ENERGY: Competing on efficiency

PECO has started sending me monthly letters and emails comparing my electricity usage with that of other local customers. They've rated my energy efficiency as "good" (indicated by one smiley face) but not "great" (two smiley faces).
What I want to know is, who are these "efficient neighbors" who are such paragons of sustainability? Do they bake as much as I do? Do they work at home? Do they need to launder many changes of gym clothes? Do they have animals who need to stay warm? I'm not sure it's a fair or useful comparison.
I'm perfectly happy with my energy footprint and have a clear conscience about it. If I were PECO, I'd dump this irritating program -- but who knows, maybe they got a grant for it, or it's the brainchild of some important person and Must Therefore Continue.
PECO just received a call from this customer to discontinue receiving these "smart usage profiles." The number is 888-212-8090.
One of my blog readers offered this comment: "We get this meaningless comparison, too. After a few months, I noticed that their records showed we have a house with 0 square feet. So, not surprisingly, our consumption is 37% above that of our neighbors. Gotta admit, though, I corrected our profile and we're still above usage for comparable houses.  We, too, spend most of our days at home since we're retired. And in my "elderly" years, I refuse to be cold, so we set our thermostat to be comfortable, not environmentally sacrificial."

HUNT CUP: An annual tradition

Signs are already up for the 86th running of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup races on Sunday, Nov. 6. (Imagine: A November event where the only mud being slung comes from the horses' hooves as they thunder by on the racecourse. What a novelty!)
I've already purchased my parking pass and lined up an excellent group of friends to eat, drink, socialize, identify dog breeds and (oh, yeah) watch the races.
The eternal question is "What will the weather be?" If it's windy and cold, you suddenly discover the urgent need to catch up with tailgating friends who have had the foresight to bring along portable heaters.
If it's sunny and warm, you can just stand there and feel like there's no better place in the entire world to be than on that beautiful West Marlborough hilltop. (The course is to the west of Newark Road, between Routes 926 and 842.)
Tickets are available online.

ROMANSVILLE: Roundabout construction

Here is the latest on the road closures for the Strasburg Road roundabout construction in Romansville. The information is from the West Bradford Township website: 

• October 17, Strasburg Road will be CLOSED for ONE week while work takes place at the WEST END (heading west past Romansville Road).
• Next, Strasburg Road will be CLOSED for ONE week while work takes place at the EAST END (near Bella Rosa).
• After these two improvements are complete, all interior paving on the roundabout will be done. 
• Next, Romansville and Shadyside Roads will be closed for 4 weeks to complete all the tie-ins and extend the sewer mains on Romansville Road. 

I was driving by on Oct. 14 and saw that they are making good progress on building the actual roundabout itself, which will be just south of the current Strasburg Road. Now it's just a matter of making the connections with the existing roads.

 

HISTORY: "Scandals, Scoundrels and Spirits"

I'll be a tour guide this Friday, Oct. 21, for the "Scandals, Scoundrels and Spirits" Haunted History walking tour of downtown Kennett Square, sponsored by Historic Kennett. The starting point is the walkway next to the Genesis Building on State Street, and the 13-stop tours will leave roughly every half-hour between 6 and 8 p.m. Come learn a little about Kennett history!

AVONDALE: The high life

On Friday a bunch of us went out for a late dinner. We were a merry crew and lingered over our meals, chatting about one friend's upcoming move to Chicago and another's tap-dancing lessons. By the time we'd finished eating and conversation was slowing down, the waiters were restocking their tables and dimming the lights in the farther sections of the restaurant.
Whoa, I thought: Just like old times, closing down the place!
Then I realized we were at Perkins. And it was 10 p.m.

DUKES OF DESTINY: Dance concert at West Grove Meeting

I'm told there's been some confusion over where the Oct. 22 Dukes of Destiny dance concert will be held. It's being sponsored by both London Grove and West Grove Friends Meetings, but it's being held at West Grove Meeting, 153 E. Harmony Road in West Grove. Doors open at 7 p.m., music starts at 7:30 p.m., and the recommended donation (to benefit London Grove Meeting's kindergarten and West Grove Meeting's daycare) is $15.

LIBRARY: Public input needed Oct. 13

Just a reminder that the Kennett Library's board of trustees will be holding open meetings all day Thursday, Oct. 13, to find out what people want in a new library. The meetings will be held at the Kennett Fire Co. on Dalmatian Street in Kennett Square.
The schedule is as follows, although people can stop by whenever it's convenient: 8:30 to 10 a.m., caregivers of children; 11 am to noon, seniors; 1 to 3 p.m., business and community; 3 to 4 p.m., persons with disabilities and special needs caregivers; and 4 to 5 p.m., young adults. 
At 7 p.m. the architects will convene to report what they heard.

KENNETT: New executive director at Friends Home

Christine McDonald is the new executive director at the Friends Home in downtown Kennett Square (147 West State Street). She lives in Kennett and has worked in the healthcare field for more than 30 years, including serving as the director of rehabilitation at Freedom Village in West Brandywine. She recently earned a master's degree in healthcare administration from St. Joseph's University and obtained her nursing home administrator's license.
"I look forward to getting to know all the employees, residents and their families and to working with everyone to guide Friends Home into the future and expand out abilities to provide quality, loving care to all of our residents," she wrote in the most recent Home newsletter.

ADVENTURE: Scout programs at elementary schools

My dear friend Karen D'Agusto -- we are living proof that people of opposing political viewpoints can still find plenty of common ground -- asked me to mention that the following Girl Scout information sessions are coming up:
1. Monday, Oct. 17, cafeteria of Pocopson Elementary School, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP to Karen D'Agusto at kdagusto@aol.com. 
2. Wednesday, Oct. 19, cafeteria of Hillendale Elementary, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP to Karen D'Agusto at kdagusto@aol.com. 
3. Wednesday, Oct. 26, cafeteria of Unionville Elementary, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP to Elise Anderson at ander-sun@comcast.net. 
Karen notes that both girls and parents are welcome to the information sessions. She writes: "The above programs are geared toward k-2nd grade. If you have a daughter or granddaughter who is interested in Scouts in 2nd-12th grade or you cannot make it to any of the Girls Scout Information sessions, please contact Lori Sullivan at lbsullivan2000@yahoo.com or Ghisele Curcio at gcurcio@gsep.org to find out how to join the Adventure that is Girl Scouts."