Register of Wills will call on some residents

Representatives take services on road for citizens who aren’t ambulatory The Chester County Register of Wills Office wants to remind residents that it will accommodate those in need of assistance who can’t travel to its West Chester office. About a year ago, Register of Wills Terri Clark instituted a policy of sending representatives to hospices, nursing facilities, hospitals, and private homes...

College students: they’re baaaaack

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times It’s that wonderful time in the spring when the college students soon will be returning home for spring or summer break, looking for jobs, and recharging before the fall term begins. It’s also time as parents to be a bit pro-active about the dental needs of these students. College students have a unique set of dental concerns. Many students...

Cavities can be contagious

Bacteria related to tooth decay can be shared with loved ones By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD, FAGD, Columnist, The Times I hear it every day, “my mom had bad teeth, I guess I got this from her.” Perhaps that is true, but not in the way we may think.  Researchers have found that dental disease causing bacteria can be transmitted from one person to another. In the case of cavities, the bacteria Streptococcus...

Reminder to advance clocks, replace batteries

State fire commissioner: Working smoke- and carbon-monoxide detectors save lives State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann reminded Pennsylvanians on Friday, March 7, to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when turning their clocks forward one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half, a state news release said, providing...

County officials: Brace for severe cold snap

Tips for coping available online; housing assistance a phone call away The Chester County Department of Emergency Services is warning that Monday’s snow will be followed by a severe cold snap; wind chills Monday night are predicted to reach 6 below zero. Tuesday night, March 4, more of the same is expected, with the mercury around 8. Emergency officials want to remind residents to bundle up outside,...

Oral Piercing – Is it worth the risk?

It’s smart to know the potential issues before going forward By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD, FAGD, Columnist, The Times Body piercing has been a popular form of self-adornment since early tribal cultures began the practice thousands of years ago.  It is important to know are the specific dangers that come with oral piercings. Unlike ears or other areas of cartilage, the inside of the mouth is...

Take heart: Minor changes can improve health

YMCAs offering tips, incentive for observing American Heart Month February is American Heart Month, and area YMCAs suggest that it offers an optimal time to take stock of what you’re doing to maintain a healthy heart. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, contributing to about 600,000...

State warns of approaching unhealthy air mass

Those with respiratory problems urged to limit outdoor activity Saturday Harrisburg – The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day on Saturday, Feb. 1, due to the unseasonably warm air mass moving in this weekend. DEP and the partnerships urge residents sensitive to air pollution to limit outdoor activity...

Pa. receives poor grade for reducing tobacco use

Report from Am. Lung Assn. cites failures that are costing lives Pennsylvania received grades ranging from failing to mediocre when it came to taking steps to reduce tobacco use in 2013, said a news release on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from the American Lung Association. Less than a week after the new Surgeon General’s report on smoking and health – which warns 5.6 million of today’s youth will die...

Happy Dental New Year

A new year could mean new insurance and different rules and fees By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times January is the month of renewal, time to start over, make some healthy changes or break some old habits.  It is also a new year for most dental insurance plans. There is no perfect dental insurance plan, some plans will work better for you and your family.  Dental insurance plans...