From the very day that Irvin Lieberman first took over the ownership of the Chester County Press in 1970, the mission of this publication has remained as committed, as direct and as unwavering as that first day. With full resolve, this newspaper has spent the last 50 years steadfastly delivering the news of southern Chester County to its faithful readers, while also developing solid relationships with its many advertisers.

Over the course of that half century, the Chester County Press has been everywhere you’ve been – at township meetings, at school board discussions, at events large and small, and in homes from Chadds Ford to Oxford, in the hopes that we may be able to best tell the story of who we are in this crevice of a community tucked in southeastern Pennsylvania.

We are now, all of us – every parent, every child, every employee and every business owner – living through a story that none of us could predict, and one that has not yet revealed its ending.

As the Chester County Press continues to navigate through the unfolding and vital news about the COVID-19 virus, two thoughts continue to reverberate for us:

            During these 50 years, this newspaper has never covered a story of such sweeping and crucial impact; and

            During these 50 years, we have never felt more responsibility and purpose as a newspaper to keep our readers informed than right now. It is a public service that may become our finest hour.

From the time news of the coronavirus first began to dominate the headlines in early March, we have kept our readers informed about legislation and orders decreed by Gov. Wolf and State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, as well as reported on how the virus has galvanized others to offer solutions and opportunities. Under the stewardship of Publisher Randy Lieberman and Managing Editor Steven Hoffman, we have provided nearly daily postings of news and updates on our website – chestercounty.com –and on our Facebook page.

While the work of our entire staff – editorial, advertising and design – is being done remotely, we will continue to work together to produce a product that is informative, reliable and accurate. And, from time to time, the often heavy news will be balanced with levity; over the next several issues, we’re inviting you, our readers, to send us stories of how and your family are creatively coping with your own social distancing and quarantine period.

Over these 50 years, we have not only served our thousands of readers faithfully, we have developed unbreakable relationships with our large family of advertisers, particularly those in the small business sector. To them, we say that we are a small business too; we know the sacrifices that are being made now. At this difficult time, allow us to continue to help tell the story of your company.

“Journalism can never be silent,” wrote former Time editor-in-chief Henry Anatole Grunwald. “That is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the sounds of horror are still in the air.”

We will not be silent, especially at a time when there are so many voices that must be heard. We at the Chester County Press thank you for your continued readership and your support. Stay safe.