Chester County’s Department of Community Development (DCD) recently received international recognition for its accomplishments in ending homelessness. Pictured are (L-R): Lauran Rillstone, DCD’s Community Services/Construction Manager; Kelly Raggazino, CEO of Open Hearth, Inc.; Cory Lovera, Housing & Community Resource Manager for Open Hearth, Inc.; Rob Henry, Administrator for the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness; Emily Kopp, DCD’s Lead Street Outreach Team Coordinator; and Hilary Haake, DCD’s Data and Street Outreach Team Manager. The Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) has received international recognition from Built for Zero for its progress in reducing and preventing homelessness. The honor was recently presented at Built for Zero’s international conference in Denver, Colorado. DCD was recognized for achieving Quality Data for the Chronic Population, a milestone that reflects the County’s strong infrastructure for addressing homelessness. The metric recognizes communities that share a unified definition of ending homelessness, operate through a coordinated, countywide team, rely on real-time client-level data, prioritize equitable service delivery, and make targeted, data-informed housing investments. Built for Zero also commended the department for expanding partnerships with new organizations and behavioral health providers, as well as for elevating the voices of individuals with lived experience of homelessness in the County’s planning and decision-making processes.    Send article as PDF    ...

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social Chester County’s Member of Congress, Chrissy Houlahan, and five other Democratic military veterans who hold elective office, put out a video reminding members of the military that they do not need to follow illegal orders and should refer such orders up the chain of command. The six were vilified, with President Donald Trump Thursday saying Democrats had committed “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” claiming such acts were “punishable by DEATH” and that the six “should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. … An example MUST BE SET.” He later reposted a social media comment calling for the six to be hanged and then later posted himself: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.” Trump continued to make false claims Saturday night, again arguing that the six should be jailed for pointing out that the military has duty to reject illegal orders.    Send article as PDF    ...

By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times Beekeepers need no homily on the awesomeness of insects, nor do picknickers need one on the annoyance of midges, mosquitoes and ants and yellowjackets. These well-known insects make up only a small fraction known insects. To put numbers in context, a figure compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species lists numbers of species in various animal classes (Figure 1). Of 2.14 million catalogued animal species, 1.2 million are arthropods (insects + arachnids + crustaceans). Of these, 1 million are insects (springtails, wasps, ants, bees, moths, butterflies, dragonflies, mayflies, true flies and beetles). Within insects, 40% – a remarkable 400,000 species – are beetles. Biologist, polymath and atheist J. B. S. Haldane[1] is reputed to have said, “If one could conclude as to the nature of the Creator from a study of creation it would appear that God has an inordinate fondness for stars and beetles.    Send article as PDF    ...

L to R) Pictured on Tomlinson-Fillippo Field are Agnes Ware, Roger Ware ’82, Head Football Coach Duke Greco, West Chester University President Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson ’70, Tom Fillippo ’69 (sitting), Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs Dr. Zebulun Davenport, Vice President of University Affairs and Chief of Staff Andrew Lehman, Director of Athletics Terry Beattie, Executive Director of the West Chester University Foundation Deb Cornelius, and Interim President of Commonwealth University Dr. Jeffery Osgood, Jr. Two Golden Rams who have dedicated decades to advancing West Chester University — Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson ’70 and Tom Fillippo ’69 — received the ultimate tribute when their names were revealed on the University’s football field. The name Tomlinson-Fillippo Field, which stretches 30 total yards in length from one 35-yard line of the football field to the other 35-yard line, cements the legacy of the long-time friends as standout football athletes and lifelong champions of West Chester University students. The ceremony took place on Saturday, September 20, at the University’s first home football game of the season as the Golden Rams took on their Seton Hill rivals during a high-energy competition that drew nearly 2,000 fans; the Golden Rams won 34 to 16 over Seton Hill.    Send article as PDF    ...

Pickering Valley students pose with the Drishti Foundation student leaders and their newly donated solar kit, ready to explore renewable energy through hands-on learning. A group of Downingtown Area School District (DASD) student leaders from the Drishti Foundation visited Pickering Valley Elementary School to donate a solar kit, demonstrating exceptional leadership and community service. This donation provides students with a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn about renewable energy and sustainable solutions. The student-led team took on every part of the project, from analyzing Pickering Valley’s solar needs and researching suitable technologies to fundraising, testing, and preparing a live demonstration for the elementary students. This initiative not only provides educational tools but also serves as an inspiring example of student leadership within DASD.    Send article as PDF    ...