This morning a woman at the Y was telling me, at great length and with greater enthusiasm, about a 140-hour "silent retreat" she had attended recently at a meditation center in Maryland. She said that the break from having to listen to clients worked wonders for not only her spiritual growth but also her blood pressure.
I am a big fan of peace and quiet, certainly, but I expressed strong doubt that I would enjoy such an extended period of not speaking (not to mention getting up at 5 a.m.).
"Oh! You would!" she assured me. Somehow I don't think I'm going to put it to the test.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
HUNGER: A simple lunch or dinner
Jeff Yetter asked me for some publicity about "Empty Bowls," a fundraiser to benefit the Kennett Food Cupboard. Here's how it works: you buy a ticket and you get a simple lunch or dinner of soup and bread at the Red Clay Room in Kennett Square on Thursday, Feb. 25. Plus you get to take home a handmade ceramic bowl.
Lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dinner is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets, which are $25, are available by calling the Food Cupboard at 610-925-3556 or online (www.KACSonline.net).
Lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dinner is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets, which are $25, are available by calling the Food Cupboard at 610-925-3556 or online (www.KACSonline.net).
WOODPECKER: Heard and now seen
On Feb. 2, Tom Herman spotted a pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) behind London Grove Friends Meeting. He said that he and his wife, Risa, "have
heard him for the last 4 years and finally captured an image of him." And he was kind enough to send it to me.
My Audubon bird book describes these large woodpeckers as "usually quite shy; presence best detected by loud call," which is a "loud, rolling kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk."
 |
| Pileated woodpecker; photo by Tom Herman. |
My Audubon bird book describes these large woodpeckers as "usually quite shy; presence best detected by loud call," which is a "loud, rolling kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk."
THEATER: A green ogre and a panto
This spring's Unionville High School show is "Shrek the Musical," and it will be presented on Thursday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 5, at both 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 via www.showtix4u.com; or $14 for adults and $12 for students and seniors at the door. We will be at the Thursday evening show.
According to the press release, "Shrek the Musical" is a one-of-a-kind, hilarious fairy tale in which curses are reversed, monsters get the girls, donkeys and dragons find love, and princesses are beautiful in all shapes and sizes." Director is Scott Litzenberg, and Justin Bowen (one of the Jets in last year's "West Side Story") stars in the title role.
In other theatrical news, after being first drenched by sprinklers and then snowed out on its original performance dates, the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society's pantomime "Sherlock & the Beanstalk" will be held at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at the American Legion Hall in downtown Kennett Square. The number of seats is limited, but tickets for the cancelled shows will be honored. "The best show never seen!" trumpets the rueful press release.
In other theatrical news, after being first drenched by sprinklers and then snowed out on its original performance dates, the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society's pantomime "Sherlock & the Beanstalk" will be held at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at the American Legion Hall in downtown Kennett Square. The number of seats is limited, but tickets for the cancelled shows will be honored. "The best show never seen!" trumpets the rueful press release.
PAINTER'S CROSSING: What is CNG?
At the Exxon/Pep Boys station on the southeast corner of the Route 202/1 intersection, the sign gives prices for gasoline, diesel and CNG. What is CNG, I asked my travel companion (his breadth of knowledge continually delights me). Compressed natural gas, he explained; it's a type of "green" fuel used mostly by buses and fleet vehicles.
Sure enough, later that day in Voorhees, N.J., we spotted two municipal trash trucks sporting signs saying they used CNG.
The price given at the Exxon for CNG was 0.00, which I took to mean that either they didn't have any on hand or it was free.
Sure enough, later that day in Voorhees, N.J., we spotted two municipal trash trucks sporting signs saying they used CNG.
The price given at the Exxon for CNG was 0.00, which I took to mean that either they didn't have any on hand or it was free.
SIGNS: They're no good if you can't read them
With primary election season in full swing, we should be seeing a crop of campaign signs and bumper stickers. A word of advice if you have anything to do with creating them: Make sure the wording is legible from a distance! On Friday we saw a bumper sticker that said "I someone with syndrome." The letters of the syndrome name were so tightly squished that we could not make it out, even when we were close to the vehicle -- and as a science editor, I know a thing or two about disease names. We joked, irreverently, that perhaps the syndrome in question involved hyperacute eyesight.
Later that day I saw "Open House" signs on all four corners of the Willowdale intersection. What was the open house for? I'll never know: the lettering was just too small.
Later that day I saw "Open House" signs on all four corners of the Willowdale intersection. What was the open house for? I'll never know: the lettering was just too small.
JENNERS POND: Catching up with an "old" friend
On Wednesday I went to visit an old friend (meaning, of course, a friend of long standing) for coffee at her home in Jenners Pond; she and her (now deceased) husband sold their Kennett home and moved there a few years ago. I had never been to the Jennersville retirement community before and was astonished at its large size. I was very impressed with my friend's lovely twin home, which has a full lower level with a workshop, a more-than-ample ground floor with a nice kitchen, and a lovely loft office upstairs.
Later that day I saw a gym friend who works at Jenners Pond and told him my favorable impression of the place. He is a warm and down-to-earth guy and beamed with pride, saying that the first priority of everyone on the management team is the residents' happiness and well-being. He even told me that my friend should feel free to contact him with any problem, no matter how minor.
Later that day I saw a gym friend who works at Jenners Pond and told him my favorable impression of the place. He is a warm and down-to-earth guy and beamed with pride, saying that the first priority of everyone on the management team is the residents' happiness and well-being. He even told me that my friend should feel free to contact him with any problem, no matter how minor.
Friday, February 5, 2016
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Getting the job done
During their Feb. 2 monthly meeting, the West Marlborough supervisors had high praise for their road crew's dedicated performance during the January blizzard.
Supervisor Bill Wylie said although many small townships contract out their snow removal, "we've always thought we're the kind of community who likes to know who's doing the work." He said the road crew "takes special pride in doing a good job ... I think our residents appreciate it."
Tom Brosius of Marlboro Mushrooms told the supervisors he greatly appreciated the road crew's timely help so that his employees could get to the farm safely.
In other business, Supervisor Hugh Lofting said he is continuing to work on getting a grant from a program that targets "dirt, gravel and low-volume roads" (defined as less than 500 cars a day). The money would go toward stabilizing a steep bank along Rokeby Road that slopes down to the Buck Run. Residents have brought the problem to the supervisors' attention several times in recent years.
Supervisor Bill Wylie said although many small townships contract out their snow removal, "we've always thought we're the kind of community who likes to know who's doing the work." He said the road crew "takes special pride in doing a good job ... I think our residents appreciate it."
Tom Brosius of Marlboro Mushrooms told the supervisors he greatly appreciated the road crew's timely help so that his employees could get to the farm safely.
In other business, Supervisor Hugh Lofting said he is continuing to work on getting a grant from a program that targets "dirt, gravel and low-volume roads" (defined as less than 500 cars a day). The money would go toward stabilizing a steep bank along Rokeby Road that slopes down to the Buck Run. Residents have brought the problem to the supervisors' attention several times in recent years.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Update on police agreement
At their February meeting, the West Marlborough supervisors said they have been talking to the East Marlborough supervisors about continuing their police services arrangement. Since 2008, West Marlborough has contracted with East Marlborough to receive 40 hours of service a month; that has been provided by Chief Robert "Clarkie" Clarke. West Marlborough was going to discontinue the arrangement at the end of 2015, but several West Marlborough residents objected.
As Supervisor Bill Wylie explained, "A lot of people really value some sort of police presence in the township ... having somebody to call would be very useful and reassuring."
Under a new "on-call" agreement being contemplated, Mr. Wylie said, the officer who responded to a West Marlborough resident's phone call might be Clarkie or one of East Marlborough's two part-time officers. Residents have said they would be fine with that.
At the February meeting Clarkie presented his statistics for the service he provided to West Marlborough in 2015: 84 days worked, 480 hours worked, 204 incidents handled, 265 calls to 911 received, 89 speeding tickets issued, 24 parking tickets, six stop-sign violations, two tickets for driving without a license, two tickets for driving an unregistered vehicle, one ticket for passing in a no-passing zone, one ticket for careless driving and 63 warnings.
For January 2016, he handled 21 incidents, received 26 calls to 911 and issued eight citations (two for speeding, three for running a stop sign, one for an inspection violation and two for parking).
As Supervisor Bill Wylie explained, "A lot of people really value some sort of police presence in the township ... having somebody to call would be very useful and reassuring."
Under a new "on-call" agreement being contemplated, Mr. Wylie said, the officer who responded to a West Marlborough resident's phone call might be Clarkie or one of East Marlborough's two part-time officers. Residents have said they would be fine with that.
At the February meeting Clarkie presented his statistics for the service he provided to West Marlborough in 2015: 84 days worked, 480 hours worked, 204 incidents handled, 265 calls to 911 received, 89 speeding tickets issued, 24 parking tickets, six stop-sign violations, two tickets for driving without a license, two tickets for driving an unregistered vehicle, one ticket for passing in a no-passing zone, one ticket for careless driving and 63 warnings.
For January 2016, he handled 21 incidents, received 26 calls to 911 and issued eight citations (two for speeding, three for running a stop sign, one for an inspection violation and two for parking).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)