future: La Comunidad Hispana’s (LCH) Legal Assistance Program is offering a free workshop on policies and procedures that will help qualified people expunge minor criminal records, a LCH news release said. The workshop will take place on Thursday, March 6, at 5 p.m....

Burgeoning regional brewery notches another Victory

Downingtown beer company wins state environmental award Victory Brewing Co. co-founders Ron Barchet (left) and Bill Covaleski accept the 2014 Sustainable Agriculture Business Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) earlier this month. The Victory Brewing Company was recently awarded the 2014 Sustainable Agriculture Business Leadership Award by the Pennsylvania...

Down-home brewery notches another Victory

Downingtown beer company wins state sustainability award Victory Brewing Co. co-founders Ron Barchet (left) and Bill Covaleski accept the 2014 Sustainable Agriculture Business Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) earlier this month. The Victory Brewing Company was recently awarded the 2014 Sustainable Agriculture Business Leadership Award by the Pennsylvania...

Program to explore ‘reverse Underground Railroad’

Chesco Historical Society bringing ‘History on Tap’ to Kennett Square  “History on Tap,” a program of the Chester County Historical Society that combines insight and discussion with food and drink, is coming to Kennett Square. On Monday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m., Chris Densmore will present “The Kidnapping of Thomas Mitchell, 1849″ at the Half Moon Restaurant. Mitchell, an escaped slave...

Donations sought to help Kennett family

Family of UCFSD employee seeks housing after fire burns home A Kennett family — and a Unionville-Chadds Ford School District employee — is looking for housing in the Kennett Consolidated School District — after a fire left them out of their home for as much as year and destroyed almost all of their possessions. The family of Israel Rivera, who works in the school district’s buildings and grounds...

Volunteers make taxing chore less unpleasant

Life Transforming Ministries offering needy free help with IRS returns It’s that time again: Free tax preparation is being offered to area residents who qualify for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), which is run by Life Transforming Ministries in Coatesville. Modeled after a similar IRS program, VITA has been helping low- and moderate- income households throughout Chester County...

Warm up to seasonal brews at Winterfest

Kennett Square hopes to take chill out of air with beer-tasting festival Kennett Square has another premier beer-tasting event on tap:  the 2nd Annual Kennett Winterfest on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
 Presented by Historic Kennett Square and the Kennett Brewfest, the event offers an opportunity to bundle up and enjoy winter brews from at least 40 unique craft breweries. 
 Tickets...

Kennett’s Mushroom Drop a roaring success

Robust turnout for first-ever New Year’s Eve event By Steven Silverman, Correspondent, The Times As midnight looms, a giant lit mushroom descends on downtown Kennett Square, New Year’s Eve. Reception and attendance for the first-year event was strong — with many in crowd hoping for it to become an annual event. KENNETT SQUARE—It’s not often one gets to see a giant fungus touching...