On Stage: You don’t have to say it three times, ‘Beetlejuice’ comes to Philly

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Beetlejuice “Beetlejuice” is a lot of different things. Most obviously, it is a 1988 American fantasy horror comedy film directed by Tim Burton and starring Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, and Michael Keaton as the titular character. A sequel was officially announced two weeks ago with...

County OKs $2.5M in open space grants

Site of the adaptive kayak launch and boat ramp rehabilitation project at Riverside Park in North Coventry Township,one of the recipients of a park improvement grant through the Chester County Preservation Partnership Program. The Chester County Commissioners approved the awarding of $2.5 million in open space preservation and park improvement grants today at the public Commissioners’ meeting. The...

Inner Nature: Rock honeybee encounter in Chennai, India

By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times I am currently in India. My father lives in Chennai, a city on the southeast Bay of Bengal coast, in a flat (apartment) in a tower block. Recently a swarm of honeybees showed up and settled on a large waterpipe that ran above a public stairwell. Anxious that passersby would get stung, a decision was made by the maintenance crew to call in pest control. A previous...

On Stage: Chesco resident Giddings made the journey from the UK and to the stage

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Some years ago, Susan Giddings made the 3,500-mile journey from the London area of England to the Philadelphia area – more specifically from Hartfordshire to Chester County. Once in America, Giddings became involved with theater. Now, she is playing one of the major roles in the production of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” which is running...

What To Do: Live performances on West Chester’s porches

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Porch Fest This area has many — really many — annual events that have passed milestone anniversaries….and there are some still in their infancy. The Second Annual West Chester Porchfest (westchesterporchfest.com) will be held on May 20 from 1-7 p.m. Rain date is May 21. Participants can stroll from porch to porch and enjoy live local talent...

While far-right, big-money school board candidates struggled in the primary, it was just a rehearsal for Nov.

By Rich Heiland, Columnist, The Times SOME QUICK REFLECTIONS…..on our recent primary elections… Schools…The billionaires who poured money into area school board races to try to turn public education into a straight, white Christian Nationalist brain-washing experience ought to be a bit disappointed. Granted, this was only a primary and the real test will come in November, but Tuesday’s results...

What To Do: It’s all about Mom this weekend

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Kennett Symphony at Winterthur Sunday is Mother’s Day which means there will be a wide array of special events to celebrate the occasion – and that it will be virtually impossible to get reservations at area restaurants at this late date. Winterthur (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-4600,www.winterthur.org) will welcome mothers on Mother’s...

Simpson steps down from Coatesville City Council

Ed Simpson Leaving big shoes to fill, Councilman Ed Simpson announced his retirement from Coatesville City Council after serving the City’s residents for more than two decades. During a City Council meeting on April 24, 2023, Simpson shared his decision to resign due to a move to be closer to family members. While they remain Chester County residents, he and his wife Terry moved outside of the City’s...

Democrats: there are a lot of Republicans on your primary ballot, know what to look for

By Rich Heiland, Columnist, The Times It’s going to be critical for Democratic voters to take their “cheat sheets” into the polling place and be absolutely sure the candidates they vote for really are Democrats. If you are concerned about far righters taking over school boards, county elections, boroughs and towns, you need to understand the law suits the far-righters file start in our Common...

On Stage: Jesse Ruben comes home for show at World Cafe Live

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Jesse Ruben For Brooklyn based singer/songwriter Jesse Ruben, his show on May 12 at the World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, www.worldcafelive.com) is a much-anticipated homecoming. Ruben, who moved to New York 12 years ago, grew up in Maple Glen and graduated from Upper Dublin High School. He went on to earn a degree in songwriting at...