WEST CHESTER- The West Chester Downtown Foundation (WCDF) has announced the application period for the 2024 Community Grant is now open. The WCDF provides financial support for worthy, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations in the Greater West Chester Community with a maximum grant of $2,500. The WCDF’s Grants Committee evaluates applications for their ability to meet human needs in our community, the quality of the program to deliver the services, and the match to the organization’s mission statement.    Send article as PDF    ...

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Better Than Bacon The weekend’s attractive line-up of live entertainment starts early this weekend with a local comedy favorite in West Chester, a prog rock band in Kennett Square and an unusual circus in Bensalem. Better Than Bacon is coming back to Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) on June 27. Better Than Bacon Improv is a short form improv comedy troupe based in West Chester. BTB performs short skits and games based on audience suggestions, often inviting audience members on stage.    Send article as PDF    ...

Marie R. Hall Family and friends of Marie R. Hall, 92, were profoundly saddened by Marie’s sudden passing on May 14, 2024. She was surrounded by her husband and three children. Marie was born in 1932 in New York City to Ruth Adele and Frederick George Albert Roettger. While attending East Orange, NJ High School, Marie met Lewis (“Chokey”) Hall, Jr. and they have been partners together ever since; Marie and Chokey would have celebrated 70 years of marriage in August. Marie graduated from Berkely Secretarial College in 1952, and in 1954 as newlyweds, Marie and Chokey moved to Lafayette, Indiana. While there, Marie worked at Purdue University for the Chair of the Biochemistry Department while Chokey pursued his PhD in Organic Chemistry. Marie often said that this time spent beginning their life together in Lafayette was among her happiest.    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    ...