On Nov. 4 New Bolton Center showed off its Ilona English Equine Performance Evaluation Facility as part of a lecture on equine sports medicine.
The 80-by-120-foot indoor arena, built by King Construction, is spectacular. Large windows line its two long sides, allowing tons of natural light in.
Top-level event rider Ryan Wood, on Powell, walked, trotted and cantered around the ring and went over a few jumps to demonstrate how quiet the MC Ecotrack footing is (it's a blend of wax-coated sand, fibers and rubber).
Ilona English, breeder and owner of Summit Sporthorses and Sportponies in Ringoes, NJ, was the major donor for the facility. She was on hand for the talk (in fact, she owns Powell) and said a few words about how important it was to have an evaluation facility like this where vets can put a horse through its paces no matter what the weather. According to New Bolton's website: "This world-class indoor arena provides the perfect environment for clinicians to conduct in-depth evaluations of horses for medical and performance issues, most commonly lameness."
The lecture was given by Elizabeth Davidson, an associate professor of sports medicine, and Liz Arbittier, staff veterinarian in the section of equine field service. It's always interesting to hear these articulate experts speak and to see their videos and images, especially when they present case studies and explain what steps they took to diagnose and treat their patient.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
TEXTING: Before there was texting there were telegrams
I love texting. It's a concise and efficient means of communication. No, of course it doesn't replace conversation and actual face-to-face time spent together, but for "Running 5 mins late" or "Can you pick up pizza" or "Radio 2 is playing 1979 greatest hits," nothing compares.
Of course, there is nothing new under the sun. Emily Post's etiquette book, circa 1937, noted that, for identical reasons, telegrams were quickly replacing written or phoned invitations:
"Telephoning a message and fifty names to the telegraph office takes at most five minutes, whereas calling each of the fifty numbers (including busy signals and messages left for those not at home, and enforced conversation with those who talk for half an hour) would take anywhere from twice to ten times as long."
Of course, there is nothing new under the sun. Emily Post's etiquette book, circa 1937, noted that, for identical reasons, telegrams were quickly replacing written or phoned invitations:
"Telephoning a message and fifty names to the telegraph office takes at most five minutes, whereas calling each of the fifty numbers (including busy signals and messages left for those not at home, and enforced conversation with those who talk for half an hour) would take anywhere from twice to ten times as long."
PEACH BOTTOM: An auction of troughs and millstones
I saw an ad for a Lancaster County auction of an "eclectic collection" of sandstone water troughs and millstones and immediately put in on my schedule.
Do I need a water trough or a millstone?
I do not.
Do I have room for a water trough or a millstone?
Not at all, but it looked fascinating anyway.
So I drove west to the town of Peach Bottom in Fulton Township, passing lots of Amish farms and some great roadside-market signs: "Free Turnips," "Eyeglass Frames and Garlic" and "Guinea Pigs and BBQ Pork Roasts."
The merchandise at the preview didn't disappoint. Garden designers were eyeing the picturesque old water troughs, the antique cast iron and stone urns, the garden statuary, and the lengths of decorative cast iron fencing. One guy was striding along the display of millstones, pausing for a split second to measure the diameter of each and then barking the dimensions into his cellphone. There were big slabs of stone that had been used as steps and curbing in nearby Port Deposit, Maryland.
I checked out the prices the day after the auction and one of the big-ticket items was an ornate urn with three herons at its base that, according to the label, might have come from a DuPont estate. It sold for $3,800.
My question was this: How were the people going to get their purchases home? These were not pieces you could pick up, wrap in an army blanket and put in your trunk. There must have been an army of forklifts springing into action after the final gavel banged down.
Do I need a water trough or a millstone?
I do not.
Do I have room for a water trough or a millstone?
Not at all, but it looked fascinating anyway.
So I drove west to the town of Peach Bottom in Fulton Township, passing lots of Amish farms and some great roadside-market signs: "Free Turnips," "Eyeglass Frames and Garlic" and "Guinea Pigs and BBQ Pork Roasts."
The merchandise at the preview didn't disappoint. Garden designers were eyeing the picturesque old water troughs, the antique cast iron and stone urns, the garden statuary, and the lengths of decorative cast iron fencing. One guy was striding along the display of millstones, pausing for a split second to measure the diameter of each and then barking the dimensions into his cellphone. There were big slabs of stone that had been used as steps and curbing in nearby Port Deposit, Maryland.
I checked out the prices the day after the auction and one of the big-ticket items was an ornate urn with three herons at its base that, according to the label, might have come from a DuPont estate. It sold for $3,800.
My question was this: How were the people going to get their purchases home? These were not pieces you could pick up, wrap in an army blanket and put in your trunk. There must have been an army of forklifts springing into action after the final gavel banged down.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Updated zoning ordinance on the way
The West Marlborough supervisors had a quick meeting on Nov. 3.
With the concurrence of the township's planning commission, the board asked township engineer Harry Roth to update its zoning ordinance with new language about riparian buffers, forestry uses, and broadband telecommunications to comply with state guidelines. The township will hold off on updating its floodplain regulations, however.
Zoning officer Al Giannantonio said he approved a permit for a pole barn in the 700 block of Spencer Road and a permit for a two-car garage that Ron Towber wants to build in Springdell.
There was no police report from Officer Robert Clarke and no report from building inspector Eddie Caudill, who had been in the hospital.
Supervisor Hugh Lofting reported that the township road crew has been working on getting the township's new truck ready for winter. The township bought the 2006 truck from West Goshen Township and is going to sell its 1993 dump truck.
A resident who lives along Route 926 thanked the supervisors for prodding the bank that owns a foreclosed Sportsman's Lane house to clean up the property. She said reported at previous meetings that the weeds and vines were trespassing onto her property.
With the concurrence of the township's planning commission, the board asked township engineer Harry Roth to update its zoning ordinance with new language about riparian buffers, forestry uses, and broadband telecommunications to comply with state guidelines. The township will hold off on updating its floodplain regulations, however.
Zoning officer Al Giannantonio said he approved a permit for a pole barn in the 700 block of Spencer Road and a permit for a two-car garage that Ron Towber wants to build in Springdell.
There was no police report from Officer Robert Clarke and no report from building inspector Eddie Caudill, who had been in the hospital.
Supervisor Hugh Lofting reported that the township road crew has been working on getting the township's new truck ready for winter. The township bought the 2006 truck from West Goshen Township and is going to sell its 1993 dump truck.
A resident who lives along Route 926 thanked the supervisors for prodding the bank that owns a foreclosed Sportsman's Lane house to clean up the property. She said reported at previous meetings that the weeds and vines were trespassing onto her property.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Jake Chalfin becomes a supervisor
Congratulations to Jake Chalfin, the newest member of the West Marlborough Township Board of Supervisors.
Jake will fill out the term of Josh Taylor, who resigned because his new job in Lexington, Kentucky, will keep him out of town much of the time. He will join supervisors Bill Wylie and Hugh Lofting.
Jake, who lives in Springdell, was promoted from the township's planning commission and, in fact, had just chaired his first planning commission meeting on Nov. 3 before the supervisors announced his new position. Jeb took over as chairman when Jeb Hannum moved to Virginia this summer.
Jake will fill out the term of Josh Taylor, who resigned because his new job in Lexington, Kentucky, will keep him out of town much of the time. He will join supervisors Bill Wylie and Hugh Lofting.
Jake, who lives in Springdell, was promoted from the township's planning commission and, in fact, had just chaired his first planning commission meeting on Nov. 3 before the supervisors announced his new position. Jeb took over as chairman when Jeb Hannum moved to Virginia this summer.
Monday, November 3, 2014
UNIONVILLE: A windy day at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup
How windy was it at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup on Sunday afternoon?
Well, suffice it to say that a set of porta-potties blew over (fortunately with no one inside). Some fellows from Hickman Sanitation showed up, and they were quickly uprighted.
Hearing the wind howling around that morning at home, I thought we'd freeze and it would be a short day. Just the opposite: The bright sun kept us warm and we had a great time socializing with lots of friends and neighbors.
For the big Hunt Cup race itself we witnessed an amazing finish: we were standing right at the final jump and all six competitors crossed it simultaneously, then dashed to the finish line. Arcadia Stables' Delta Park, trained by Jack Fisher with Sean McDermott up, was the winner. (He placed second in the 2013 race.)
The only blot on the day was in the first race, when a horse collapsed while going over a fence and died instantly, I found out later of a heart aneurysm. It was tough to watch: his jockey got up immediately and raced back to him, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Well, suffice it to say that a set of porta-potties blew over (fortunately with no one inside). Some fellows from Hickman Sanitation showed up, and they were quickly uprighted.
Hearing the wind howling around that morning at home, I thought we'd freeze and it would be a short day. Just the opposite: The bright sun kept us warm and we had a great time socializing with lots of friends and neighbors.
For the big Hunt Cup race itself we witnessed an amazing finish: we were standing right at the final jump and all six competitors crossed it simultaneously, then dashed to the finish line. Arcadia Stables' Delta Park, trained by Jack Fisher with Sean McDermott up, was the winner. (He placed second in the 2013 race.)
The only blot on the day was in the first race, when a horse collapsed while going over a fence and died instantly, I found out later of a heart aneurysm. It was tough to watch: his jockey got up immediately and raced back to him, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
PANCAKES: A good breakfast with the Masons
You've seen the signs and banners. You've said to yourself, "I've got to go to that one of these days."
Next time the pancake breakfast cooked by the Brothers of Kennett Masonic Lodge 475 rolls around, definitely listen to that voice.
The pancakes were really excellent. My breakfast-mate and I devoured four each, plus sausage, coffee and orange juice. It was well worth going out in the cold and rain, and the hearty meal gave us a good full stomach, fortified for the day's errands.
Next time the pancake breakfast cooked by the Brothers of Kennett Masonic Lodge 475 rolls around, definitely listen to that voice.
The pancakes were really excellent. My breakfast-mate and I devoured four each, plus sausage, coffee and orange juice. It was well worth going out in the cold and rain, and the hearty meal gave us a good full stomach, fortified for the day's errands.
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