Thursday, March 7, 2013

Overblown

The meteorologists get me every single darn time.
Days in advance they start making ominous predictions about snow. The total snowfall expected increases with each update, and little red icons warning about "SEVERE WEATHER" pop up on my Droid.
And because I love big snowstorms, I get all excited, make sure there's plenty of seed in the bird feeders, check the weather map every hour to see if the blue area is swirling any closer, and open every conversation with an eager "Well, what do you hear?!"
And then: the storm shifts, or things don't play out as dramatically as predicted, and once again it's a total fizzle.
Here in southern Chester County on Wednesday, we were supposed to be on the line between getting 6 to 10 inches of snow and 3 to 5 inches. What we ended up getting was a little bit of rain and some gusty winds. I saw maybe three snowflakes.
But as a result of the inaccurate forecasts, "The Hot Club of Philadelphia," the Gypsy jazz concert scheduled at the Kennett Flash, was postponed "just to be on the safe side." (The organizer said she wasn't happy about having to cancel, but "the history of jazz is full of musicians crashing on their way to and from gigs!")
Sure, meteorology is not an exact science, and I can understand that some storms don't behave as predicted. But just for a change, I'd love to see the weather people acknowledge that fact instead of inevitably predicting the worse-case scenario as a certainty. Wouldn't that be a pleasant novelty?

InkedIn

A reader writes: "Any recommendations for a good tattoo shop in the Kennett area? Looking for a place where I can get a very simple piece of ink, painless, and clean (my top priority!)."
For once I am at a loss to offer advice, because for me "getting ink" means a trip to Staples. But if you have any suggestions for this reader, please send an email my way at uvilleblogger@gmail.com. Thanks!
Actually, I've been thinking about tattoos a few times in the past few days. At the Kennett Starbucks on Sunday afternoon I overheard a man and a woman whom I suspect were meeting for the first time. Their conversation was polite and stilted at first, but then they started talking about tattoos and quickly warmed up to each other, describing their "ink" and what they wanted to get done next.
And in my new editing project, a book of advice for young mental health professionals, the plain-spoken author strongly advises against getting any tattoos that will show when wearing "business casual" clothing. Not everyone accepts tattoos the way the the younger generation does, she points out, and potential clients may perceive a tattoo-laden therapist as nothing short of a thug. Hardly useful for establishing rapport.

Stimulating the economy

A friend upon whom Fortune, and a wealthy husband, have smiled reports that she is back from West Palm Beach and just replaced her aging Porsche with a silver Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet. "My spouse is awesome!" she says. "Ok, yeah, it's my money too. He's just agreed to let me spend more than the portion I earned. Plus I do have the whole horse thing." 

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Just so they don't frighten the horses

At their March 5 meeting, the West Marlborough Township supervisors heard a request from a West Chester man who wants to cap off his daughter's Sept. 7 wedding reception at the Stone Barn with a 15-minute professional fireworks display.
The board's concern was that the noise might frighten the horses at nearby farms.
"There's some fairly expensive horseflesh of one type or another" near there, said Supervisor Bill Wylie, as he and fellow Supervisor Mike Ledyard listed the prominent farms within earshot of the Stone Barn. "I would hate for a horse to run through a fence."
The father agreed to e-mail the board more information about the proposed display and would give them the contact information for his pyrotechnics expert so that the board could talk to the neighbors, who might want to keep their horses inside for the evening.

Compost coda

Will Russell Jones get his $2,500 conditional-use application fee back?
No, he won't, the West Marlborough Township supervisors decided at their March 5 meeting. They said that even though he withdrew his zoning request, the township still incurred costs related to the case: they had to pay the court stenographer's fees -- Bill Handy showed up for both of the hearings that were scheduled but not held -- as well as for the time of the township engineer and the township solicitor.
"I think we've used his money up," said Supervisors' Chairman Michael Ledyard.
For those of you unfamiliar with this story, Mr. Jones ran into opposition -- from the Brandywine Conservancy, from neighbors, and even from some landowners who aren't neighbors -- when he decided to allow, for a fee, spent mushroom soil to be trucked onto his Hood Road property, piled into mounds and left to decompose into potting soil, which would be removed, bagged and sold. The township pointed out that he needed to apply for conditional use permission, and he did so.
A hearing was set for Jan. 17, but it was postponed because Mr. Jones was in the process of hammering out an agreement with the Conservancy (which has an easement on the property).
Then, just before the second hearing on Feb. 21, Mr. Jones and his attorney reached an agreement with the township in which he promised to remove the compost by Nov. 1. That meant that the need for conditional use permission was moot, and Mr. Jones's attorney withdrew the application. Case closed.
One resident at the meeting suggested that the township put in writing that application fees are nonrefundable if the township does incur costs, just so applicants are aware of the situation upfront.

Eating my words

A visitor the other day took seriously my suggestion that he make himself at home and put a dent in my supply of carrots and walnuts. But when he picked up my last box of Girl Scout cookies, the shortbread variety, I immediately recanted.
"NO!" I cried. "Cookie season's over, I won't be able to get those til next year. Put them down NOW!"
He did so, realizing I meant business, and said it sounded like I was giving orders to a mischievous dog.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Hood's revisited

Hood's has reopened after a week of renovations and the place looks great! The owners took out a couple of walls, and it really opens up the place. The main counter has been shifted ninety degrees to the east, so ordering felt slightly out of kilter at first. The TV screen is now wall-mounted. But still the same are the friendly staff (Dawn was asking everyone what they thought of the new look), the camaraderie among the customers and the yummy comfort food: oh! that meatloaf sandwich on Texas toast with cheese!

Cheep!

The chicks are in at Pocopson Hardware, and the cuteness factor is off the scale. They're housed in big black tubs, warmed by heat lamps and divided by type: Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds and the like. This cutie is of the Gold Sex-Linked variety. I learned that "sex-linked" means that the chicks have been cross-bred so that they can be sexed by color. All the gold ones are girls.

A break between sets

As part of its ongoing renovations, the free weight and Nautilus rooms at the Kennett Y will be shut down from March 8 through March 22. In its Facebook announcement the Y, looking on the bright side, says the planned improvements to be made during the two-week hiatus will include "a great new look, new free weight equipment and flooring!" Body-builders, you'll still be able to use the adjacent cardio & stretching rooms -- or you could check out the Jennersville or West Chester YMCA branches.

Nice people

A Facebook friend reports that on March 3 -- maybe you'll remember how cold and blustery it was -- she and her daughter set up their Girl Scout cookie table in front of the Bite of Italy restaurant in the Shoppes at Longwood. A man parked in front of the restaurant, took in some supplies, and noticed the two. A few minutes later, he sent two cups of coffee, creamers and sugar out to them. Then a little later he came out ask if it was all good and told them, "You need more coffee or anything, you come in and we will take care of you!"
She said that when it was time for them to leave, her daughter took in a box of cookies to thank him and he asked, "How much?"
"She said no charge but he started to go get money so she left! ... Truly kind people!! What a wonderful example of the great people in our area!"
My reader also complimented the new GNC store in the same shopping center for letting the Scouts set up a cookie table indoors. 
And in another example of great service, three friends of mine stopped in on Tuesday evening, March 5, at La Verona, the Italian place on State Street in Kennett. They took one look at their menus and realized that it was the kind of place that serves a full meal rather than just light fare. The staff, however, were extremely accommodating, offered them the bar menu and made sure they had a great experience. When I talked to my pals the next day, they said the food was excellent and they'd definitely return, this time with bigger appetites!
Speaking of Kennett restaurants: Is Jack McFadden's proposed wine bar and tapas restaurant at the former Kennett Cafe on State Street, next to La Verona, ever going to open? I walked by the place this afternoon, and and it looks like no work has been done in quite some time.  That's too bad.
Mr. McFadden's most recent venture is Jack's Steaks and Shakes, housed in a nineteenth-century building that he completely renovated on Gay Street in downtown West Chester. That restaurant opened in August 2012.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Warm hospitality

Loyal "Unionville in the News" reader Lydia Bartholomew asked me to share this kind invitation to her annual Irish Coffee party: "Irish Coffee, to thank landowners of the Cheshire Hunt Country, Plumsted Farm, 555 W. Street Road (Route 926) in Unionville on Saturday, March 9, at 10:30 a.m. Hounds will depart at 11 a.m. sharp. Family and guests welcome. Weather hotline is 610-347-2308. For info, contact Lydia Bartholomew, 610-692-3075."
Plumsted Farm is on the north side of Route 926, west of the Newark Road intersection.
By the way, it was great to hear the Cheshire Beauties this past Saturday morning! The members of the Hunt met at Doe Run after a long layoff due to the terrible footing.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Here's an idea

Last week, in my item about the Unionville High School's annual used book sale, I said that I no longer go on Friday nights because of the large contingent of book dealers. I used the euphemism "motivated" to describe their behavior.
One of my readers agrees: "The “motivated dealer” problem has gotten worse. I do not cast aspersions on all the dealers, but the sight of one who just tossed all of her “rejects” onto a pile, rendering the neat rows a complete mess, was just sickening. And, as you said, it is difficult to casually browse when great swaths of books are blocked by the dealer, his or her helper, and all of the boxes used to carry the books out. They are intent, on a mission, and could care less about we mere book seekers."
Nonetheless, he and his wife go on Friday anyway because "I guess we are afraid that someone will snatch that one (actually many) volume(s) that just must be added to the library.  In my case books about Jack the Ripper (a fascinating factual recounting), Stonehenge, and nature essays among others."
He asked: "Has any thought been given to giving dealers their own time slot?"
This seems to be to be an excellent idea. The dealers, and any other dedicated collectors like my friend, could be charged a premium to come in early for their own "golden hour." Then they, with their boxes and carts, could be shooed out and we regular, not-in-it-for-a-profit folk could take over. 
Then again, the book sale is always run by pretty smart people; perhaps they've thought of this, discussed it and decided it wouldn't work logistically.

Party time!

I'm trying to describe how much I enjoyed the Longwood Rotary Gala at Longwood Gardens last night, and I think the best way to do it would be to just list some of the features at random while they're still fresh in my memory:
  • Champagne and plenty of it
  • Blackjack ("Wow, you really need to be able to add quickly!" exclaimed a friend, a gambling newbie who almost "stuck" on a 12, to the amusement of the patient croupier)
  • Delicious food: Mini-crab cakes, a terrific assortment of Mexican food, roasted vegetables, tomato cakes and lemon risotto cakes with lobster bisque sauce. And I don't think I even made it to all the food stations! Cannolis, little tarts and chocolate hazelnut creme brulee for dessert.
  • The magical, dimly lit and divinely warm conservatory filled with the marvelous scent of orange jessamine. 
  • I exchanged my uniform of jeans, boots and fleece for a cream-colored, fringed dress that I wore to my high-school prom; talk about vintage! (A few of my friends demanded photographic proof that I was actually not wearing my day-in, day-out fleece.) The ladies were very glamorous -- one woman rocked a red ballgown with a full skirt worthy of Scarlett O'Hara, and there was some big hair going on -- and the gentlemen donned everything from magnificent full Scottish regalia to "creative" black tie.
  • I caught up with friends I hadn't seen for a while and met some fun new ones (including a woman who shares my "real" name -- which as her practical husband pointed out could have posed problems had we gotten our silent-auction bids mixed up!). 
It was a great party and a lovely evening, and the proceeds help support the numerous local charities that the Rotary Club has adopted. Thanks to my hosts for the kind invitation!
Oh, and in the spirit of learning something new every day, I learned that it's really tough to pump gas at Landhope while wrapped in a voluminous full-length evening cloak. Fastening your seat belt isn't real easy, either.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Dance Fever

I've been under the gun work-wise in the past few weeks, but when I got a text inviting me to the annual fifth-grade oldies dance competition at Hillendale Elementary School -- well, really, what choice did I have?
In a delightful district-wide tradition, all the fifth-graders throughout the Unionville-Chadds Ford district have the chance to form their own lip-sync and dance teams, choose an "oldie" (defined as, ahem, anything before 1983), decide on costumes and choreograph a routine. The top three teams from each school are chosen in "American Idol" style, and then they go head-to-head at a district-wide dance-off between Hillendale, Unionville, Pocopson and Chadds Ford on the first Friday in March.
I had a great time watching all the kids. They were just astonishing: funny, athletic, enthusiastic. Rest assured, the theater program at Unionville High School will not lack for outstanding performers in the future. One boy did an amazing break-dancing solo, and some of the girls tossed off cartwheels, flips, splits and other gymnastic feats.
What a neat tradition -- and the money raised goes toward His Mission in Kennett Square, and the American Cancer Society.
(Retired Unionville Elementary School teacher and West Marlborough resident Don Silknitter adds: "The fifth grade dance started in 1985. Ray McKay and I held the first dance as a fund raiser to raise money for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. The following year Ray added the lip-sync contest to provide entertainment for the dance. A tradition was born.")

Graffiti


The graffiti at the long-empty gas station in front of the Wal-mart complex at Route 1 and Schoolhouse Lane has raised the hackles of one long-time East Marlborough Township resident. In an email to me she notes that, in a discussion of graffiti in a recent Kennett Paper story, Kennett Township Police Chief Albert McCarthy was quoted as saying that "it was important to discourage the people doing it by removing it as soon as it appears" and that "he, the roadmaster, and volunteers made it a point to take graffiti off road signs as soon as it was spotted."
Said the Chief: "We just really have to stay on top of it."
My reader agreed: "March on! Chief McCarthy!" She challenged her township, East Marlborough, to do the same and remove graffiti promptly wherever it appears. She said whenever she is at that intersection she hopes for a green light so she doesn't have to look at the eyesore. 
I just drove by the site and what surprised me was the fact that all the glass on the south side, facing Route 1, is still intact.

Art show

A "Unionville in the News" reader asked me to give some publicity to an art show she will be participating in. It's the fourth annual Radley Art Show at Radley Run Country Club. Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 8, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday March 9. She notes that "30% of the proceeds, and 100% of the proceeds from the Silent Auction, benefit Safe Harbor of West Chester, which provides shelter, meals and guidance to the area’s homeless.  It’s a wonderful show, with a fantastic variety of artwork, in support of a great cause."

Fatal crash

irefighter/EMT Bill Dill
Westwood Fire Co. firefighter/EMT Bill Dill has written an excellent, thorough account of the Feb. 26 fatal propane truck accident on Route 82 at Rokeby Mill at the fire company's website, www.westwoodfire.com. The crash occurred in East Fallowfield Township, just over the West Marlborough line. Condolences to the victim's family in Maryland, and much praise to those who worked all day at the scene under stressful and potentially calamitous conditions: Modena Fire Company, Modena Ambulance, Po-Mar-Lin Rescue 36 and Rescue 44, Westwood Rescue 44, Westwood Engine 44-5, Westwood Tac 44, Westwood Ambulance 44-1, Medic 93, Chester County Hazmat Team, and the Fire Police Task Force.