By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Porchfest This area has many — really many — annual events that have passed milestone anniversaries….and there are some still taking their first few steps. The Annual West Chester Porchfest (westchesterporchfest.com), which is celebrating its third anniversary this year, will be held on May 18 from 1-7 p.m. Rain date is May 19. Participants can stroll from porch to porch and enjoy live local talent and the beautiful porches of historic West Chester. West Chester Porchfest is organized by the West Chester Green Team to promote community building, foster connections and celebrate the return of spring and the beginning of summer.    Send article as PDF    ...

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Michael Allman There will be a lot happening on May 19 at the popular annual “Chestnut Hill Home + Garden Festival” (Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill, (Chestnut Hill Home + Garden Festival – Chestnut Hill). The event, which will run from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., was originally scheduled for May 4 but was postponed because of inclement weather. Actually, the best part of the festival will probably be a post-festival event. On May 19 at 7 p.m., The Venetian Club (8000 Germantown Avenue) will host a concert by the Michael Allman Band. If you looked at the name of the headline act Saturday, you would likely draw two conclusions – the music will be Southern Rock and the act will feature a musician who is part of the Allman Brothers musical family. And you’d be right on both accounts.    Send article as PDF    ...

Janet Ruth Palmer Janet Ruth Palmer, of Schnecksville, PA, died March 23, 2024, during a brief stay at the Mosser Nursing Home in Trexlertown, PA. She was born in Mount Pleasant, PA, on December 30, 1934, the daughter of the late Jonathon Rogers Heess and Sara (Marshall) Heess. She was 89. After living briefly in Athens, OH, and Williamsport, MD, when she was young, Janet returned to her family’s roots in the Kennett Square, PA, area in 1942. She graduated from Unionville High School and from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1956. She married June 29, 1957, at London Grove Friends Meeting to Allan Pierson Palmer of Landenberg, PA. Janet taught 2nd grade at Avon-Grove School and later served as a substitute/assistant teacher for the London Grove Friends Meeting Kindergarten. Janet had lifelong interests in crafts, genealogy, gardening, and entertaining family. She was a member of the Hockessin (DE) Friends Meeting where she founded the Meeting’s daily preschool and oversaw the children’s first day school. She was also involved with the local Young Avon-Grove (“YAG”) club, the Evergreen Garden Club, and the Unionville Farm Show flower division.    Send article as PDF    ...

Harmony Hill Nursery, LLC (HHN) announced Monday it has acquired the Tulpehocken Nursery’s assets in Reading.  These assets will be directly absorbed into HHN effective immediately. Tulpehocken Nursery was founded over 40 years by Patty Meinhart on the premise to grow quality trees and shrubs for the discerning landscape designer and contractor in the fertile fields along the Tulpehocken Nursery of Berks County.  Her plant palette consisted of native flowering, understory & select specimen trees, complemented with native and ornamental shrubs of landscape size.  Being a formally trained landscape designer and horticulturist these plants were produced following strict production standards of quality pruning and harvesting.  The last few years additional practices such as organic fertilizer, compost amendments and reduced tillage have been incorporated to become more sustainable.    Send article as PDF    ...

Editor’s note: this is the first of what we hope will be a regular, magazine style feature on either a subject or personality of interest to Chester County. Like a true magazine feature, it is long-form and written from the author’s perspective. We welcome your comments, suggestions for future such pieces and input. State Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D-156) By Emily Pisano, Special to The Times Clad in armor of a black romper and color-blocked slides, I scroll through photos of my cat while I wait. Made apparent by my shaking foot, the feelings I’m experiencing are a cocktail of excitement and anxiety. As a girl with the simple dream of writing for Vogue, The Cut, or Harper’s Bazaar this is what I consider a major moment. Having arranged this interview, done the research, and prepared the questions, all that’s left to do is wait for her to arrive. “Emily, it is so good to see you again! How is the new store?” Carolyn asks. The energy in the office elevates instantly as the subject of my interview, PA House of Representative’s Carolyn Comitta, breezes through the door. “Off to a good start,” I think to myself. “She knows who I am!” Ushering me deeper into her West Chester, PA office, I’m thankful for what is Carolyn’s ability to instantly put me at ease. When she begins by asking me about myself, I forget for a second who is supposed to be interviewing who.    Send article as PDF    ...