On Your Table: All things fungi at Kennett’s Mushroom Festival

While there’s lot to see and do, it comes down to food — and delicious mushrooms By Cathy Branciaroli, Food Correspondent, The Times Servers having lots of fun at the Ferranto food tent plating up fried mushrooms during this past weekend’s Mushroom Festival. KENNETT SQUARE — People came hungry to the 28th annual Kennett Square Mushroom Festival last weekend and it was a good thing,...

What To Do: Victory on display at 2 brewfests

Also: Mushroom Festival and Chadds Ford Days on tap By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Chester County’s own Victory Brewing will be among the many brewers showing their wares at the Delaware River Craft Brewfest in Chester and the Historic Odessa Brewfest in Delaware this weekend. This is the perfect weather for drinking beer — and also the perfect weather to stage a brewfest. Fortunately...

County approves $2.9M in revitalization grants

Kennett Sq., Coatesville, So. Coatesville among grantees WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Commissioners approved $2.9 million in Community Revitalization Program (CRP) grants, Tuesday. “Over the years, CRP grants have helped to improve communities across Chester County, focusing on urban areas,” said Commissioners’ Chair Ryan Costello. “In addition to improving the public health and...

Born Sisters CD release party a hometown affair

Country roots for so. Chester County siblings at Flash, May 31 By Denny Dyroff, Correspondent, The Times Born Sisters, the Chester County duo of Kristen and Kara Zack, will celebrate the release of their new CD with a special show at The Flash in Kennett Square, May 31. When the Born Sisters headline a “CD Release Show”  at The Flash in Kennett Square on May 31, it will be a hometown event...

Kennett’s Cinco De Mayo is area’s best

13th annual festival of food, music and fun looks bigger than ever By Denny Dyroff, Correspondent, The Times The food, music and pageantry of Kennett Square’s annual Cinco De Mayo festival will be on full display, Sunday. If you’re in search of the best Cinco de Mayo celebration in the United States, the most logical place to look would be downtown Los Angeles — especially along...

Down-home, upscale 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...

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...

YMCA wants to help make resolutions stick

Members who hope to pursue healthier lifestyles will get assist Hundreds of people make annual New Year’s resolutions to get fit, lose weight, or improve their overall health – often losing the resolve rather than the pounds. This year, the YMCA of the Brandywine Valley, which is dedicated to strengthening communities through healthier living, is offering programs to help people keep those...

Area YMCAs offering free holiday tryout

From Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, residents can sample offerings at no charge The only string attached to this holiday gift is the hope that the YMCA of the Brandywine Valley will be able to attract your patronage, its officials say. From Dec. 26 to 31, YMCAs in the area will be open to the public for free – just in time to counteract the traditional holiday stress and overeating. Even better: The YMCA...

Political news and notes: 2014 legislative races kicking off

Final write-in results show poor turnout, participation in 2013 By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The political news cycle never seems to end these days, on the heels of the final write-in election results being posted Friday, we have a batch of new candidate announcements or pending announcements in 2014 state legislative races — and even, it seems — an early hint about a 2016 race. First...