A neighbor told me that the other day she saw a driver running the stop sign on northbound Newark Road at Route 842 in West Marlborough -- and not just rolling through, but not even braking one bit. Another woman who lives in London Grove village said motorists regularly ignore the stop signs there, too.
A reminder of what can happen when you blow through a stop sign: a few weeks ago, two Lancaster County brothers ran the stop sign on Street Road at Route 472 in Lower Oxford. Their car was hit by a milk truck and they were killed instantly. I passed the site the other day, and there's a memorial, with flowers and a portrait of both of the young men.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Where did you park?
Could we finally see a resolution to the Whip's parking problems?
The Springdell tavern has become hugely popular, but because of its small parking lot, latecomers are forced to choose between double-parking (you can leave your car keys with the staff), risking a ticket by parking along the roadside or on the grass across the street -- or turning around and going back home.
The West Marlborough supervisors are considering a zoning amendment that would allow parking to be located on a separate lot from the principal use in the township's Village-Residential zones (Springdell and London Grove village). The logic, according to the proposed amendment, is that many of the lots in the zone "do not meet the minimum lot area requirement thereby resulting in principal uses on lots that do not have adequate space for the use." (That would certainly seem to be the case here.)
The parking lot has to be within 150 feet of the main property, 500 feet if there's "a continuous off-street path, sidewalk or accessway that directly connects with the principal use."
Allowing parking on a separate lot "will allow for these principal uses and any nonconforming uses to exist and operate in a manner that reduces traffic congestion and safety concerns related to the parking of vehicles along the street."
The ordinance includes regulations on the off-site uses in terms of size, lighting and signage.
The proposed amendment will be reviewed by both the township planning commission and the Chester County planning commission, and a public hearing will be held Monday, July 30.
The Springdell tavern has become hugely popular, but because of its small parking lot, latecomers are forced to choose between double-parking (you can leave your car keys with the staff), risking a ticket by parking along the roadside or on the grass across the street -- or turning around and going back home.
The West Marlborough supervisors are considering a zoning amendment that would allow parking to be located on a separate lot from the principal use in the township's Village-Residential zones (Springdell and London Grove village). The logic, according to the proposed amendment, is that many of the lots in the zone "do not meet the minimum lot area requirement thereby resulting in principal uses on lots that do not have adequate space for the use." (That would certainly seem to be the case here.)
The parking lot has to be within 150 feet of the main property, 500 feet if there's "a continuous off-street path, sidewalk or accessway that directly connects with the principal use."
Allowing parking on a separate lot "will allow for these principal uses and any nonconforming uses to exist and operate in a manner that reduces traffic congestion and safety concerns related to the parking of vehicles along the street."
The ordinance includes regulations on the off-site uses in terms of size, lighting and signage.
The proposed amendment will be reviewed by both the township planning commission and the Chester County planning commission, and a public hearing will be held Monday, July 30.
Stressed out
Usually the customers at my favorite garden center are friendly and happy, but that certainly wasn't the case on Tuesday.
One woman was there with two men -- one was her husband, and the other worked for them, I'm guessing as a farm manager. They had a giant "dualie" extended-cab pickup, the kind with a little step when you lower the tailgate, and the bed was packed full of plants, including about a dozen giant papyrus plants. The woman wanted to go back and get more, over her husband's objections ("We've already been here an hour!"), and it took some doing for the men to convince her that there was no way anything else could fit in the truck. She finally conceded, but with poor grace.
And two women in a Volvo with Delaware tags were quarreling peevishly about how to arrange their purchases in the trunk.
"It's dirty," objected one, looking at a pot with disdain.
The outcome wasn't a happy one: I saw them leaving the parking lot with a squished plant stalk sticking out of the trunk lid.
One woman was there with two men -- one was her husband, and the other worked for them, I'm guessing as a farm manager. They had a giant "dualie" extended-cab pickup, the kind with a little step when you lower the tailgate, and the bed was packed full of plants, including about a dozen giant papyrus plants. The woman wanted to go back and get more, over her husband's objections ("We've already been here an hour!"), and it took some doing for the men to convince her that there was no way anything else could fit in the truck. She finally conceded, but with poor grace.
And two women in a Volvo with Delaware tags were quarreling peevishly about how to arrange their purchases in the trunk.
"It's dirty," objected one, looking at a pot with disdain.
The outcome wasn't a happy one: I saw them leaving the parking lot with a squished plant stalk sticking out of the trunk lid.
Mowing
"We've gotten several compliments about their work," he said. "Everything seems to be running -- for a change."
Crime report
Even state troopers can be crime victims.
Trooper Dwayne Winchester of the Avondale barracks stopped by the West Marlborough Township supervisors' meeting on June 5 to report on state police activity in the township so far in 2012. In response to a question about burglaries, he mentioned that his own house, on Route 82 in East Marlborough, was broken into last August.
The officer said he came home from his work shift to find a woman running out the back door of his house and arrested her on the spot. Her boyfriend had been sitting in his car in a neighbor's driveway acting as lookout and phoned her when the officer arrived home, prompting her to try to flee.
He said he was relieved to find that his house had been targeted randomly; the burglar was a heroin addict looking for valuables to steal and sell, not someone he had previously arrested who was out for revenge. In fact, he said, he imagined the burglar was not at all happy to see his police uniforms hanging up in the house.
He said the presence of his dog did not deter the burglar.
The trooper said the state police were called out to 92 incidents in the township so far this year, including 3 house burglaries, 18 crashes (4 of them DUI-related), 9 criminal investigations and 4 DUIs.
"Pretty quiet," he summarized.
He advised residents to call the police if they are planning to leave for an extended period so the police can keep an eye on the house. Also, he advised residents to report anything suspicious and "look out for each other."
Trooper Dwayne Winchester of the Avondale barracks stopped by the West Marlborough Township supervisors' meeting on June 5 to report on state police activity in the township so far in 2012. In response to a question about burglaries, he mentioned that his own house, on Route 82 in East Marlborough, was broken into last August.
The officer said he came home from his work shift to find a woman running out the back door of his house and arrested her on the spot. Her boyfriend had been sitting in his car in a neighbor's driveway acting as lookout and phoned her when the officer arrived home, prompting her to try to flee.
He said he was relieved to find that his house had been targeted randomly; the burglar was a heroin addict looking for valuables to steal and sell, not someone he had previously arrested who was out for revenge. In fact, he said, he imagined the burglar was not at all happy to see his police uniforms hanging up in the house.
He said the presence of his dog did not deter the burglar.
The trooper said the state police were called out to 92 incidents in the township so far this year, including 3 house burglaries, 18 crashes (4 of them DUI-related), 9 criminal investigations and 4 DUIs.
"Pretty quiet," he summarized.
He advised residents to call the police if they are planning to leave for an extended period so the police can keep an eye on the house. Also, he advised residents to report anything suspicious and "look out for each other."
Monday, June 4, 2012
Out in the open
Usually when I'm talking to people who want to appear in this column, they are on their best behavior, careful not to put a foot wrong.
Not so much a plainspoken man I met this weekend.
When I introduced myself he peered at me and asked suspiciously, "You're not a [Republocrat], are you?"
I replied that I most certainly was NOT a [Republocrat], and he expressed his relief.
His daughter, who was standing next to him, was mortified, but I was vastly amused.
Not so much a plainspoken man I met this weekend.
When I introduced myself he peered at me and asked suspiciously, "You're not a [Republocrat], are you?"
I replied that I most certainly was NOT a [Republocrat], and he expressed his relief.
His daughter, who was standing next to him, was mortified, but I was vastly amused.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Check, please!
Just came home from a very nice family dinner at the Iron Hill Brewery in downtown West Chester. We went out to celebrate the wonderful performance of two of the Tally-ho men -- my brother and the Young Relative -- in the Hillendale Husky Hustle 5K run on Saturday.
The weird thing is, my brother, who was supposedly an honoree, grabbed the dinner check from our father, the traditional bill-payer, and would not hear of anyone else chipping in.
"You realize what this means," I warned him. "There will be items about you in this column ALL SUMMER LONG, exhorting you to win more races so that you buy me more dinners."
The weird thing is, my brother, who was supposedly an honoree, grabbed the dinner check from our father, the traditional bill-payer, and would not hear of anyone else chipping in.
"You realize what this means," I warned him. "There will be items about you in this column ALL SUMMER LONG, exhorting you to win more races so that you buy me more dinners."
Art show
On Sunday afternoon I stopped by a charming art show at the Willowdale Art Academy, a children's art studio located above the Landhope Farms store at Routes 82 and 926 (but no, NOT in Tony Young's old office space). Karen D'Allaird said she opened the studio at the beginning of this past school year, and after a summer break (there's no air conditioning, and apparently the loft space gets very warm) lessons will start up again in September. She offers classes for children in first through eighth grades. You can see Karen's own work at www.chestercountyartgallery.com, and the school has a website under its own name as well.
Born in the USA
Two friends of mine visited the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall in Philadelphia last Tuesday and had a wonderful time. They said the exhibits are so well done and engaging that they will appeal to children and grown-ups. They brought me back a folded-up copy of the Constitution, which came in handy that very day when some friends were quarreling online about the effectiveness of the Fifth Amendment (yes, I know a lot of lawyers, and a lot of argumentative people in general). I was glad to see that I still remember every word of the Preamble, which we had to learn by heart in the eighth grade.
My friends also enjoyed the Bruce Springsteen exhibit at the museum, which runs through Sept. 3: "From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen." My friend told the tour guide to keep an eye out for Bruce himself during Devon week, because he's always in town to watch his daughter Jessica compete at the horse show.
My friends also enjoyed the Bruce Springsteen exhibit at the museum, which runs through Sept. 3: "From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen." My friend told the tour guide to keep an eye out for Bruce himself during Devon week, because he's always in town to watch his daughter Jessica compete at the horse show.
Into town
Thank you, Richard Carlin of Unionville! Mr. Carlin, who used to fox hunt with Cheshire, liked my item about a friend who felt provincial for telling guests she was "going into town" to run errands. He recalled that many years ago W. Plunkett Stewart (who founded Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds in 1912) used to say exactly the same thing when discussing his plans for non-hunting days.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Goodbye, Sarah
Sarah suffered a fatal head injury when the horse she was riding spooked for some unknown reason and she came off (yes, she was wearing a helmet and flak jacket), her father, Victor, told me. She was rushed to Christiana Hospital by ambulance and stayed conscious long enough for her parents to talk to her, but then suffered a massive stroke. After that, there was no hope of recovery.
Sarah was so vital and enthusiastic that it's hard to believe she is gone. Her friends have posted photos on her Facebook page showing her riding along Lamborntown Road in the snow, playing polo, watching the World Series at the Whip, celebrating at weddings and parties.
My deepest sympathy and prayers to her family, and here's hoping her spirit is in Houyhnhnm Land with her beloved horses. Her father told me that thanks to Sarah's organ donations, as many as seventy people will live longer and better lives, which I think is a beautiful and fitting legacy.
The family is planning a gathering at their farm this summer to celebrate her life.
(Thank you to Emily Rodger Barber for the photograph. "I love that photo," her father said.)
H&G Day!
Today was the annual Home and Garden Day to benefit the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library. I worked in the morning as a front-door greeter at a Pennsbury Township house, and I'm guessing you can imagine the fun I had welcoming tour-goers.
Because I had limited time in the afternoon I made it to only two other houses after my shift was over, but both were spectacular inside and out. I loved the lavender growing in little niches in the stone wall at one of them; the garden in the other one gave me the answer as to whether it's OK to have other plants growing in a bed of lamium (it is).
Huge congratulations to the tireless ladies on the Special Events Committee for lining up so many amazing houses -- and such a variety -- year after year, not to mention the restaurants and caterers, florists and artists and the army of hostesses and parkers needed at each spot.
And the weather! After the thunderstorm and heavy winds the evening before the tour, we were just so lucky to have sunny, cool weather on Saturday. I can remember one tour when the temperature was in the 90s, and another when we had a such a deluge of rain all day long that some cars got stuck in the pasture and had to be towed out with a tractor.
Among the guests, I was delighted to see the library director, Donna Murray; library board members Doug Singo, Bill Landmesser and Heather Ramsey; and library employees John Hendrix and Kit Ramsey.
Because I had limited time in the afternoon I made it to only two other houses after my shift was over, but both were spectacular inside and out. I loved the lavender growing in little niches in the stone wall at one of them; the garden in the other one gave me the answer as to whether it's OK to have other plants growing in a bed of lamium (it is).
Huge congratulations to the tireless ladies on the Special Events Committee for lining up so many amazing houses -- and such a variety -- year after year, not to mention the restaurants and caterers, florists and artists and the army of hostesses and parkers needed at each spot.
And the weather! After the thunderstorm and heavy winds the evening before the tour, we were just so lucky to have sunny, cool weather on Saturday. I can remember one tour when the temperature was in the 90s, and another when we had a such a deluge of rain all day long that some cars got stuck in the pasture and had to be towed out with a tractor.
Among the guests, I was delighted to see the library director, Donna Murray; library board members Doug Singo, Bill Landmesser and Heather Ramsey; and library employees John Hendrix and Kit Ramsey.
Party time
The summer party season has started: somebody over the hill from me is having one heck of a rocking party this evening, with a live Mexican band. I can hear the amplified bass off in the distance and even slightly feel the vibrations. They started in the late afternoon and were still going strong when I turned in for the night.
(It reminds me of my college days, when the boys who lived in the room underneath us had their huge stereo speakers facing up. To this day I know by heart the bass line to Boston's "More than a Feeling.")
At first I thought the party was being held at the large farm just down the road from me, but no: a friend in Doe Run Village pinpointed it at a property off Route 82 beyond Blow Horn. My brother said he had spotted a big white tent and UHS-colored balloons there when he passed by earlier in the day, so I suspect it was a graduation party.
Another friend said there was an outdoor party going on up her way as well, off Stargazer Road. "Wouldn't be so bad if the band was any good," she reported.
(It reminds me of my college days, when the boys who lived in the room underneath us had their huge stereo speakers facing up. To this day I know by heart the bass line to Boston's "More than a Feeling.")
At first I thought the party was being held at the large farm just down the road from me, but no: a friend in Doe Run Village pinpointed it at a property off Route 82 beyond Blow Horn. My brother said he had spotted a big white tent and UHS-colored balloons there when he passed by earlier in the day, so I suspect it was a graduation party.
Another friend said there was an outdoor party going on up her way as well, off Stargazer Road. "Wouldn't be so bad if the band was any good," she reported.
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