UNIONVILLE: Kinloch's annual open house

On Saturday afternoon I stopped by Kinloch Woodworking's annual autumn open house in "downtown" Unionville and, as always, had a wonderful time socializing and seeing Doug Mooberry's breath-taking furniture. Barb Pusey was there with her granddaughter, Jessie Mooberry, who was visiting from Istanbul, where she is working to promote humanitarian uses of drones. I also got to catch up with Anna Myers and Diane Thierry for a few minutes.
In addition to his beautiful tables, tall clocks, spice chests, mirrors and stools, Doug showcased two unusual pieces this year: a Wharton Esherick-inspired curly-cherry desk that opened into a self-contained, fully fitted office, complete with drawers, lights and a chair, and a remarkable wall hanging made from Paulownia wood that resembled a shark.

The wall hanging, made of wood from a Paulownia tree, looks like a shark.

CRANESBILL: Another way that seeds spread

After planting 25 tulip bulbs (only a third of this year's order from White Flower Farm) in the garden, I came back inside and noticed dozens of small black spears, maybe an inch long, sticking out of my fleece vest, as if I were a pin cushion or a voodoo doll.
I did some online research and found that the spikes were from the cranesbill (a hardy geranium) that's been growing in the garden for many years. I quote from Rob's Plants website:
"The cranesbill for which the plants are named describes the shape of the spikes extending from the fruiting bodies left behind when flowers fade. The seeds are formed in the puffy part at the bottom of the fruiting body. The problem is that the whole assembly was manufactured to serve as a catapult. When ripe, the seeds are flung out of their dry hull using the spring force of connective tissue that runs along the spikey bit (this is not a botanically correct description, by the way)."
As I discovered when trying to remove the hulls from my vest, not only are they sharply pointed but they also have a rough coating, which makes them even more adherent.

HOUPPETTE: Old-fashioned personal service

What flawless customer service I experienced at Houppette, the new little boutique at State and Union streets in downtown Kennett. Though not at all a high-maintenance kind of woman, I stopped in seeking a remedy for my increasingly dry winter skin. The nice saleswoman listened carefully to my concerns, asked a few questions, suggested two products and let me try both. I bought one of the creams she suggested and have been very happy with it. I'm so glad I visited: no pressure, no upselling, and even some fun samples to take home!

SPIRIT WING: An evening of Native American music

On Friday evening we traveled to Oxford Friends Meeting to see Spirit Wing, a husband-and-wife duo who perform Native American-inspired music. We've seen the Phoenixville couple perform three times before, but they changed up their show a little this time: Barry Lee added some guitar flourishes, and he and his wife, Barbara Gregg Andrews-Christy, added some more contemporary songs to the mix. Barbara was such a trouper, singing, dancing, playing the flute and bantering despite a scratchy throat that had her reaching for lozenges and her water bottle between each song.
After the show the two, who are active in Native American issues, talked about recent efforts to create a heritage center at the Carlisle Indian School, where thousands of Indian youths were taken between 1879 and 1918 in an effort to erase their own culture and make them fit into mainstream white society. John Sayles is directing a movie, "To Save the Man," about the school; Robert Redford is executive producer and production is set to start next summer. (It won't be shot in Carlisle.)
We'll probably be back at the meetinghouse for Charlie Zahm's annual Christmas show at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11. Doors open at 7 p.m. and -- heads up -- last year the place was packed, so get there early.

LIBRARY: A new website, the same controversies

Even launching a new website has proved controversial for the board of the "Kennett Public Library." This past Friday they took the site (with its blue apostrophe logo) live to replace bayardtaylor.org. Predictably, this did not sit well with people who are still stewing about the way the board changed the library's name from "Bayard Taylor Memorial" to "Kennett Public."
This is the way the new website's FAQ page explains the unpopular name change: "This decision was informed by a focus group of Board and Staff members who believed that the name should reflect the community of eight municipalities that we serve, and that it would clear up confusion about where the Library was located."
But they didn't ask the public -- which explains the community outcry that has ensued. A couple of waggish friends, both dead set against the name change, remarked on an obvious error on the new site: the spelling of the library's name.
A neighbor wrote on the new site: "No, you have not listened!!! Change the name back to Bayard Taylor Memorial Library and the community will support you. If you do not, nothing you do will cause the community to support you!"
(She is a retired Unionville schoolteacher, so I'll forgive her for writing better than me. She's also 100% correct, in my opinion.)

Another FAQ on the site: "Are you really building a new library?" The answer: "We plan to! Currently, our Board of Trustees is negotiating with Kennett Square Borough and Kennett Township regarding a site within the Borough. As soon as a Memorandum of Understanding is finalized, design and funding will begin. In the event that we stay in the Borough, the parcel of land that we own on Way's Lane will be sold."

I'd like to suggest a more important FAQ: "How are you going to afford this new library given the extremely negative results of your recent feasibility study?"

CHESLEN PRESERVE: Trying to curb off-leash dogs

Kirstin Werner, the director of communications for the Natural Lands Trust (which runs the lovely ChesLen Preserve) sent me an email in response to an item I wrote a few weeks ago about a lost (and found) Yorkie at the preserve. I think it will be of interest to the many local people who walk their dogs there.

"I was relieved to hear of Stuart’s happy ending… It occurred to me, though, that Stuart must have been off-leash for his “adventure."
"Off-leash dogs at ChesLen Preserve (and all of Natural Lands Trust's 42 nature preserves) are a huge problem for us. 

"Though it may seem harmless to let one’s dog run free and play in the woods, fields, and wetlands, consider this from a Bluebird’s point of view. An unleashed dog can disturb feeding, mating, nesting, and rearing young—not just for Bluebirds but for many other wildlife species as well. In addition, we receive numerous complaints from other visitors who don’t feel safe or whose peaceful visit to a preserve was ruined by an off-leash dog jumping up or aggressing on their own dogs.

"Over the years, we’ve tried signage, brochures, talking to visitors individually, etc. Not much has worked effectively.
"So we’ve developed a new program called Green Dogs. Green Dog members receive a custom Natural Lands Trust leash when they join and pledge to be “Nature’s Best Friend.”
"I thought I’d share this with you in case you think it might be worthy of a mention on your blog or in the paper. We want to do all we can to ensure our preserves are safe and enjoyable for everyone who visits (including our beloved four-legged friends). Thanks!"
You can find more information about the "Green Dogs" program on the natlands.org website.

 

NEWLIN: Back on the front burner

The state Attorney General's office has found that Newlin Township's controversial zoning ordinance places excessive regulations on farms and other agricultural businesses, thus violating the state's Agricultural Communities and Rural Environment (ACRE) law.
You may recall the issue: the new ordinance raised the ire of many township residents because it required the owners of many horse boarding facilities to seek an expensive special exception from the township's zoning hearing board if they wanted to continue the operations they'd been running for years (well, if they wanted to operate legally, at least). 
In its Nov. 8 letter, the state Attorney General's office suggested numerous and substantive wording changes that the township supervisors need to make to bring the ordinance into compliance. The AG's office attached a stick, too: the supervisors were told that legal measures could follow if they don't amend the ordinance.
An open question is whether the farm owners who obeyed the law and paid for a zoning hearing could get their money refunded.

FUNERAL: A comforting good-bye ritual

I went to a funeral for a friend's Dad this week and was reminded what an important and comforting ritual it can be, when friends, relatives, work colleagues past and present, neighbors, acquaintances and friends of friends come out to offer their support for those who are grieving. The service was simple and moving, and the luncheon that followed gave everyone a chance to decompress a little (I noticed several neckties were quickly loosened), reminisce and catch up. There was a lot of laughter, and happy memories, and I think that's the way it should be. My friend's Dad was an honorable, hard-working, religious family-oriented man, and the entire day was a fitting tribute to his life.
As we were leaving the funeral home to drive to the cemetery, the funeral director warned us that motorists these days don't always respect the right-of-way of a funeral procession. I was astonished. Bad manners, indeed! Not to mention bad karma.

PHOENIXVILLE: A walk on the wild side

The dining establishments we frequent are pretty tame institutions. Not so much this past Saturday night, though, when we stopped into what turned out to be a fairly rowdy spot in Phoenixville for dinner before the Al Stewart concert at the Colonial Theater. The restaurant was busy -- it was 7 p.m. -- and we stood in the lobby waiting for a table as waitresses scurried by carrying trays of food and drink (this place had several dining nooks and crannies scattered around). The couple waiting ahead of us declined, with ill grace, to take the table they were offered -- there was a family with young kids at the next table -- so we took it, gratefully.
As we ordered, the scene got even more amusing: a half-dozen revelers entered and crowded around the bar. They had reached that boisterous stage of intoxication when they were singing (badly), gesturing wildly and howling with laughter -- in other words, sloppy drunk. They were such an assorted bunch that we had fun speculating how they knew each other and what they were doing out on a Saturday evening pub crawl: a tall woman in a black leather jacket, high-heeled black boots and a punk hairdo drinking a Heineken; a suburban-looking woman; some middle-aged guys you'd see in any office. We were a little disappointed when they left after only a few minutes -- apparently the place wasn't to their liking or they weren't getting served.
Our dinners arrived and we ate with pleasure. Meanwhile, the ornery guy, who'd finally gotten an acceptable table, went up to the beleaguered hostess with what appeared to be another complaint before he and his wife left the restaurant. The waitress (we'd told her we were in a hurry) dropped off our check, and just as we were about to leave the ornery guy walked back in complain some more!
The whole episode was like pre-show entertainment for us, but certainly not for the staff. I've said it before: Every kid should have to work in a restaurant and in a blue-collar job for part of their life.

CENTERPIECE: Holiday workshop and greens sale

My friend Linda Southerling from the Four Seasons Garden Club asked me to publicize the club's annual "Make-It-Yourself Holiday Centerpiece Workshop" on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett Square. The $35 fee includes all the materials needed to create the centerpiece, as well as lunch. E-mail lsfleur1@hotmail.com to register. There will also be fresh greens and "assorted embellishments" on sale even if you're not taking part in the workshop.
(Good Lord. I haven't put away my pumpkin display yet and still haven't gotten around to cutting bittersweet and rose hips for my fall wreath!)

 

 

GOOD CONSUMERS: It never hurts to ask

My parents passed along to all of us kids a strong sense of self-agency. I can remember my mother urging me to write a letter to the editor when the school board wanted to squeeze more lockers into the corridors of my middle school (I urged the school board members to visit and see how impossibly crowded the hallways already were between classes).
So when my electric toothbrush died last week, I was just about ready to order a new one, because I didn't feel like digging through dusty files to find the date I'd bought it and so forth. But my training held good: I called the 1-800 number anyway, talked to a customer service guy named Lloyd and much to my surprise, no questions asked, they are sending me a brand-new one!
Thank you, Philips. As a wise friend said, "Never underestimate the power of asking."

ELECTIONS: Results from five local townships

Tuesday, Nov. 3, was election day, and a few municipalities in the Unionville area had some contested races. I'm sure you'll read much more about the results elsewhere in this week's paper, but here are the stats from five townships. For complete information, you can go to Chester County's election results page.
In my township, West Marlborough, turnout was 28% (167/592). We re-elected Jake Chalfin and Hugh Lofting Sr. to their seats on the Board of Supervisors.
In Newlin Township, turnout was 33% (324/973). Voters there returned William Kelsall to his chair at the supervisors' table.
In Pocopson Township, turnout was  25% (645/2,597) (this was a surprise to me, given all of the controversy that's been going on at township meetings over the Barnard House renovations). Elaine DiMonte and Alice Balsana were elected as supervisors.
In East Marlborough, turnout was 28% (1,553/5,469). Republican Christine Kimmel beat Democrat Richard Hicks in all three precincts, 939-593, to win the seat on the township Board of Supervisors that Cuyler Walker is leaving.
In Kennett Township, turnout varied from 30% in the second precinct (the polling place was Church of the Advent) to 56% at Kendal at Longwood, the Quaker retirement community, where half the residents voted straight-party Democrat. Democrat Whitney Hoffman beat Republican Ted Moxon, 1,054 to 908, for a seat on the township Board of Supervisors. By precinct, the results were Hoffman 235, Moxon 217 in the first precinct (the polling place was at the township building); Hoffman 242, Moxon 261 in the second precinct; Hoffman 316, Moxon 155 in the third precinct (at Kendal); and Hoffman 261, Moxon 275 in the fourth precinct (at Greenwood Elementary).

UNIONVILLE: Open house at Kinloch Woodworking

While I was getting my coffee at Foxy Loxy in Unionville on Saturday morning, I ran into Doug Mooberry and he reminded me about the open house he's hosting at Kinloch Woodworking from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. He told me they took a year off from the annual event in 2014, but so many people told him they missed the show that it's back. Kinloch is at 1721 West Doe Run Road (Route 82) in the heart of Unionville.

Doug wrote to me that the folks at Kinloch "have been working on a really neat Wharton Esherick inspired desk,  a shark wall hanging (it’s wood but I still wouldn’t stick my fingers in its mouth), some Chinese sideboards and an inlaid sea chest made from wood salvaged from the USS CONSTITUTION. A couple new coffee tables and 2 secretary desks."

I've been to the Kinloch show many times over the years and it's always a lovely event, with beautiful pieces of furniture to marvel over and lots of local folks to chat with. Plus you get to walk through the wood shop where the pieces are created.

Pat Mooberry, Doug's wife, will also be showing her pottery.

Before or after the show, you can stay in "downtown" Unionville and get something to eat. Doug says, "Foxy Loxy will be open for coffee, ice cream, breakfast, and lunch and Hood’s invites everyone to have lunch or dinner after attending the show. Catherine’s Restaurant and they would welcome any Fall Show attendees and will waive the BYOB charge.  Hood’s and Catherine’s both recommend reservations."

Doug Mooberry is the owner of Kinloch Woodworking.

Pat Mooberry's pottery will be on display.

A beautiful piece of craftsmanship from Kinloch Woodworking.

Kinloch Woodworking's open house will be Nov. 13 and 14.