100K still without power, PECO says fix could take days more

Some schools reopen, but trees, power lines still down around county Updated: 11:20 a.m., adds water info, warnings Days into recovery efforts, this large tree branch rests on power lines — blocking southbound traffic — in East Fallowfield, Friday. Although power has been restored to more than 80,000 PECO customers in Chester County, as of Friday morning, more than 130,000 were said to still...

County officials: Best not to venture out

Mother Nature puts most of area in lockdown Updated at 3:30 p.m. Adds information on shelters At least two trees down completely block Route 82 in East Marlborough. Trees and branches are down across the county, closing roads and making travel hazardous. An icy coating on trees and roadways has wreaked havoc with travel and power lines throughout Chester County, cutting off power to more than 180,000...

Local legislators have concerns on Corbett’s budget plan

Worry that revenue projections too optimistic, pension issues not addressed By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Gov. Tom Corbett Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his 2014-15 budget plan Tuesday in a speech to a joint session of the state legislature — and it appears that some provisions, such as cutting state pension fund contributions and increasing spending without a clear way to pay for it could make...

PennDOT plans Strasberg Road work

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced the following roadwork in the area for the upcoming week so that motorists can anticipate travel delays. Drivers on Strasburg Road in East Fallowfield and Newlin Townships will experience intermittent lane closures Monday, Feb. 3, through Friday, Feb. 7, for shoulder work. Crews will be working between Rt. 372 and Broad Run Road...

Op/Ed: New citizens embrace the spirit of United States citizenship

By Terence Farrell, Chester County Commissioner Terence Farrell, Chester County Commissioner with U. S. District Court Judge Juan Sanchez, a former Chester County Court of Common Pleas judge. The Chester County Commissioners’ meetings always begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge was composed in 1892 by Francis Bellamy and adopted by Congress in 1942, the dark days of World War II. We take...

Pocopson asked for school house work approval

By Kelli Siehl, Staff Writer, The Times Pocopson’s Locust Grove School House, where the township’s Historical Committee is seeking permission to continue restoration work on the building, which would be paid for with grant funds. The Township’s Historical Committee gave officials an update on plans to place a tree and marker in Pocopson Park in memory of Bill Sellers, who dedicated countless...

More of the same: snow closes schools, county offices

Forecasts of nasty weather Monday morning turned out to be accurate, as wet slushy, heavy snow has closed virtually every school in the area and all Chester County offices. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Winter Storm Warning early Monday, calling for accumulations in Chester County of between four and eight inches. The snow started just before the morning rush Monday and produced slick...

Groundhog, NWS agree: nasty weather inbound

4-6 inches of snow seen Monday; heavy rains, flooding possible Wed. While groundhogs may be seeing an extended winter, the National Weather Service says Chester County is in for a hairy week of wintery weather. It appears that the world most famous groundhog — Punxsutawney Phil — and the National Weather Service are on the same page: there’s lot more winter headed for Chester County. Although...

Art Watch: Sara Bleemer

Photo images from the heart By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times Sara Bleemer is a local Chester County art photographer who has been taking photographic images for as long as she can remember, but as her children have grown older, she has been able to spend more time focusing on this artistic passion. For the past four years Sara has shown regularly in most of the local art shows and she has a very...

Super Six: Cronuts, new books, boots and more

Honestly, we probably had you at ‘Cronuts’  By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times February is the month of love! And, I REALLY love all of the items in my Sunday Super 6! 1. Cronuts.  The infamous croissant/donut combo that originated in the Dominique Ansel Bakery in NYC has found its way to good ol’ Giant in Kennett Square.  Thanks to my friend Elizabeth for alerting me to this...