Don’t Retire, ReFire: Words matter

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times I am compelled to go deeper into the importance of words, which I touched upon in the previous month. It’s a subject that has been in the forefront of our current events for quite some time. Interestingly enough, it has been the topic of many conversations I’ve had with my grandchildren, not sparked by the media but, instead, from a page of a book of...

What are you going to do about it, kid?

By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times After each school shooting, our national government essentially says to the survivors and their families:  “Just get used to it, it’s the new normal around here.” Or, as the Republican candidate for governor recently said to Chester County native Rose Strauss, “You’re a little young and naive” —no doubt thinking to himself: “Take that,...

Kennett Sq. council addresses tragedy, community relations

By Eliza Mohler, Staff Writer, The Times HARB member Clara Saxton addresses Borough Council members about the impact of the 2016 election results on the borough’s recent political races. KENNETT SQUARE – They were at the Red Clay Room to discuss the 2018 budget, but recent events were front and center at last Monday night’s meeting of the Kennett Square Borough Council. Mayor Matt Fetick...

How many lipsticks is too many?

By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times For those of you not addicted to social media platforms, you may not know that there is a complete calendar of Hashtag Holidays. Occasionally, it promotes a specific cause or event but more often it’s just creative way to highlight something fun. For example, yesterday was #NationalLipstickDay. And, I for one, am I big fan of lipstick.   ...

Social media mayhem: can we learn to agree to disagree?

By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times The inauguration is only a few days away and the chatter on social media is beginning to escalate. I guess it’s no wonder considering the President-Elect is “somewhat” of a Twitter fan. If history is our guide, we should be prepared to be inundated with a flood of online opinions come Friday. I’ll admit, I was shocked by the back and forth on Facebook...

TV report misses the real picture at CASH

WPVI went sensationalist, but the facts are more complicated By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The video on Channel 6 last night was, if nothing else, attention grabbing, detailing fights at Coatesville Area High School’s 9/10 Center. Was it good journalism? Well, that probably is a matter of debate. The breathless story led Wednesday night’s WPVI newscast at 6 p.m. and showed a series of smart...

CASD moves to fire employee over social media comments

COATESVILLE — The Coatesville Area School District announced its intention to fire a food services worker who allegedly posted racially charged comments on a social media site earlier this month, Tuesday. Superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner issued a statement Tuesday night condemning the alleged comments. “There is absolutely no room for this kind of behavior anywhere in our society, but it’s particularly...