Letter: UCF class sizes too small, fail to follow policies

To The Editor, It has been reported that the Unionville Chadds Ford School District operates its four K-5 elementary facilities with average class sizes of 13.1 to 14.1 students. Similarly the UCF High School operates with average class sizes of 15.1 students. Unfortunately, I do not have data for Patton Middle School, but suspect these students experience similar class sizes. The UCF class sizes are...

The future ain’t what it cracked up to be

30 years after high school, are we living up to our promise? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As you read this, I’m probably driving home on the New Jersey Turnpike, returning home from my 30th high school reunion up in North Jersey. Thanks to Facebook, I’m probably in better touch with my old classmates than I was at our 10th anniversary, and then I was the Managing Editor of the local newspaper...

Letter: input need for county human services plan

To The Editor, Recently, Chester County was accepted into the Commonwealth’s Pilot Program for certain critical human services.  This pilot program provides a block grant to Chester County, rather than individual allocations, for the following human services categories:  Mental Health Services, Intellectual Disability Services, Homeless Assistance, Child Welfare, Drug and Alcohol Services, and...

Letter: more resident comment needed on Barnard House

To the Editor, This is a comment on Pocopson’s Barnard House reconstruction project and the process being used to further the implementation of the project. Pocopson is rebuilding the Barnard House to provide offices, meeting space and museum space. The first two of these functions are currently being served by the converted Township garage on Denton Hollow Rd. The bids on the architect’s plan...

Will HB 1077 impact statehouse races?

Will abortion politics motivate voters to vote for Democrats? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times I hate the subject of abortion. With a deep, dark abiding passion. But it’s possible I may have underestimated its impact on the 2012 elections when it comes to local state house races. I spent the better part of my Saturday morning last week on the courthouse steps in West Chester listening to a rally...

State house seats could be in play

GOP leaders privately worried about turnout, impact of Romney’s stumbles By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times While the national races get the big attention, political insiders in the state tend to keep close tabs on races here in Chester County these days. As the population and demographics in the county have shifted in the last decade, the once-solidly Republican county is much more of a bell...

Letter: Data must be gathered before making Pocopson Home decision

To The Editor, As a follow up to recent news coverage on Pocopson Home, I wanted to offer additional commentary to the public on my position relating to Pocopson. To date, the County has commissioned an outside consultant to inform the Commissioners about how a non-profit managed facility would operate versus continuing to operate as we currently do.  This report will be an important factor in any...

Op/Ed: Meals on Wheels saves for taxpayers

Program allows seniors to continue living in their homes, rather than needing full-time care By Jeani Purcell, Special to The Times Jean who is a 78 year- old widow lost the use of her right hand after she suffered a stroke.  After 45 days in the hospital she returned to her home of 48 years, discovering that she could no longer prepare meals safely.  She turned to her local Meals on Wheels (MOW)...

Locals say political conventions still have value

With Election 2012 kicking into high gear, RNC, DNC spark interest By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Some pundits will tell you that the day of political party conventions meaning much of anything has passed — they’re little more than pre-packaged “pep rallies” for the respective parties and candidates. But if you ask two Chester County residents — both freshly back from their party’s convention...

Fall means getting back up to speed

The heat and quiet of summer begin to fade; new stormwater regs have local officials angry By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times There are few times that elicit such joy and enthusiasm. Sure, kids might get ramped up before the holidays, but we adults — well, you can see all of us with kids walking with a lighter step this week for one reason: school starts Monday! While our kids are somewhere between...