12 hurt in school bus/truck collision

VALLEY — Ten South Brandywine Middle School students and two adults were injured Thursday afternoon, after the bus they were traveling in collided with a tractor trailer on Lincoln Highway, near Chester County Airport. The students were all transported to Brandywine Hospital for treatment for what were termed minor injuries, with the remainder of the students transferred to a second bus to complete...

On Stage: Olivia Chaney, Michael Franti in solo spotlight

Start of June means multitude of live music choices By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Olivia Chaney headlines at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia Friday night, kicking off a very busy busy music weekend in the area. If your music listening tendencies lean in the direction of solo artists — guitarists, singers, keyboard players, songwriters — then you have a lot of potential destinations...

Art Watch: Summer takes wing

Warmer weather embraces themes of flight, bicycles and garden parties By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times With Summer art themes of bicycles, planes, and garden parties, this Summer is shaping up to be quite idyllic.  Mala Galleria‘s June Exhibit gives back 10% of the sales proceeds to the Urban Bike Project which supports Wilmington communities by providing access to bicycles as a healthy,...

Sikorsky to lay off 720 at Chesco facility

SADSBURY — Helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft said late Tueday that it plans to layoff some 720 workers and contractors due to decreased demand for its commercial helicopters at its production facility adjacent to the Chester County Airport, straddling Sadsbury and Valley townships. The company said that as worldwide oil prices have dropped, demand for helicopters from oil companies for...

Q&A: Tom Buglio of Chesco Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Editor’s Note: In honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day — today, June 2 —  Nathaniel Smith sat down with Tom Buglio of Chester County Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence to discuss both what today means and his group’s effort to reduce gun violence in the county. Smith’s questions...

Words of wisdom for the Class of 2015

A few thoughts on what I wish I’d known when I was 18 By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times Dear Graduates, Every year, I try my best to find something meaningful to say as yet another class vacates the halls of Unionville High (where my children attend school). It is true that with age comes wisdom. And, here is how I know I am sufficiently “old” enough I put a request for advice...

Good Stuff is BACK…all-stars to academics, Chesco has good stuff to share!

Starting Chester County’s summer season with a smile…who do YOU know in this week’s Good Stuff? Got good stuff to share? Email your submissions to kim@chescotimes.com and be a part of the fun! Pomp and Circumstance…Congratulations to Shawn Mengel Coatesville Area High’s 2015 Valedictorian… This leading ‘Red Raider’ will begin roaring with the Drexel University...

What To Do: 44th annual Strawberry Festival rocks

Also: Downingtown Fine Arts Fest, Bonsai at Brandywine River Museum By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times One of the best signs that summer is just around the corner is the annual Brandywine Health Foundation’s Strawberry Festival. This weekend, the 44th Annual Strawberry Festival will take place on the grounds of the Brandywine Hospital (201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville, 610-380-9080,...

Is it time to look at the role of standardized tests in schools?

Also: if teacher unions demand raises, they should say what to cut from education programs to pay for it By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The rising tide against Common Core continues to obscure a growing, but still under discussed debate about the value and quality of standardized testing in our schools. While it seems increasingly likely that a passing grade on the Keystone tests will not end...

Art Watch: Steeling the town in Kennett Sq.

Busy spring art scene continues into June with showings and events By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times Any casual strollers through Kennett Square in the past weeks would have been stopped in their tracks at the new public art sign for Philter coffee house in downtown Kennett Square across from Talula’s Table.  It is a stunningly beautiful combination of welded and forged steel, which combines...