Maxwell elected Commissioners’ chair; Roe sworn in

Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell was elected Chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners during Tuesday morning’s Board of Commissioners organizational meeting. Commissioner Marian Moskowitz was elected Vice-Chair. Commissioner Maxwell said, “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity over the next few years to work alongside terrific county employees in the interest of improving...

Ignore the anti maskers — masks are the best way to keep kids safe in school

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa All around the county local school boards have had to wrestle with the topic of requiring masks for students and staff. Honestly, with the Delta variant of COVID-19, it really shouldn’t have been a tough decision. Enter willfully misinformed (or just flat out lying) residents making any number of false claims about masks: they cut oxygen (they don’t...

Pa. GOP elected officials bear serious blame for the attempted coup

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Sigh. Our nation’s capital is an armed camp. Our state capital is an armed camp. Peaceful this Sunday morning, so far, thankfully. Tragic, but necessary, as right-wing terrorists may be planning attacks in Washington, D.C. and in state capitals across the country because of a lie. Donald Trump did not win the presidential election. There was no...

After the crisis passes, things will change in America

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Obviously, the single most important thing with the current COVID-19 crisis is keeping you and your family safe. We’re reached the point where the virus is impacting everyone, whether it means your business, your kids in school (my son attends Temple, which will close its dorms next Saturday — and we’re awaiting updates on my daughter at Nevada-Reno, which...

Democrats sweep county election in historic win

The 2019 Democratic Chester County slate. WEST CHESTER – Remember, remember the 5th of November. Voters gave a democratic majority to county leadership for the first time in Chester County history. Final returns show solid wins to both Josh Maxwell of Downingtown and Marian Moskowitz of Phoenixville for the three-member Board of Commissioners, the chief governing body of Chester County.

The Electoral College: dead or alive?

By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Our Founders did not really trust people to decide the country’s destiny. That’s why they set up a Senate selected by the legislators in each state, not by popular vote (such as that was at the time). And that’s why they set up an Electoral College to cushion the weight of population in choosing a president. The US House is based on the...

Politics ain’t pretty

Shopping can be a distraction from the election, right? By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times Let me make something VERY clear, Read My Lipgloss is a fashion article. I prefer to concentrate my efforts on writing about pretty things. Some may find this pedantic or vapid; au contraire my friends…it is important stuff. We have learned critical bits of info, like: how to apply a symmetrical...

Just because Trump says so doesn’t make it wrong

Beyond the bluster, insurgent GOP candidate makes some points By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Donald Trump has many gifts: wealth (thanks to an initial hand from his multimillionaire father), fame, stage presence, attractiveness to voters, and the ability to alienate most of the GOP political establishment. Although his self-aggrandizement, lack of consideration for individuals, prejudice...

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...

Letter: Let independents vote in primaries

To The Editor, The legislature should amend Pennsylvania law to permit all registered voters the ability to vote in our Primary elections.  This way individuals who are registered as a member of any party would have an early say in who will represent them and their needs in government. Changing current law may be the way to free ourselves from the iron fisted partisan politics that have caused...