What to do: Hometown fun, fireworks & festivals
By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times
The Philadelphia Museum of Art sets the backdrop for the annual Welcome America fireworks display.
Independence Day has arrived and that means it is time for two of Chester County’s longest-running and most popular Fourth of July events — Downingtown Good Neighbor Day (Kerr Park, Downingtown, 610-285-1119, www.goodneighborday.com) and Freedom...
On Stage: Rock, indie-pop, bluegrass & more hit music scene this week
By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times
Two major factors a band needs to achieve success and longevity are the ability to write good songs and the maintenance of a high level of friendship among band members.
Lloyd Cole
Three bands who will be performing in the area, over the next week, have met this criteria along with solo artist, Lloyd Cole, who went back to old friends...
On Your Table: Spark-up a July 4th party with red, white & blue dishes
Think festive and delicious, incorporating red white and blue into your presentation is easy!
By Cathy Branciaroli, Food Correspondent, The Times
Watermelon is a staple of Fourth of July Celebrations.
On a patriotic holiday like the Fourth of July, families and friends gather to celebrate our national heritage, liberties and the sacrifices made to preserve our way of life, and of course, a big part...
Supreme Court ruling means rights for all
Same sex marriage ruling affirms individual rights when legislative action is stalled
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
It is well worth downloading the full Obergefell v. Hodges decision at http://www.supremecourt.gov/. The pdf is rather exciting reading. As taxpayers we paid for it, so let’s read it for free!
The 5-4 ruling on both questions before the Court (which it could have...
One man stands between the people and medical marijuana
Our dysfunctional legislature hits new highs for foolishness
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Greetings from one of the last Internet outposts not hacked by the Chinese (we don’t rate) or calling from (allegedly) Microsoft Technical Support to assist you with your computer issues once you give us your password, credit card number and home address information.
In comparison, the recent shenanigans...
Is it time to look at the role of standardized tests in schools?
Also: if teacher unions demand raises, they should say what to cut from education programs to pay for it
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The rising tide against Common Core continues to obscure a growing, but still under discussed debate about the value and quality of standardized testing in our schools.
While it seems increasingly likely that a passing grade on the Keystone tests will not end up...
Op/Ed: Does high-stakes testing improve education?
By Michael T. Rock, Director, Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education
Michael T. Rock
As the debate on No Child Left Behind and the Common Core heat up and as Pennsylvania’s school districts gear up for implementation of the Keystone exit exams it is time to take stock of what we know about the impact of high stakes testing. Supporters see tests as a way to close the gap in performance between...
Letter: Knauss gets it wrong
To The Editor,
Once again, Keith Knauss gets it wrong.
At the May 18 School Board meeting, Mr. Knauss stated that the Teachers’ Association is proposing an 4.6% increase in “payroll” each year, as compared to the 2.1% being offered by the Board.
Check it out yourself on the Board Video, at time marker 1:35:35. http://youtu.be/Vh4-P1hNDEs
The documents given to me by the Board...
Letter: What does Keith Knauss really want?
To The Editor,
In a recent Unionville Chadds-Ford Board meeting, Director Keith Knauss advocated for stalling the negotiations process so that the contract with UCF teachers expires and goes into status quo.
Watch the video of Mr. Knauss’s comments here.
By entering status quo, the teachers would not receive any salary increases thereby, in Mr. Knauss’s mind, save the District money. At the same...
A time for joy and a time for justice