Among their many virtues, Quakers have a reputation as being astute businesspeople. This was certainly on display on Saturday, when I stopped by the "Quaker Fare" luncheon at Kennett Friends Meeting. I explained to the lady selling tickets at the door that I was there just to say hi; for scheduling reasons my family was celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday, so I couldn't fill up on the chicken salad sandwiches and other goodies that this annual event is known for.
She didn't miss a beat.
"Then how about a quart of mushroom soup to go?" she suggested.
Sold!
And of course I got to socialize, too: I had a nice time chatting with Kennett Township supervisor Scudder Stevens, Kevin Arnold, Tish Dalton, Jessie Cocks, and Jean Tennant, who is as energetic as always at age 92. She said her husband, soon to turn 100, is even more youthful: "If you called me up and he answered the phone, you would think it was a kid who answered! Well, except that he's very serious."
Saturday, November 21, 2015
ART GALA: Works by artists young and old
The 40th annual Unionville Art Gala fundraiser at the high school this weekend comprised such a variety of media, like paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, sculptures, woodworks, glassware and mosaics. I had a great time browsing through the works by the professional artists, but as always my favorite part was looking at the student art (and not just to see works by my friends' kids, honest). The pencil sketches done by the students in "Intro to Drawing" were wonderfully creative; I also liked the self-portraits and the intricate 3D artworks. What a lot of talent there is in the district! The fundraiser is organized by the Unionville High School PTO -- which must be a monumental task given the number of artists who participate.
MESSIAH: "Glory to God in the highest"
George Frideric Handel’s "Messiah" will be sung at the
Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett Square from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13. Director Wilson G. Somers will lead the Chancel Choir of
Advent and the Tatnall School Choir as well as professional soloists sopranos Alexis
Droke and Courtney Ames, mezzo Charlotte Paulsen, tenor Kameron Ghanavati, and
bass Brian Carter.
Admission is free but, according to the press release, "since it’s the season of giving, attendees are encouraged to
donate to a fund established by the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania to
support southern churches in need of rebuilding following several cases of
arson earlier this year."
It's so fitting that proceeds are being earmarked for charity, because the first performance of "Messiah," in April 1742 in Dublin, benefitted three charities" prisoners' debt relief, the Mercer's Hospital, and the Charitable Infirmary. Seven hundred people attended the concert, and, according to Wikipedia, "So that the largest possible audience could be admitted to the concert, gentlemen were requested to remove their swords, and ladies were asked not to wear hoops in their dresses. . . .The takings amounted to around £400, providing about £127 to each of the three nominated charities and securing the release of 142 indebted prisoners."
NEW BOLTON: Vet will lecture about colic
December's First Tuesday lecture at New Bolton Center is about colic (the life-threatening equine kind). Large animal surgery resident Hope Douglas, VMD, will discuss "types of colic, evaluation and treatment of colic on the farm, and evaluation and treatment of colic at New Bolton Center."
The lecture, as are all the First Tuesday talks, is free and runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall at New Bolton. RSVP to Barbara Belt at beltb@vet.upenn.edu.
Every one of these lectures I've been to has been extremely educational. The speakers are always articulate, interesting and at the cutting edge of their fields.
The lecture, as are all the First Tuesday talks, is free and runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall at New Bolton. RSVP to Barbara Belt at beltb@vet.upenn.edu.
Every one of these lectures I've been to has been extremely educational. The speakers are always articulate, interesting and at the cutting edge of their fields.
HOCKESSIN: A Grinchy sing-along
Last December we had a fantastic time at the sing-along "How the Grinch Stole Who-kessin" at the Hockessin Library, so I was delighted to see the Hockessin Business Association is doing it again at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 12. The Hockessin Library is at 1023 Valley Road and admission is free.
One of the stars (the Grinch himself!) asked me the other day if I wanted to be a plant in this year's show. I assumed he meant one of the Whos' Christmas trees or something, so I said, no, I'd rather be a spectator. He looked a little nonplussed -- and then I realized he meant "a plant" as in somebody who models and encourages audience participation.
"Oh, wow, yes!" I said. "That I can do!"
He tells me this year's show will feature a 39-1/2-foot pole (well, more or less), a seasick crocodile and the return of the Grinchettes.
My date and I had a great time last year, singing and laughing and watching not only the show but the parents, grandparents and kids.
One of the stars (the Grinch himself!) asked me the other day if I wanted to be a plant in this year's show. I assumed he meant one of the Whos' Christmas trees or something, so I said, no, I'd rather be a spectator. He looked a little nonplussed -- and then I realized he meant "a plant" as in somebody who models and encourages audience participation.
"Oh, wow, yes!" I said. "That I can do!"
He tells me this year's show will feature a 39-1/2-foot pole (well, more or less), a seasick crocodile and the return of the Grinchettes.
My date and I had a great time last year, singing and laughing and watching not only the show but the parents, grandparents and kids.
FOXY LOXY: Livening up evenings in Unionville
Jayne Shea, who runs Foxy Loxy in Unionville, is looking for ideas on what the coffee shop/ice cream parlor/community meeting place can do in the evenings. She's thinking of maybe starting movie nights for kids, or casual BYOB get-togethers with little nibbles. I said I'd put the word out there. Let Jayne know your thoughts next time you stop in for lunch, breakfast, dessert or a cup of their superb coffee!
I've been a big fan of Foxy Loxy since the start: it feels like you're in someone's cozy Unionville living room.
I've been a big fan of Foxy Loxy since the start: it feels like you're in someone's cozy Unionville living room.
Friday, November 20, 2015
PENN OAK: It's still "in press"
For those of you who are curious about whether the London Grove Oak has appeared in "National Geographic" yet: no, it hasn't.
Back in July 2014 I wrote about the husband-and-wife team of Diane Cook and Len Jenshel, who stopped by London Grove Friends Meeting to make photos of the Penn Oak as part of a "National Geographic" story on "wise trees." They told me they wanted to include the Penn Oak not only for its majesty but also because it was a witness to William Penn's requirement that Pennsylvania settlers preserve one acre of trees for every five acres cleared. The assignment also took them to India, Mexico and Ground Zero in Manhattan, where they shot the "survivor" Callery pear tree that lived through 9/11. Diane told me back then that the story was scheduled to come out in the August 2015 issue, but apparently it has been delayed -- par for the course in the magazine world!.
Back in July 2014 I wrote about the husband-and-wife team of Diane Cook and Len Jenshel, who stopped by London Grove Friends Meeting to make photos of the Penn Oak as part of a "National Geographic" story on "wise trees." They told me they wanted to include the Penn Oak not only for its majesty but also because it was a witness to William Penn's requirement that Pennsylvania settlers preserve one acre of trees for every five acres cleared. The assignment also took them to India, Mexico and Ground Zero in Manhattan, where they shot the "survivor" Callery pear tree that lived through 9/11. Diane told me back then that the story was scheduled to come out in the August 2015 issue, but apparently it has been delayed -- par for the course in the magazine world!.
 |
| Len Jenshel and Diane Cook shooting the Penn Oak in July 2014. |
Thursday, November 19, 2015
DINNER: Dining out for the preschoolers
On Nov. 18 the restaurants at the Market at Liberty Place in Kennett Square donated 15 percent of its dinner proceeds to the Kennett Square Preschool Coop. I know a few families who are involved with this wonderful school, so my dinner date and I enjoyed our Buddy Burgers with Cheese even more than usual, knowing we were contributing to a good cause. We saw a lot of families with young kids, some wearing T-shirts from the preschool.
And what's dinner at Liberty Place without delicious ice cream afterward from Punk'd Pineapple? And where else could you overhear the unsettling words, "Do you want to eat your eyes or should I take them out?" (This was a Dad asking his daughter about her preference re: the candy "eyes" that they put atop your ice cream serving at Punk'd Pineapple!)
And what's dinner at Liberty Place without delicious ice cream afterward from Punk'd Pineapple? And where else could you overhear the unsettling words, "Do you want to eat your eyes or should I take them out?" (This was a Dad asking his daughter about her preference re: the candy "eyes" that they put atop your ice cream serving at Punk'd Pineapple!)
PROOFREADING: Always a profitable skill
On Wednesday I had an hour between the end of my gym class at the Kennett Y and my dinner plans, so I brought along my current proofreading project to work on, a dry, tiresome and mistake-laden psychology tome. I spread out at one of the lobby tables, plugged my earbuds into some concentration-enhancing yoga music and settled in to work. After a while, I looked up to stretch my neck and noticed a young man and his mother across the table working on a homework assignment. The title of his worksheet: "Proofreading a Sentence."
I took out my earbuds, excused myself for butting into their conversation and pointed out that I was doing exactly that -- and getting paid for it! The Mom said she had noticed my work and mentioned it to her son.
I told the boy what a useful skill I had found proofreading to be over the years.
"When you're in college," I told him, "you can proofread your friend's papers, and they'll cook dinner for you!"
I took out my earbuds, excused myself for butting into their conversation and pointed out that I was doing exactly that -- and getting paid for it! The Mom said she had noticed my work and mentioned it to her son.
I told the boy what a useful skill I had found proofreading to be over the years.
"When you're in college," I told him, "you can proofread your friend's papers, and they'll cook dinner for you!"
Sunday, November 15, 2015
ARCHIVE: Reading across the curriculum
I have to share a funny error that I found while editing an interesting book about how the Internet is changing publication practices in the sciences and humanities (short answer: much more in the former than the latter). The author was talking about how copyright protections sometimes pose a barrier to publishing articles and books that try to include more than just standard illustrations and wrote, "The Grateful Dead posters owned by the Billy Graham Archive were reproduced in a biography of the music group."
I'm guessing the posters are owned by the concert promoter Bill Graham rather than the evangelist Billy Graham, but I could be wrong! (What's amazing is that my reading of "Rolling Stone" magazine back in the 1970s has actually come in handy in my career.)
I'm guessing the posters are owned by the concert promoter Bill Graham rather than the evangelist Billy Graham, but I could be wrong! (What's amazing is that my reading of "Rolling Stone" magazine back in the 1970s has actually come in handy in my career.)
SOCIAL MEDIA: Not the Patient Privacy Act
As I've mentioned before, Facebook has become the go-to way to share updates on one's medical ailments. This past Monday a dear friend got a new hip, and soon after surgery his wife posted a photo of him giving a broad smile and a thumbs-up sign. The caption said that he was "on narcotics with access to dozens of pay-for-movie channels on the TV. What could possibly go wrong?"
(He was out of the hospital the day after surgery and will doubtless be back on horseback soon.)
Another friend didn't quite get it right: He posted a photo of a grim-looking medical facility with no explanation, leading many to express concern. He finally relieved us by saying, "Thank you friends for the outpouring of support but it was my Mother who was in the hospital having a heart procedure. Thankfully she came through the operation with flying colors and is on the mend."
(He was out of the hospital the day after surgery and will doubtless be back on horseback soon.)
Another friend didn't quite get it right: He posted a photo of a grim-looking medical facility with no explanation, leading many to express concern. He finally relieved us by saying, "Thank you friends for the outpouring of support but it was my Mother who was in the hospital having a heart procedure. Thankfully she came through the operation with flying colors and is on the mend."
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